This week, the Christian community in Ireland, and around the world, celebrates Holy Week which culminates on Easter Sunday – the feast of feasts. Please see below the statement of Archbishops Eamon Martin and John McDowell (pictured above) for Easter Sunday.
“In his gospel account of the resurrection, the evangelist Saint Luke tells us it was very early in the morning ‘at the first sign of dawn’ when the women discovered that the stone had been rolled way from the tomb of Jesus. Although they had left home in darkness and grief, by sunrise the women were witnessing with joy to the resurrection, and sharing the Good News, “Christòs anésti, Christ is risen!”
“The recent warm spell has brought out the best in springtime and helped to raise our spirits in time for Easter. To see the trees bursting into life and the green shoots of spring flowers everywhere lifts our hearts, and reminds us of the promise and hope of new life after the dark sleep of winter.
“Of course, even in the midst of Spring, it is difficult to escape the reality that the world is currently experiencing a high level of instability and uncertainty. The darkness of war and violence continues to rage; countless families are displaced, and lasting peace seems elusive as more and more countries divert resources from welfare to warfare.
“The journey to Calvary is a path that people everywhere are walking this Holy Week. However the knowledge that Jesus Christ walked that path before us, and continues to walk that path today, is central to the message of Holy Week and Easter. Whatever cross we carry, we do so with the strength of God upholding us; with Jesus by our side, we can truly overcome even the heaviest cross, the darkest situation.
“During our recent Saint Patrick’s Day visits to the United States, we were honoured to speak together at a ‘Faith and Law’ event for Congress Members and staff on Capitol Hill in Washington. We were asked to reflect on the impact of faith on the peace process here in the years that have followed the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. This opportunity allowed us to emphasise once again the importance of not giving up on hope, and of maintaining a strong Christian voice in the public square. We stressed the need to persevere along the road to deeper friendship, respect, tolerance and dialogue.”
To read the full statement by the Archbishops of Armagh, click HERE
