Our reason for hope

By Matthew Biddle

THE RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ is not just an historic event, but the source of all hope in a world engulfed by darkness, Archbishop Christopher Prowse told the congregation of St Christopher’s Cathedral on Easter Sunday, March 27.

“So many people in the world today feel that the world is not becoming a place of safety or care, indeed some would say it’s becoming a hostile planet,” the Archbishop told a crowd of more than 800, which spilled outside and onto the steps of the Cathedral.

From left to right, Marist College students Xavier Mooney, Pat Cross (John) Andrew Colmer (Jesus), and Aiman Batsch during a portrayal of the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. PHOTO: MATTHEW BIDDLE

From left to right, Marist College students Xavier Mooney, Pat Cross (John) Andrew Colmer (Jesus), and Aiman Batsch during a portrayal of the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. PHOTO: MATTHEW BIDDLE

These fears, the Archbishop explained, include concerns over ecological issues, threats to marriage and family life, and homelessness, among others. He likened such fears to the fear experienced by Mary Magdalene on Easter morning.

“She places herself in a tailspin of fear and despair with humanity, and she says ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him’,” he said. “It’s a bit like us saying, ‘They have taken the dignity out of humanity and we don’t know where they’ve placed dignity’. So we can easily join the nascent Christian Church in the first moments there.”

Yet, just as Mary Magdalene’s fears were soon overcome by joy, we too must never lose hope.

“Despite all the reasons for dragging us down into the darkness, there is every reason for hope because of Jesus Christ, and only because of Jesus Christ,” Archbishop Christopher said.

“We don’t just come to Mass today to recall an historic event. We come here today because in the midst of our darkness, we want to be people of hope, not a naïve optimism, but a realistic hope.”

Christ, through his suffering and death, has “nailed our darkness” to the cross, taking on our burdens and redeeming us, the Archbishop said. “Only God himself can transform sinful, broken, fragile humanity into something that reflects God’s original design for us,” he said.