Eastertime

EASTER MESSAGE


Easter is a time of new beginnings; a time when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his triumph over suffering and death.
Easter evokes re-birth and new growth, a season of colour, freshness and renewal.
And so at Eastertime, we recall the great hope which Jesus Christ bestowed on all mankind. And that is the wonderful promise of Eternal Life for all those who believe in him.
Now is the time for all of us to reflect on how and why we celebrate the Resurrection; to consider what that Hope means to our lives and what we can do to nurture and sustain that hope which is offered to each and every one of us – if we truly believe.
Let us ask ourselves what it is we believe and if we are really worthy of realising the promise of Eternal Life?
We are living in an era of radical change where the old Christian value system is being replaced by consumerism, the desire to succeed, and the drive to be satisfied by material things.
But what do we really stand for? What type of society are we creating? What do we represent? And are the values which we are holding the type of values which are lasting and which are uplifting for humanity?
Too often, we are so pre-occupied by the need to be “happy” in this life; we seem to forget that we have a greater purpose on this earth. We simply do not have the time or the inclination to ask ourselves why we are here and where are we going?
We are all on a shared journey. But for many, that journey seems to be without meaning or direction. There is no clear vision of where we are going or how we are going to get there.
The lack of faith and the lack of defined belief leave us without a compass and without a stable anchor. And most of all, when things go wrong, we are bereft of hope.
Because Easter symbolises a time of energy and renewal, it is perhaps appropriate for all of us to look at the real depth of our Christian belief and to what extend we apply that belief as we live out our lives and interact with our fellow man.
There are many features of modern life about which we can be confident and proud. But, there are many more aspects of our new society which should cause concern. The notion of the greater common good seems old-fashioned. As long as I am happy doing what I do, in the way that I want to do it, the impact on others is of no consequence.
The real Christian fabric of our being is under threat as we abandon ideas of respect. And in doing so, we diminish ourselves. We reject true respect for ourselves, for our neighbours, and for authority.  And if that pattrn continues unchecked, we will disintegrate as a society and as a Christian community.
Easter is a time when all of us should take stock of our lives and our faith. Do we make a conscious effort to incorporate Christian principles into our lives? Do we respect our faith, ourselves and our neighbours?
Easter is a time when we can make a genuine effort to renew our own faith in Jesus Christ and allow ourselves to grow and flourish in that faith.
Because the Resurrection of Christ is a real sign of hope, let us allow ourselves to embrace that hope and all that entire it signifies. The promise of Eternal Life should be our spiritual and moral compass and the hope that that represents should fill the great void which so many people feel in their lives.
Let us shape our ideals and the vision for ourselves firmly around Christian values. Easter is a very special time and it is the time when we should re-state our devotion to God and our aspiration to achieve the gift of Eternal Life.

Beannachatai na Casca oraibh go leir.

Father Paschal Moore, P.P

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