Morung Express News
Kohima | April 19
Kohima | April 19
Easter eggs, bunnies, treasure hunts are new trends slowly catching up with Naga families and communities but Gracy Gongmei, a mother of two, still prefers being traditional—attending the Sunrise Service, church and reflecting on what lies at the heart of Easter. “Personally, Easter holds a significant meaning for me. Easter is the main magnet point for all of us, Christians. Because of Easter, we have hope and that is something we should all be looking forward to,” says Gracy. And although Gracy won’t be able to attend this year’s Sunrise Service, Gracy remarks that the Sunrise gives one a feel of what it must have been like when Christ rose from the dead on Easter morning. “It feels like you are actually there when the sun rises. You feel more closer to the actual event,” adds Gracy.
“Everyday should be Easter!” says Martemjen Jamir, a PhD Scholar who believes that Easter is God’s way of showing His love to us and that all have been saved by Christ. Martemjen is of the view that many a times Christians, and even the Church, have destroyed the values of Christianity and that many Nagas have become non-practicing Christians today, whose lives and actions oppose their very beliefs. It is high time Nagas live out the spirit of Easter again, says Martemjen, and that is showing love and affection to one’s colleagues, friends and neighbors.
Pastor Anungla Chang from Chang Baptist Church, Kohima, feels that for many Nagas, Easter Sunday is only reduced to attending church services and celebration without really reflecting on the real meaning of Easter. Every year, like many other churches, her church conducts ‘Baptism’ of new members with the usual program of bible study, Passion Week and partaking in the Lord’s Supper. But this year, Pastor Anungla has also started something different—Revival– because she feels that people need to be revived again. “Easter tells me that our God is not a dead God but an ‘Alive’ God. And just as Christ was raised from the dead, we need to revive ourselves again,” says Pastor Anungla, further adding that Easter is also a reflection of heaven and of hope because it is a reminder to her that there is hope to meet your loved ones someday.
“The truth sounds insane sometimes. But that doesn’t mean it’s not the truth,” said Linguini in the movie Ratatouille. The story of Christ’s resurrection may sound as crazy as the story of a rat who can cook. The truth indeed is insane and to an extent defies all rationality. But this truth keeps us sane in an insane world. And this truth is at the heart of Easter!
