From The Bishop

The Easter message offers great hope as we celebrate the fact that triumph can come from tragedy. If we focus on the risen Lord, we will see that good can come from bad. One of the more striking images from the tragic fire that ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on Monday was the picture of the sanctuary with a simple gold cross shining brightly in the midst of smoke and the charred remains of the roof. The government has pledged to rebuild and assured the people of France, and the world, that Notre Dame will have new life and be "more beautiful than before." For me, all of this serves as a powerful metaphor for Easter. The cross is one of the most identifiable and enduring Christian symbols. By his cross and resurrection, Jesus was able to turn what seemed to be failure into victory. Ultimately, the resurrection shows us that God is able to turn evil into good. The Easter message offers great hope as we celebrate the fact that triumph can come from tragedy. If we focus on the risen Lord, we will see that good can come from bad. We will not lose hope because all things are possible with God. A wonderful example of this can be found in the scripture passage titled, "The Road to Emmaus." On the day of the Resurrection two of Jesus's disciples were travelling from Jerusalem to the town of Emmaus. They were distraught and disillusioned by the death of Jesus and the news that he had risen. Along the road they encounter Jesus; however, they did not recognize him. He initiates a conversation by asking them why they are so sad. They tell the story and share their confusion, and Jesus responds, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" (Luke 24:25-27). They only recognized Jesus during a meal at the end of their journey. They said, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road?" (Luke 24:32). Their encounter with the risen Lord transformed their sadness into joy. One of the greatest mysteries that we all must face is death. When a loved one dies, Christians should grieve with hope because of the resurrection. When this earthly journey is complete, we share in the victory of Christ over sin and death. This offers us great joy because, like those disciples who walked with the risen Lord, we know that we will see our loved ones again! We believe that life is changed, not ended, and this fact becomes a great source of comfort. When we are experiencing difficulties, it is easy to despair, especially if we cannot see any possible good coming from the situation. From a Christian perspective, these are our daily crosses. Like the disciples on the road, they become much easier to carry when we walk with Christ. He opens our eyes and hearts to a new understanding of the mysteries of life. The recent sadness of many people in the world has turned to hope because of a proposed restoration of a cathedral. This is good news. However, it pales in comparison to the significance of the resurrection which offers new life. We focus on Jesus, who by his Holy Cross has redeemed the world and offers to us something that is "more beautiful than before." Our Lord has done all of this because he loves us. This Easter, may you experience that love. Gerard Bergie is bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Catharines. bishop@saintcd.com Published first in St. Catherines Standard: https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/opinion-story/9291713-faith-matters-symbols-of-hope-can-be-found-all-around-us-this-easter-season/