On this Easter morning, I invite you to close your eyes and picture the day when we will declare victory over COVID-19. It has brought so much suffering, death and sorrow across the globe; imagine the joy and freedom to spring forth when we finally see the pandemic ended. We’ll throw our face masks aside. We’ll gather with our friends and relatives. (And I mean really gather – not on Zoom.) We’ll hug and shout and celebrate. What a party that will be!
Praise God, that day will come. But as we anticipate celebrating the victory over COVID, consider how much more the cause to celebrate our greater victory already accomplished. The empty tomb of Jesus marks the greatest victory of all.
He is risen, indeed! And by His victory over death, He paves the way for our own triumph over death: our victory right now over the fear of death, and our ultimate victory of eternal life with Him.
“Where, O death, is your victory,” asks the Apostle Paul in First Corinthians Chapter 15. “Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
That calls for a victory party and heart-felt gratitude, not just on Easter, but every day. Let’s share with others our joy and freedom in Christ. And as we go about our daily lives, at work, at school, at home, may we follow Paul’s admonitions at the end of that glorious Chapter 15: “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
To all in the PBA community, I wish you Happy Easter, and I thank you for your precious labor in the Lord. And in case you missed the Palm Sunday and Good Friday messages from Dr. Kathy Maxwell and Dr. Bernie Cueto, just follow the links here.
– Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, University President
