Easter Sunday Lesson

by Leigh Pomeroy

I had made copious notes about what to write on this Easter Sunday. Possible subjects included campaign creep, JOBZ, sales tax on clothing, proposed reduced environmental standards on ethanol plants, parallels between the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the American occupation of Iraq — trust me: there are many. But when I woke up I thought, "Hey! It's Easter Sunday. I'd better write something apropos." And so I will.

Easter is one of the two great Christian holidays, the other, of course, being Christmas. One celebrates birth; the other a kind of rebirth — both commemorating the beginnings of new cycles.

Religion has come under much derision of late for being the impetus of bigotry and hate, repression and violence, suicide bombings and 9/11 — even the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

But religion has above all its positive side, and many good people do wonderful things in the name of their beliefs.

For example, there's Heifer International, a Christian-based humanitarian charity that practices that provides domesticated animals and expertise to people throughout the world (including in the United States) to give them the ability to become self-sufficient. As the saying goes, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

Other Christian-based charitable organizations include Habitat for Humanity, the Carter Center and the Salvation Army. I sometimes wonder what communities would do without their Salvation Army centers to help care for the homeless, the jobless, the drug addicted. For many smaller communities the only place to recycle used goods is through their local Salvation Army store.

There are religious-based organizations in other faiths as well that serve vast and diverse populations worldwide.

Yes. there are those individuals who wear their religion on their sleeves and use it to proselytize their own narrow beliefs, advance their careers, enhance their wealth, even justify torture and murder.

But there are more, far more, who quietly practice their beliefs through helping humankind and enhancing the well-being of the planet. Two, for example, are Joe and Elaine Mayer of Rochester, Minn., who have devoted their lives to children as teachers and foster parents, and even in their retirement advocate for humanitarian and progressive causes.

Another is Sister Gladys Schmitz of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato, Minn., who, well into her 80s, still advocates full-time for peace and environmental causes.

A fourth is Tim Stromer of Mankato, who helps run Kids Against Hunger, which provides individually packaged, nutritionally balanced food servings to regions worldwide where hunger crises threaten.

One of the ironies of our world is that these four create small miracles every day and are living examples of the goodness of their respective faiths, while others — far too many — gain media attention for their ruthless religious dogmas and anti-peace, anti-humanitarian practices.

As has been often asked, "What would Jesus do?"

That I will not even presume to answer. But what I will say is this: People should not be judged by their words but by their actions. As Matthew says in the Bible, "By their fruits you shall know them."

This statement transcends religion, culture, creed. And it is, I believe, the perfect lesson for Easter Sunday 2007.