Easter, death and life. Message from Alo Lamere MSC.

From the parish bulletin of St Thomas the Apostle, Blackburn.

We are celebrating Easter this year with joy and at the same time we have concern about conflicts and wars in different parts of the world that caused many deaths and misery of life of those living in the countries involved in the wars. Even the whole world is suffering because of the shortage of energy supplies.

Whatever the reason for the war and conflict, we agree that war is not the path for peace. Pope Leo condemns the war by saying that there is no evidence that the path opened by war creates peace. It is possible that with the strength of the enemy, it is easy to be paralysed. But being paralysed is not peace but a moment of pausing in the spirit of revenge and hostility.

Easter gives us a message of peace that fragile humans are in need of God who is compassionate. It is God who loves life and grieves over death. He is not God who rejoices in death. Our crucified God is the one who comes to liberate and not to oppress and destroy. Our God builds community for his mission of salvation. He does not create communities to destroy others.

Our focus for Easter this year is to pray for peace in the world. Our Lord has come into the world to bring love and peace. We too should promote and create peace for a better world.