“Truly He is arisen, alleluia!” Those words conclude a traditional Easter greeting for Chrisitans in many parts of the world. Truly he is arisen! The fact of Jesus’ resurrection changes everything. Alleluia! 
      For me, Jesus’ resurrection is the best evidence that God is there and that God cares. It vindicates Jesus’ teaching about forgiveness and self-giving love. It vindicates Jesus’ claim to be the promised Messiah and the Son of God. And it gives me hope. 
      For all the things I don’t understand, there is the hope of God’s love that overcame even death and sin. I love how Jesus’ resurrection gives me hope that God’s will for me will be good for me; hope that the story God is writing with my life has a happy ending, even with all the lines I write wrong. We begin a new message series next weekend here at SSP parish. It’s called
“Faith + Time = Understanding.” Come learn with us how we come to understand the meaning of our experiences, the wisdom of Jesus’ ways, and the mysteries of God when by loving others day by day we give our faith time to grow. Whether you are with family and friends today or passing a quiet Easter alone, may God fill your heart with the hope Christ gives!