Easter story lights a lesson of hope and love during these dark times | Opinion

Happy Resurrection Day!

When I was little, Easter meant getting up early in the morning to watch the sun rise over the city ‘s skyline. I was told back then that the sun was so happy on Easter morning that it danced its way up and over the skyline. And in my little girl’s mind, I thought I could actually see the sun dancing as it rose.

Easter back then was also about the new clothes and shiny new patent leather shoes I would wear to church. And it was about the speeches we were taught in Sunday school, to say during the annual Easter program. Speeches that told of Jesus’ miraculous resurrection, of the stone covering the entrance to his grave being rolled away by an angel.

It was all a wonderful way to teach young children the story of Easter.

Today, in my church, our children will continue this tradition at the annual Easter Pageant. Little ones will say their one-liners like: “Jesus rose on Easter Day!” and will rush back to their seats as the congregation applauds. Older youngsters will act out the events of that day, more than 2,000 years ago, when Jesus was crucified.

When they are done, there probably won’t be a dry eye in the sanctuary. That’s because as the children act out the events of that day long, long ago, some of us adults will think about the reason Jesus was willing to be beaten, humiliated, mocked and die on a rugged cross.

The reason was simple, and yet complicated: Jesus died for us, even for the ones who drove the nails into his hands and feet. Even the ones who beat him with 39 lashes. Even the ones who mocked him. On that day, Jesus took upon himself the sins of the entire world and bore them to the cross of Calvary.

To some, that is a hard pill to swallow. To others, this is just another tall tale; one about a good man, although a bit loony because he went around telling people he was the Son of God. Yet some, such as I, dared to believe the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth:

“… For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6/KJV

To me, the story of Easter is true. It is a story of salvation and hope, of freedom and love and peace. My salvation was made possible when Jesus was whipped and scorned and crucified. My hope is in his resurrection.

As I think on the hope of Easter, I think how much the world needs this hope today. There are trying times. Wars are being waged. The natural love of people seems to have waxed cold as some have taken to killing their own parents.

Neighbors don’t seem to love their neighbors anymore. It’s hard to know who to trust in government these days. And to top it off, we have a president who seems to think that he can do anything and get away with it because to him, he is the king of the world.

Today, more than ever, we need the hope of Easter. So, as we celebrate this glorious day, let’s try to remember the reason for the celebration.

I can imagine the day Jesus was crucified was not such a jubilant time for believers. As a Jew, Jesus followed the law of Moses, keeping the Passover, which commemorated the Israelites’ deliverance out of Egypt – where they had been held captive for 400 years.

This Easter, let’s remember how we, too, are held us in captivity by the burden of sin. But Jesus was willing to take our sins with him to the cross.

So, as we remember the last Passover Jesus celebrated with his disciples before being led off to be crucified, let’s also remember Judas, the disciple who betrayed him, and vow not to be like Judas. Let us remember Peter, who denied knowing his friend when things got hot, and vow to be a true friend to Jesus.

When we remember, we can apply the actions of these disciples to our life today. Each of us can vow not to be a betrayer to our friends and neighbors and to our community and country.

Each of us can seek to be a true friend to someone, one who will not run away the minute life goes south. The Easter story is real. Jesus lives, and He is coming back to Earth again one day to carry away those who believe in him, to live forever with him in glory with our Heavenly Father.

Now, ain’t that good news?!

A well-deserved tribute

Congratulations to the Beta Tau Zeta Chapter of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority on their annual commemoration of Finer Womanhood Month. The event was celebrated during March, culminating at its 80^th Annual Finer Womanhood Community Fellowship Awards Luncheon.

Throughout March, the sorority celebrated service to the community, worldwide wellness, and the extraordinary service of women and their legacy.

This year’s honorees are: Michele W. Johnson, Zeta of the Year; Sonya Gardner, Education Advocate of the Year; Michele D. Johnson, Citizen of the Year, and Dorothy Wallace was honored as the 2026 Woman of the Year.

Dorothy Wallace, Lydia Richardson, Doris Harden and Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields were honored for having served the sorority for over 70 years. Fields was also recognized as a legacy of one of the sorority’s original charter members, her mother, the late Dorothy Johnson Jenkins Mckellar.

Patricia Armbrister Hill is president of the Beta Tau Zeta Chapter.