Christ is Risen, Indeed He is Risen. On behalf of His Eminence, the priests and staff at the Cathedral, a very blessed Easter to you and your families. May the joy and peace of the risen Jesus be with you. Remembering the words of St Paul, “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (I Cor 15:14). The resurrection, together with the cross, stands at the heart of our Catholic faith. It is as real as the cross, an event rooted in history, not fiction. The apostles and early Christians were willing to be martyred and persecuted for proclaiming that Christ has died and Christ is risen.
We live in a consumeristic and throwaway culture where relationships and commitments are often discarded easily. In such a society there is little time for God or concern for our neighbor. The war and conflicts around the world can cause us to lose faith in humanity. The darkness we see can make us want to retreat and give up.
But we are people of hope. The Cross and Resurrection of Christ have the final word, not death and darkness. We are called to look to Christ who is our surest peace, the Good Shepherd who leads and guides us as we journey in this valley of tears. As men and women of hope, may we be instruments of light and peace by sharing the good news through word and actions: caring for those in our families, helping the poor or being present to those who are struggling and feel isolated.
Easter is the feast of feasts, a time to rejoice. Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death. Like Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, let us contemplate this great mystery and boldly and courageously tell the world that Christ is Risen.
Rev. Edwin Gonsalves