Happy Easter dear Spudkins! Christ is risen, Alleluia!

While it only took Jesus three days to return from the dead, since we are not God Himself and are limited by our human failings, it took us three years. Look, we all know what everyone is thinking–“What could the ripepotatoes possibly talk about that would bring them back from the dead? (badum tss). Well, we’ll tell ya–some ugly shoes.

Are you an avid hiker? A spontaneous adventurer? Perhaps, a spelunker of sorts? Do you like to walk in the dirt but not barefoot? Do you want to protect the bottom of your feet but couldn’t care less for the safety of your toes? If you said yes to any of these questions, you are more than likely the unfortunate owner of a well-used pair of Jesus sandals. Though “the Jesus sandal” has become a generalized term to describe a number of hideous shoes, today we are specifically addressing some of the most well known: Chacos and Birkenstocks. In full transparency, we must confess that we ourselves are not even immune. One of us was almost tempted to the allure of Chacos for its outdoorsy appeal, and the other has already fallen prey to the prevailing trend of Birkenstocks. But our hypocrisy has no bearing on the truth: these sandals are undeniably ugly.

Why do these shoes never look like they fit correctly? Why would anyone willingly maintain a perpetual disarray of tan lines? And have you seen people wear socks with them!?! The humanity…or lack thereof.

Almost everything has it’s pros and cons. There are no pros, but for arguments sake, we will find some for you. Pros: slip on, light weight, let your toesies breath, comfortable sole, and effective for most outdoor activities. Cons: None of the pros save you from dirt getting underneath the pads of your foot leaving mud stains and lots of blisters during your trek. Most importantly, none of the pros outweigh the very fact that by gazing at the image provided, you can almost inhale the noxious fumes which are imbedded in the imprint of these shoes.

In our most humble (but correct) opinion, these sandals, are unquestionably shoes which stem directly from the sin of Adam. And yet, it is not lost on us that Jesus wore the aforementioned shoe, thus inspiring the name. This, however, only solidifies our argument, for Jesus bore the sin of our humanity in order to bring us into the fullness of redemption. Just as Christ became man and endured the ugliness of our sins, so did he endure the ugliness of our shoes.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 638 states, “The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ, a faith believed and lived as the central truth by the very first in Christian community.” In fact, our faith only makes sense in context of the Resurrection, for it is through it that God’s glorious plan for salvation is made manifest. “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive”(1 Cor 15: 21-22). After the Fall of Adam and Eve, we see that God, in His everlasting love for us, laid out an opportunity for all of us who are made in His image and likeness to experience His infinite mercy and once more live in fullness of life with Him. SO, what does this mean exactly? It means that Christ loved each and every one of you so perfectly, that he willingly took on your vices, your feelings, every trouble and burden in your life, in order to break the bondage of sin so that you may know His love for you, and that you can be forgiven and begin again.

We see throughout the Old Testament, an unraveling as God slowly reveals His plan for our redemption and begins to guide His Chosen back into right relationship. In Jesus’ birth, God takes on our humanity. In His ministry, the sick are healed, sins are forgiven, the dead are raised, and prophecies fulfilled. And yet, it is not until His death and Resurrection that the divide of Heaven and Earth is mended. This is our faith; that by His suffering and death, Jesus bore the consequences of our fallen humanity, freeing us from sin, and in rising by the power of His divinity, gave hope for life anew; a resurrection of our own bodies, with Him in life eternal. Where Adam failed, Christ conquered.

Much like we are calling you to abandon your disordered tan lines, Christ is calling you to abandon what ties you to this world and rejoice in the Victory which has already been won for you. “Do not abandon yourself to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” -St. John Paul II

Peace Homeboys. Spuds out.