President's Easter Message

Team-Rev-Galbraith

Bishop, the Rev’d Everald L. Galbraith C.D., J.P.a

CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED!

An ancient Christian greeting was: “Christ is risen!” The response was: “He is risen indeed!” This greeting was a declaration of victory and hope. It affirmed vindication and the removal of the deepest gloom into which the disciples of Jesus had descended. It was a shout of hope.

As we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, I adapt the words of Jackie DeShannon’s song “What the world needs now, Is love, sweet love, No, not just for some but for everyone” and declare that what the world needs now is hope, confident hope, no, not just for some but for every human being.

I am speaking about hope for the Haitians who desperately want an end to sufferings, stigma discrimination; for those who desire and are seeking refuge and a preferred future in other countries; for those in war-torn and strife ridden countries such as Syria, Yemen, Ukraine and Mali; hope for the stateless people of the world; for those who have been trafficked; for those suffering from domestic violence, or terminal illness, or who have been unjustly incarcerated, or who have been marginalized; hope for those who have suicidal ideations, and those who feel trapped by social structures… We need hope.

When the angels said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised” (Matt.28, 5-6) a new day began to dawn. This is an assurance that regardless of how hopeless your or anyone’s situation is or appears to be God is in control and God can turn things around. God can “roll away the stone” and can bring us from the depths of hopelessness.

Friends, let us maintain our hope because in the name of Jesus, through the power and goodness of God we shall have the victory. As we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus let us, like St. Paul say: “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:55, 57).

There is hope for everyone! Have a blessed and Holy Easter!!