Easter Message from the Prior Provincial and Council
Dear brothers and sisters,
How are we to celebrate Easter joy with all the sufferings around, including the lamentations we heard from our ailing and abused Mother Nature? How can we afford to hope when people tend to satisfy their insatiable hunger for personal possessions and glory at the expense of the disadvantaged and vulnerable?
The cross of Jesus can help us find the answer to our questions. It is even the answer! More importantly, his glorious resurrection confirms the victory Christ has won for us by dying on the cross.
In the early days, Christians used to gather the entire night in vigil, in expectancy of the Lord’s resurrection. They remembered the death of Jesus, and at daybreak, they celebrated his victory over it. Matthew’s account in the Easter Vigil’s liturgy points out to the feast of the risen Christ, with renewed energy, enlightenment and life for all. We are incorporated into Christ through baptism, which has its most appropriate framework at the Easter Vigil.
COME AND SEE
The death of the Lord had confused and frightened the disciples which made some of them withdrew, but the women in the gospels were not intimidated. They were the first persons who went “to see the tomb” (Mt 28:1). The women were lovingly looking for the body of the crucified and dead Jesus but an angel told them to go and see the tomb, which was empty. Upon seeing that the tomb was empty, a new realization dawned on them, that Jesus is alive! They left the tomb “with fear and great joy” and “they ran to tell the disciples” (28:8).
BE NOT AFRAID
Jesus met these faithful and courageous women greeting them with “rejoice!” Having verified on many occasions that the Lord is alive, the duty of the witnesses was to proclaim this truth to all. The messenger’s assurance with the words “do not be afraid” (28:5) emboldened the believers to tell this resurrection story.
WE ARE ALSO CALLED TO COME AND SEE AND TO NOT BE AFRAID
With what is happening to humanity and the whole of creation, the Carmelites, as prophets and contemplatives, are challenged to see every situation with the eyes and heart of God. We are also called to announce and defend the good news and denounce all bad news affecting the lives of the people and nature.
Let our celebrations echo the cries, sentiments and hope of the people that the truth and fruits of the resurrection be a spark of a movement that will foster solidarity and collective action.
Let us help build basic communities that mirror the qualities of the kingdom as proclaimed and espoused by Jesus himself.
A blessed Easter to all!
Fr. Rico P. Ponce, O.Carm.
Prior Provincial
