[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 44 (Friday, April 7, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3368-S3369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              EASTER WEEK

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, this Sunday, April 9, is Palm Sunday, thank 
God. It marks the beginning of the Christian holy week and Easter. The 
Senate will recess today so that Members might celebrate this holy week 
in the home churches, among their families, friends, and constituents. 
Before we adjourn, I would like to give a little consideration to those 
world-shaping events of some 2,000 years ago.
  Whether one counts himself or herself as a Christian of any 
denomination or a follower of any other faith, one must admit that the 
man, the person, at the center of the Easter celebration was and is a 
figure of historical import, just as are the founding figures of the 
rest of the world's religions. There are today, by some estimates, 
approximately 2.1 billion Christians of all denominations, more than 
any other religious affiliation, and almost twice as many as those who 
describe themselves as secular, nonreligious, agnostic, or atheist--1.1 
billion. By way of contrast, there are approximately 1.3 billion 
adherents of Islam and just 14 million of Jesus' Jewish faith. That one 
man's example and teachings have affected so many people so deeply and 
for so many years is a testament to his faith.
  On Palm Sunday, a rabbi from Galilee, whom we know best today as 
Jesus, made a public entrance into Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish 
holiday of Passover.
  In doing so, Jesus surely knew what was in store for Him. He knew--He 
knew--He was a wanted man. He knew He was a wanted man--He knew it--
marked for arrest by the civil authorities who feared that He would 
incite a rebellion that would lead to Roman occupation and unprotected 
by religious authorities who feared His teachings and who could not 
countenance His refusal to deny being more than human. But still He 
came. Still He came and the people cheered and threw palm leaves, a 
symbol of triumph and the national symbol of an independent Palestine, 
before his path. What a remarkable act of faith. What a remarkable act 
of faith to come willingly to one's tragic end, seeing through the 
suffering to the miracle of resurrection. The miracle; the miracle of 
resurrection. What a remarkable act of courage, to remain silent and 
smiling at the people He knew would not or could not aid Him in His 
final hours.
  Some 2,000 years later, those 2.1 billion Christians around the world 
commemorate Jesus' final entry into Jerusalem by making crosses out of 
palm fronds, combining the triumphant entrance with the lasting image 
of Jesus Christ on the cross.
  By Thursday, called Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, Jesus' freedom 
ended after His last meal, when He was arrested and imprisoned, 
betrayed--yes, betrayed--by Judas for 30 pieces of silver. 
Foreknowledge could not have made those fateful moments any easier to 
bear. On Good Friday, Christians will solemnly remember His suffering 
and death upon the cross. Candles and lights will be extinguished in 
memory of His final hours. Good Friday remains a sad, dark day despite 
the knowledge of His resurrection to leaven the terrible suffering He 
endured.
  Holy Saturday is a day of vigil, as Christians figuratively keep 
watch over Christ's tomb and await the glorious resurrection to come. 
And Easter Sunday, or Resurrection Sunday, is a joyful, glorious day of 
reaffirmed faith, of promises kept, of hope restored.
  I read now from the Book of St. Matthew, the 28th chapter, the first 
through the seventh verses, the King James version of the Holy Bible:

       In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the 
     first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary 
     to see the sepulchre.
       And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of 
     the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the 
     stone from the door, and sat upon it.
       His countenance was like lightening, and his raiment white 
     as snow:
       And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as 
     dead men.
       And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not 
     ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
       He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the 
     place where [Jesus] lay.

  The scriptures say:

       Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
       And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen 
     from the dead; and, behold, He ``goeth before you into 
     Galilee; there shall ye see Him: Lo, I have told you.''

  For the next 40 days, Christ proved to his followers that He had, 
indeed, risen from the dead. Then He ascended into Heaven, fulfilling 
the final promise of His wondrous life. As John 3:16 so beautifully 
summed up the central promise of the Christian faith, ``For God so 
loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever 
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.'' In 
Jesus' resurrection and ascension, God offers the greatest and only 
proof of His love and His promise that in death, there is life in 
faith. That--that, not chocolate bunnies and colorful eggs--is the 
great gift of Easter. Its comfort and solace linger on in the soul even 
longer than chocolate does on the lips. It warms us even more during 
sad times--yes--than does the spring sun after a cold and cheerless 
winter.

