Easter means a great number of things, namely Salvation, ressurection, new life, and freedom. However, this Easter season, I have noticed that Easter seems to be an equalizer. We begin with Ash Wednesday. In a room lit by the early morning, we placed ashes on one another's foreheads. As I looked around the room I was struck at the fact that everyone was marked. We are all dust. We are all sinners. No one could hide, it was written all over their faces.
On Maundy Thursday, everyone removed their shoes and socks. We all stood in a line,with bare feet; professors, students, children, adults, teenagers, rich and poor, sick and heatlhy. Everybody washed feet and everybody had their feet washed. Each person had a moment of both greatness and vulerability.
On Good Friday, we all mourn. As Christ goes to the the grave, we all sit in darkness. Hope seems lost for all, it is sealed tight in a tomb. We all leave in silence, not the most eloquent among us has words.
But Easter is coming. The tomb is opened and the ressurection for one man means life for all. Ressurection is not discrimiating, it is offered to both the rich the and poor. The profane and the saintly. The great and least.
Easter is the great equalizer.
