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Dear Father Paul

Dear Father Paul: Why does Easter come on a different Sunday every year? Our pastor says that Easter is the holiest day of the year. Why? — Wally, Fayetteville.

Dear Wally: Prior to 325 A. D. Easter was variously celebrated on different days of the week including Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In that year, all of the Bishops of the Church were called to a council at Nicaea by emperor Constantine. A rule was issued by the Bishops which states that Easter shall be celebrated on the first Sunday that occurs after the the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox (March 21). Therefore, Easter is always celebrated between the dates of March 22 and April 25.

As with all "Christian" holidays, Easter has been secularized and commercialized. But to serious Christians Easter is about more than bunnies, eggs and new clothes. On Easter Christians celebrate the resurrection (the raising from the dead) of our Lord Jesus. By himself raising his son Jesus from the dead, God the Father was saying that Jesus' suffering and death on the cross was an acceptable price and acceptable payment for mankind's sins. In other words, the price for man's sins had been paid!  God's Word, the Bible, teaches that those of us who have put our faith and trust in Jesus and his death and resurrection shall one day ourselves be resurrected to live with him forever. Wow! Now that's good news! Easter is so important and so holy that many people feel that they can attend church on just this one day of the year and get all they need from God for the whole year. Sorry, Wally, I just couldn't help myself.

Dear Father Paul: My good friend is hooked on cocaine. I've never been into drugs and I don't know how to relate to her. What do I tell her? — Jennifer, Fayetteville.

Dear Jennifer: Tell her simply (but firmly) that doing drugs will ruin her life and ultimately kill her! Yes, it is really that bad and that simple. Also, tell her that you love her and that God loves her and BOTH of you want her to get help now!

Narcotics Anonymous is a really good place for her to start. The South Atlanta Chapter can be reached at (888) 766-1572 or www.southatl@grscna.com Also, I would be happy to meet with her myself and pray with her or referr her to a pastor in her denomination. She can reach me via my e-mail address paulmassey@earthlink.net

Dear Father Paul: A friend I work with hurt me very badly last month and I am angry and bitter. I find myself sitting around daydreaming of ways to get even. I know that this attitude is wrong but I can't seem to help it. — Andrea, Fayetteville.

Dear Andrea: I know exactly how you feel. Does that surprise you? Yes, preachers get hurt and want to "get even" too. But it is wrong, period, for all of us, you and me alike.

There is a wonderful passage in the Bible, Romans 12:9-21, that is too long to quote in full here. I urge you to read these verses and carefully ponder them. Just a few exerpts: verse 14, "Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse;" verse 17, "Do not repay evil for evil;" verse 19, "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord;" and finally, verse 21, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." After you get beyond this stage, the really hard part comes...you must forgive the person! Don't worry, God will give you the grace to do it. Ask him.

Father Paul Massey will answer your question. Write him at P.O. Box 510, Fayetteville, 30214 or paulmassey@earthlink.net