[[Page S3369]]

  And so it is because of this great gift, this promise--yes, this 
promise of everlasting life and the heart-searing proof through 
sacrifice that Christianity survived the passing of its founder. Nearly 
2,000 years later, the words and example of the Rabbi from Galilee 
motivate and support over 2 billion--over 2 billion--people around the 
world. Governments have tried to stamp Him out, but still He endures in 
the hearts of His devout followers. Technology has tried to distract 
us, but still His word--yes, his word--beckons. I am sure that whatever 
trials and tribulations lie ahead, His teachings and faith will offer 
comfort and hope no matter how bleak the future might appear. In all of 
the moments of our lives, large and small, joyful and desolate, 
triumphant and abject, He--yes, He is there at our side with support 
and hope. I do feel for those 1.2 billion people who do not have faith 
to sustain them and give them strength. It is a deep, deep well of 
support and nourishment for the weary soul--for the weary soul.
  Mr. President, I close my speech with the words of Henry Wadsworth 
Longfellow from his poem ``Christus: A Mystery.'' In the poem, Prince 
Henry is speaking to Elsie as they cross the square:

       This is the day, when from the dead our Lord arose; and 
     everywhere, out of their darkness and despair, triumphant 
     over fears and foes, the hearts of his disciples rose, when 
     to the women, standing near, the angel in shining vesture 
     said, ``The Lord is risen; He is not here!'' And, mindful 
     that the day is come, on all the hearths in Christendom the 
     fires are quenched, to be again rekindled from the sun, that 
     high is dancing in the cloudless sky. The churches are all 
     decked with flowers, the salutations among men are but the 
     Angel's words divine, ``Christ is arisen!'' And the bells 
     catch the glad murmur, as it swells, and chant together in 
     their towers. All hearts are glad; and free from care the 
     faces of the people shine. See what a crowd is in the square, 
     gayly and gallantly arrayed!

  Mr. President, let me close--and I hope I have not imposed too long 
on the Senate and on my friends who may have been waiting--let me close 
with these words spoken by William Jennings Bryan in his speech on 
immortality. Now is the time to think about it. That is what Easter is: 
the promise of immortality.

       If the Father deigns to touch with divine power the cold 
     and pulseless heart of the buried acorn, and make it burst 
     forth from its prison walls again in the mighty Oak, will He 
     leave neglected in the Earth the soul of man, who was made in 
     the image of his Creator? If He stoops to give to the 
     rosebush, whose withered blossoms float upon the autumn 
     breeze, the sweet assurance of another springtime, will He 
     withhold all the words of hope from the sons of men when the 
     frosts of winter come? If Matter, mute and inanimate, though 
     changed by the forces of Nature into a multitude of forms, 
     can never die, will the imperial spirit of man suffer 
     annihilation after a brief visit to this tenement of clay?

  No.

       Rather, let us believe that He who, in his apparent 
     prodigality, wastes not the raindrop, the blade of grass, or 
     the evening's sighing zephyr, but makes them all to carry out 
     His eternal plans, has given immortality to the mortal.

  Amen.


                in thanks to jay and sharon rockefeller

  Mr. President, at this time of Easter, at this time of rejoicing in 
the promise of eternal life, I also rejoice in the friendship that I 
share with my colleague from West Virginia, Senator Jay Rockefeller, 
and his lovely wife, Sharon. Jay and Sharon Rockefeller are jewels. 
They have always opened their doors and their hearts to me and to my 
darling wife, Erma.
  For more than 20 years, Jay Rockefeller and I have worked in 
partnership for the people of West Virginia. There have been good times 
and bad; moments of great joy and moments of great hardship. But at 
each turn, we have stood together for our State, the Mountain State, 
West Virginia, where Mountaineers are always free.
  In the past few years, when my wife battled against illness, Jay 
Rockefeller always took the time to ask about her. He and Sharon always 
wanted to know how Erma was. Stand her side-by-side with Jay, and Erma 
probably didn't reach his chest. But she had a place in his and 
Sharon's heart, just as he and Sharon did in hers.
  Today, Senator Jay Rockefeller is recovering from back surgery. He 
has missed some time in the Senate, and we have missed him here. I know 
that Jay will be back on his feet soon. And, when he walks through the 
Senate door, I shall welcome him with open arms.
  I wish Senator Jay Rockefeller and his charming wife, Sharon, a most 
blessed Easter, and I thank them for their long and warm friendship 
toward Erma and me.
  I thank all Senators, and I yield the floor.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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