Happy Easter
Wishing Easter blessings to all of our brothers and sisters around the world!
This Good Friday, we commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus, who sacrificed his life out of love for his believers and all humanity. Despite it being a sad day in history, this paved the way for mankind’s physical salvation. Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus two days later, but it is also the day a new truth was revealed in 1935 when True Father received a spiritual visitation from Jesus, who called on him to continue the mission of spiritual salvation.
“God is not a denominationalist,” wrote True Father in his autobiography, As a Peace-Loving Global Citizen (2009). “He is not bound by secondary arguments over doctrine. There are no distinctions over nationality or race in God’s great parental heart ... Christianity today must have a great awakening and come together as one. Clergy, too, must reexamine the roles that you have been playing until now and repent ... There needs to be a new reformation.”
With love and repentance, let’s remember the true spirit of Easter and God’s heartfelt desire for our salvation. Below is a passage from True Father’s autobiography, recalling the pivotal encounter with Jesus that forever changed his life and brought a new understanding of God’s Word to the world.
Excerpt:
Early Easter morning, after I had spent the entire night in prayer, Jesus appeared before me. He appeared in an instant, like a gust of wind, and said to me, “God is in great sorrow because of the pain of humankind. You must take on a special mission on earth having to do with Heaven’s work.”
That day, I saw clearly the sorrowful face of Jesus. I heard his voice clearly. The experience of witnessing the manifestation of Jesus caused my body to shake violently, like a quaking aspen’s leaves trembling in a strong breeze. I was simultaneously overcome with fear so great I felt I might die and gratitude so profound I felt I might explode. Jesus spoke clearly about the work I would have to do. His words were extraordinary, having to do with saving humanity from its suffering and bringing joy to God.
My initial response was, “I can’t do this. How can I do this? Why would you even give me a mission of such paramount importance” I was truly afraid. I wanted somehow to avoid this mission, and I clung to the hem of his clothing and wept inconsolably…
What was clear was that I had received a special mission from Heaven. It was such a huge and tremendous responsibility. I shuddered in fear to think that I might not be able to handle it on my own. I clung to prayer even more than before, in an attempt to quiet my confused heart. But even this had no effect. No matter how much I tried, I could not free myself for even a moment from the memory of having met Jesus.
My encounter with Jesus changed my life completely. His sorrowful expression was etched into my heart as if it had been branded there, and I could not think of anything else. From that day on, I immersed myself completely in the Word of God…
I was still very young, but in the end I chose the path of the wise person. I gladly offered up my life in order to pursue the way God desired. I could not have run away if I tried; this was the only way I could have chosen.
You can learn more about True Father’s calling in his autobiography available here.