The nation's capital is absolutely beautiful during spring when the flowers and trees display their blooms. Wherever the eye can see, new life emerges with daffodils and tulips, dogwood and cherry blossoms, as they arise from their winter slumber.
Countless millions all over the world will be celebrating Resurrection week. For Jews, this week marks the Feast of Passover as told in the book of Exodus. This beautiful story describes God's deliverance of the Jews from their bondage in Egypt through the sacrifice of an innocent and spotless lamb, whose blood was sprinkled on the doorposts and lintels of their homes.
For Christians, this simple act of faith is portrayed through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who became the Passover Lamb of God, whose blood was shed for all humankind and deliverance from the bondage of sin.
This weekend, Christians from all cultures and nations, and from across the political spectrum and every faith denomination, will unite to remember Christ's Passion on the cross, as well as the hope and ultimate freedom represented by His resurrection.
From the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1774, to our current President, government leaders have honored Holy Week and acknowledged the impact of our Judeo-Christian faith on America's founding and enduring success.
In the same tradition, we are grateful for and celebrate the freedom to both privately and publicly honor the true reason for the season. James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, once said, "The future and success of America is not in this Constitution, but in the laws of God upon which this Constitution is founded."
It is with gratitude that we acknowledge our Constitution that does not prohibit state action that facilitates religious expression, recognizes the faith-based character, history, and practices of its citizens or exempts individuals and organizations from generally applicable laws that might conflict with their religious observances and beliefs. In fact, the "Free Exercise Clause" of the First Amendment only prohibits laws that restrict the free exercise of religion; it does not, and never has, prohibited laws that favor religion and its exercise.
The beauty of our country is that no citizen can be compelled to worship God or participate in any religious act or function, but those who wish to can do so freely. That profound freedom is consistent with who we are as Americans… where individuals are allowed to have a faith and to live out that faith in every area of their lives according to the dictates of conscience. Likewise, people are free to have no faith at all if they so choose. That is a decision each American must make for him or herself.
From all of us here at the nation's capital we celebrate that Jesus Christ Has Risen… He has risen indeed!
(Excerpts from Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, Lee Carawan, Exec. Director)
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