2022 EASTER MESSAGE

“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

Luke 24/5

This was Mary Magdalene, Peter and John’s initial endeavour: to seek and find Jesus! He who said to them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives.” I give you my peace, ‘The peace that I receive from my Father every day’.

Here, on this day of Easter, is the treasure we hold in our hands.

But how and where is Jesus to be found when many situations today seem to be at a complete standstill?

The war in Ukraine, the endless conflicts in Syria; and in Ethiopia. The impossibility for Israel and Palestine to recognise each other. The multiple conflicts in many countries… migrants and refugees who are rejected by almost everyone and migration policies that are ever-more-repressive in the face of galloping xenophobia which fuels fear. 

Meanwhile, on all continents the poor are getting poorer.

So how can we keep on struggling? How can we continue to welcome and believe that from death springs life?

Let us open our eyes!

How many organisations, associations, humanitarian or Christian movements do we see around us that for years have been working for freedom, democracy, the recognition of women, the abolition of the death penalty, the protection of the planet? And the list is not limited to these issues alone! Two years ago, solidarity resurged in the face of the COVID19 pandemic, and recently in the face of the war in Ukraine. Can we not see the Church undertaking a journey following the Pope’s call, through the endeavour of synodality, thus becoming the people of God? Do we not see the blame-worthy Church entering into a process of truth-seeking to recognise the numerous condemnable sexual and power abuses that destroyed people? Is this not in some way echoing the word of God, “Where is your brother? What have you done to your brother?” All these acts, great and small, affirm the greatness of each person and express the choice of reconciliation so that life can prevail. ‘Let us be surprised by the delicateness of the good that comes unexpectedly to illuminate our lives.’

Yes, indeed, just as all those in the history of humanity, from Ruth and Naomi who have accompanied us in this preparation for the General Chapter, to Mary Magdalene and the apostles, we too are called to go beyond our limits, our fears, our disbelief, our despair, because in the “barge of the Church” Jesus says to us, “Why are you afraid?” We can come out of our confinement and withdrawal to be bold witnesses. Death is defeated on this day of Easter. Joy – that “missionary joy” – and hope are possible.

This is how the words of Jesus,

“My peace I give you”, come true.

Following his example, by contemplating Him, as Etienne Pernet asks us to do, we can receive the peace of the Father if we take the time to pray to Him, to contemplate Him in order to recognise Him as the disciples did on the road to Emmaus. In this way, we are willing to make room for him by chasing away our excessive worries, uncertainties, imprisonment and discouragement, as well as our dreams of powerfulness. Keep this void within us, at the very heart of our limitations, so that God can deposit his peace there.

This peace we can offer in reciprocity with those who are enduring the same struggle for life, with those who are sometimes discouraged from fighting.

“By proclaiming Jesus Christ who is peace incarnate (Eph 2:14), the new evangelisation commits every baptised person to be an instrument of peace and a witness to a reconciled life”. May we be true companions of hope and peace because we know and we believe that Christ is risen. He goes before us and accompanies us in our galilées today.

General Council of the Little Sisters of the Assumption