Last Sunday, during the children’s message, our pastor invited them to each take a piece of paper upon which was written the word ‘ALLELUIA.”  They were instructed to hold on to them until the end of the service when they would come forward and place them in a box until Easter morning when they’d be released again.

During this time of Lent, our thoughts turn to repentance.  We should be looking at our sins with sadness.  Those sins are responsible for the sacrifice God made, by sending  His own flesh and blood to die in our place. That sacrifice would end all future sacrifices. On Good Friday, Jesus would be placed before a jeering crowd, spat upon, made to carry the instrument of His execution, be whipped with the lash and mocked as He gave up His life to pay for the sins of the world.  That perfect love – that unconditional love – that pure love that only God can give – is a gift to everyone who believes in Him.

Our hearts should be contemplative.  We should really think about the cost.  We should put our alleluias away for a while and turn to a realization of what it all means.  On Easter morning, when Jesus conquered death by rising to life, the alleluias will ring out with great excitement, because we know that when our own death comes, we will rise again!

ALLELUIA!