April 27, 2022
Hello everyone,
It often seems like a very sad world we live in these days.
There’s the COVID 19 pandemic that’s been around for well over two years now. Our borders are opening, restrictions are easing, and the country is now in the orange zone. Slowly we are making our way beyond the pandemic. Still, there are concerns about the dogged persistence of this virus and the possible emergence of new variants.
Then, there is the war in Ukraine. For a long time, we were waiting to see what the Russian Federation would do as military forces gathered on the border. Then the invasion began, and it seemed there was little that Ukraine could do to stop the Russians. But the little-known president of Ukraine decided, along with his government and military commanders, to stand his ground. Now, after two months, the battle has shifted, possible war crimes are being investigated and this war continues to haunt our news airwaves.
Meanwhile, the International Panel on Climate Change has warned us that the failure of governments to act on their earlier pledges to reduce carbon emissions and to take other effective actions to protect our environment will likely result in dire consequences for our planet. In other words, we are running out of time.
Another recent study brought to light high levels of stress among people today because of prolonged lockdown, the demands of working and studying at home, and anxieties about the future.
It is certainly a time for Good News. That is what Gospel means; that is what it should be about.
But, as you can see above, our daily news feeds us with plenty of bad or heavy stuff.
Yet here we are celebrating the Resurrection. We have gone through Lent, reflecting on the various ways our lifestyle contributes to the damage done to the environment or the increasing violence and social tension within society. Repentance and the commitment to change are key themes of Lent. Now is the time, however, to restore hope among people who wonder whether there is a future to look forward to. Now is the time to promote peace and non-violence in a world where we witness war and massive destruction. Now is the time to give thanks to God for the beauties of creation and work together with God to ensure that we have a viable and sustainable environment to hand on to future generations. Now is the time for all of us to hold one another, support one another and to ease the anxieties and concerns that can sometimes overwhelm people.
Now is the time to trust that Jesus is calling us to life, to happiness and to trust. Don’t be afraid to tell people of the Good News of Jesus Christ. That is our mission as followers of Jesus. That is our mission, to dispel the sadness and darkness, to bring light and hope to this world, our world.
Tom Rouse - Lower Hutt, New Zealand
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