Easter is Not about the Bunny

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter 1:3 NIV

In a feel-good story published by the Illinois Daily Herald on Tuesday, it was reported that Aurora Central Catholic High School senior athlete Patrick Hilby had a day named in his honor during the Aurora City Council Meeting Tuesday after he clinched the national title in the 800-meter run at the New Balance National Indoor Championship Meet. Hilby finished the race in Boston with a time of 1:48:47, the fifth-fastest time in high school American sports history. The annual four-day event draws the best high school track and field athletes in the nation. Hilby competed against more than 100 runners. Mayor Pro Tem Mike Saville and Ward 5 Alderman Carl Franco presented Hilby with a gold trophy and a personalized sign before Saville read a proclamation from Mayor Richard Irvin declaring July 23, 2024, as Patrick Hilby Day in the city. July 23 is his birthday. Do you just love that or what?

And you know, when it comes to setting apart days to honor someone, you and I would do well to remember, and more importantly share, that Easter is not a day to celebrate the Easter bunny (who did absolutely nothing for mankind but cause them to take their eyes off the true meaning of the holiday), but to honor the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made when He died on the cross, was placed in a borrowed tomb, and then rose again on the third day to provide forgiveness for our sins. Do you get that? Because of God’s mercy, we were spared the punishment we deserved and instead given “new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” That’s the reason we celebrate Easter!

So don’t get caught up in the worldly celebration of this holy day my friend. It’s not about egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, or new bonnets. It’s a day set aside to honor our “Lord Jesus Christ” who gave all He had for people like you and me who were helpless to save themselves. 

Heavenly Father, thank You for the mercy You displayed when You sent your one and only Son to be the perfect sacrifice to pay the sin debt that He didn’t owe and the debt we could never pay. Give us a boldness to share this Message with the world Lord so that the lost would be drawn to You. It’s in your precious name we pray Jesus. Amen. 

Happy Running!