Easter points us to the way of Jesus Christ

by SVG Christian Council Thu, Apr 5. 2012

We tend to have a culture in which God becomes most important when we find ourselves in a situation in which we are helpless, and every thing seems to be going wrong or we have no control on what is happening in our lives. Outside of this experience, yes God is there, but seemingly far removed from human existence and activity.{{more}} Quite often we separate the gospel from our everyday living as though it is to be confined to the Church, and totally irrelevant to modern society. What matters most is achieving our goals and dreams through whatever methods and schemes avail themselves as long as they are not illegal.

This is not only the mentality of individuals. It is evident in both religious and non religious entities (institutions, organisations, business enterprises, political parties, governments and families). Here self-interest supersedes the common good. Rather than seeking the common good for all, the object is to satisfy one’s own self interest. So, there are those who support a particular political party not because they believe that it has the best policies for the development of the nation, but because they have their own personal agenda. There are similar practices in the other entities mentioned. Human institutions have what one may refer to as a spirit or spirituality which refers to the way they operate, how it relates to its members, employees and customers, the atmosphere which has been created over the years based on it aims and objectives, and these may be good or bad.

Human institutions are necessary structures, though they may be imperfect, but we cannot do without them. We need institutions of all kinds, including that of the family. They are all part of God’s good creation, and the purpose of each is part of his will. Each exists to contribute to human well-being.

We must be reminded that though they were created by God, that like the rest of creation, they are flawed by the fall. This is seen when they abandon their true purpose to serve God and contribute to human well-being and become ends in themselves.

This spirit of seeking one’s self interest or only being concerned for ‘what is in it for me’ leads to a culture of underdevelopment, alienation and death. Easter points us to another way – the way of Jesus Christ. Easter tells us that a self-seeking mindset is redeemable.

We cannot separate Easter from these words of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew 16: 24-26

Then Jesus told his disciples: ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

And John 13:34-35

‘I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’

Easter informs us that we cannot separate our daily lives and activities from our faith in God. It emphasises that the ways of Jesus give more meaning to life than the ways of the world, and following Him is better than chasing after selfish goals.

The Easter message is not for tomorrow, some future time. Easter speaks to a ‘now’ – ‘today’. Easter affirms that in this life we can experience resurrection and newness of life.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Christian Council calls on all citizens, particularly those in civil authority, to lead the way in acknowledging their true purpose, which is to serve God and contribute to human well-being, by being instruments of reconciliation; being more charitable in our public discourse; in daily life and work pursuing standards of integrity and credibility that supersede the law: and working to transform our nation, and by extension the world that all people may have a meaningful existence.

The Council wishes all a Blessed and Happy Easter.

Rt. Rev. C. Leopold Friday
Rev. Adrian Odle
Monsignor Michael Stewart
Major Pierre Antoine