Easter is the greatest and the most important celebration in the church’s liturgical year, as the season of Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It symbolises the fulfilment of our faith and changes the meaning of the cross. The cross symbolised defeat, sin, and death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ thus alters the meaning of the cross from defeat to victory, providing us forgiveness for our sins and resurrection to eternal life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

(John 11:25-26)

We too will be resurrected back to life, if Jesus Christ lives within us, for Christ is the resurrection. When we believe in Christ, we also believe in the resurrection. Our belief in Christ leads us to conversion, this conversion creates a change in us. We become like Christ, and whoever is in Christ, will not remain dead, but will be raised back to life. Therefore, Easter is a season for rejoicing because it is God’s victory over sin, death, and suffering.

This Easter season we specially remember the people of Ukraine and we stand in solidarity with them in their suffering. Jesus Christ is with those who suffer, and we too must be united in their suffering. It is an act of mercy to pray for souls in purgatory who have died in this war. We also must pray for those affected by this war. We must provide support to refugees and victims of war crimes. As Christians, we all must reach out to help those most in need. There are numerous charities providing support and help to the people of Ukraine. They have a greater need of your generosity and help. Ignoring those who are suffering is ignoring Christ.

The season of Easter is a season of rejoicing, however, when we gaze on the plight of human suffering and misery, we may wonder how anyone can possibly rejoice amid this horrendous anguish. We may wonder, how can the people of Ukraine rejoice this Easter? The cross of Christ provides us the response to every human suffering. Christ suffered for us and through His death and suffering, brought redemption for all, therefore, in Christ we can hope and rejoice.

But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed.

(1 Peter 4:13, NRSV).

To make our suffering redemptive and for us to become partakers of the glory of God, we must also have the same attitude of Christ. When Jesus Christ was dying on the cross, He did not curse His enemies, instead He prayed for them.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing”. (Luke 23:34b).

We need to pray for the conversion of Russia, so that they may repent from their errors and wickedness. We must also forgive them for their war crimes. We are followers of Christ, and we must love our enemies. If we are unable to forgive and love our enemies, we will not be able to love Jesus Christ, for He has commanded us to love our enemies. If we fail to love our enemies, we will not be partakers in the resurrection of Christ.

When Jesus was dying on the cross, there were two thieves crucified besides Him, both suffered excruciating death on the cross. However, one became a saint and the other remained a sinner. The one who became a saint had the right attitude, he acknowledged his faults and asked Jesus for His mercy, and he received it.

In Jesus Christ, we have the hope of redemption and glory because He has the power to turn great evil into greater good. For example, Hitler killed many Jews and Christians in his concentration camps and gas chambers. Some of those who were killed became martyrs and saints because they had the same attitude as Jesus Christ.

There are two types of martyrdom, one is red martyrdom, and the other is white martyrdom. In red martyrdom, believers shed their blood and life for their faith. In white martyrdom, believers shed their tears for their faith in Jesus Christ. Today, is the eighth day of Easter, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. When Jesus was pierced on the cross, blood and water came forth from the side of Jesus. The Divine Mercy image shows the blood and water in red and white rays in the image. The Blood of Jesus Christ brings us redemption and the Water symbolises baptism, which cleanses us from our sins. We too are called to be partakers in Christ redemption and new birth in the Spirit. As the people of Ukraine suffer, we too are called to be partakers in their suffering. As one body in Christ, we too suffer with them, so on the day of Christ, we too may rejoice with them.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you

(Mat 5:12).

Amid human suffering, our hope is in Christ and this Easter, we can rejoice because of what Christ has done for us. Our focus is not on the evil and its effects but in the everlasting life Jesus Christ has prepared for us, and therefore, we rejoice evermore.

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