Damfino
Gold $$ Contributor
This "parable" was told to me more than 50 years ago by an old, salty, Marine as we shared duty one Easter Sunday a long way from home. Not sure if it's true, but I wouldn't be surprised. You never can tell with those Marines. 
It was the height of the Vietnam War and heaven was overflowing with Marines. Saint Peter decided that in order to slow this down he would quiz every Marine and only those that passed would be granted admission. The Marines that failed would have to do remedial study and take another test at a later date. Soon after 3 Marines show up just outside the Pearly Gates. Saint Peter looks at them and says before I open the gate and before you can come in you must answer one question correctly.
He then turns to the first Marine and asks him, “What is the meaning of Easter?” The Marine says, “It’s a pagan fertility festival, celebrating the end of winter and the arrival of spring.” Saint Peter shakes his head and says, “no.”
He then asks the second Marine, “What is the meaning of Easter?” The second Marine smiles broadly and says, “that’s easy, sir. The Easter bunny arrives and hides Easter eggs for the children to find on Easter Sunday.” Saint Peter slumps down just a little, shakes his head, and ruefully says, “no, that not correct.”
Finally, he turns to the third Marine and says, “Son, I’m really hoping you can tell me what the meaning of Easter is.” This Marine looking very confidant, looks Saint Peter in the eye, winks at him and says, “Lemme tell you Pete, Easter is the Christian holiday that coincides with the Jewish holiday of Passover. By now Saint Peter is looking relieved and nodding his approval. He even has his hand on the gate ready to throw it open. The Marine continues, “Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after he was crucified and died and his body was placed in a cave. On Easter Sunday Jesus emerges from the cave and if he sees his shadow there’s 6 more weeks of winter…
Needless to say all 3 received remedial training, but they did get in eventually.
Happy Easter to you all. Semper Fidelis.
It was the height of the Vietnam War and heaven was overflowing with Marines. Saint Peter decided that in order to slow this down he would quiz every Marine and only those that passed would be granted admission. The Marines that failed would have to do remedial study and take another test at a later date. Soon after 3 Marines show up just outside the Pearly Gates. Saint Peter looks at them and says before I open the gate and before you can come in you must answer one question correctly.
He then turns to the first Marine and asks him, “What is the meaning of Easter?” The Marine says, “It’s a pagan fertility festival, celebrating the end of winter and the arrival of spring.” Saint Peter shakes his head and says, “no.”
He then asks the second Marine, “What is the meaning of Easter?” The second Marine smiles broadly and says, “that’s easy, sir. The Easter bunny arrives and hides Easter eggs for the children to find on Easter Sunday.” Saint Peter slumps down just a little, shakes his head, and ruefully says, “no, that not correct.”
Finally, he turns to the third Marine and says, “Son, I’m really hoping you can tell me what the meaning of Easter is.” This Marine looking very confidant, looks Saint Peter in the eye, winks at him and says, “Lemme tell you Pete, Easter is the Christian holiday that coincides with the Jewish holiday of Passover. By now Saint Peter is looking relieved and nodding his approval. He even has his hand on the gate ready to throw it open. The Marine continues, “Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus after he was crucified and died and his body was placed in a cave. On Easter Sunday Jesus emerges from the cave and if he sees his shadow there’s 6 more weeks of winter…
Needless to say all 3 received remedial training, but they did get in eventually.
Happy Easter to you all. Semper Fidelis.
