Easter 2006
Included in Easter 2006During the Easter egg hunt at the White House, killer hares lead the celebrations.
Urgybe et Orbi Embassy - Easter 2006
- We have a resurrection of Christ! Last night's great vigil witnessed the crucial and omnipresent resurrection experience, the pivotal secret of the Christendom. Countless Easter lights have been lighted in the church to symbolise the candle of Christ that has illuminated and still illuminates mankind and conquers the dark of sins and deaths forever.
Today echoes the words that astounded them on the early mornings of the first Sabbath when they came to the grave where the corpse of Christ, hastily torn down from the cross, was lay. It is not here, it is risen" (Lk 24:5-6). He is resurrected.
" Above all, the divine heralds that Jesus "is not there": the Son of God did not stay in the grave because he could not be kept captive by dying (cf. Acts 2:24) and could not cling to "the living" (Rev 1:18), who is the fount of the world.
As Jonah in the stomach of the beast, so too was the Christ on the cross devoured into the hearts of the world for the duration of a Sabbath (cf. Mt 12:40). This Sabbath was indeed "a high day," as St John says to us (Jn 19:31): the highest in the world, for then the "Lord of the Sabbath" (Mt 12:8) fulfilled the work of creating (cf. Gen 2:1-4a) and raised man and the whole universe to the splendid freedom of the sons of God (cf. Rom 8:21).
At the time of this exceptional work, the breathless flesh was pervaded by the vital breathing of God, and as the grave was crushed, it stood up ingloriousness. That' s why the cherubs announce "he is not here", he is no longer to be found in the grave.
His pilgrimage on the ground was made among us, he finished his burial voyage like all men, but he defeated the dead and opened the ground in a whole new way through an act of clean charity, throwing it into heaven. He is resurrected through our own life, through our own christening, which "includes" us in him.
"Behold, I will open your tombs and lift you up from your tombs, my nation, and I will take you home to the country of Israel" (Ez 37:12). On Easter Sunday, these words of prophecy have a unique value, for today the Creator's promises are true; today, even in this time of fear and insecurity, we are witnessing the resurrection experience that has transformed the face of our lives and the story of Mankind.
All those who are still suppressed by the chain of Passion and by the resurrected Christ are looking for God's salvation, sometimes even without being known. Let the spirit of the Resurrected One in particular to the people of Darfur, who live in a tragic and unacceptable human condition, to the people of the Great Lakes area, where many injuries have not yet disappeared, to the people of the Horn of Africa, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Zimbabwe and other countries striving for forgiven peace, equity and prosperity, and to help and ensure safety.
Let Iraq's tranquillity at last triumph over the merciless tragedy of continuing violent outbursts. Sincere prayers also go out to those involved in the Holy Land conflicts for tranquillity, and I call on all to engage in patience and perseverance in dialog in order to overcome both old and new barriers.
Let the multinational fellowship, which reaffirms Israel's just right to life in silence, help the Palestinians to surmount the fragile circumstances under which they survive and to construct their ailing state. Let the Risen Lord's Ghost revive the enthusiasm of Latin American countries to improve the lives of tens of millions as well as to eradicate the unfortunate plague of abduction and to consolidate democracy in a sense of unity and genuine solidarys.
Let the resurrected Lord experience the power of his own lives, his own tranquillity and his own liberty everywhere. The words with which the angel calmed the fearful heart of Easter mothers today are directed to all: "Do not be fearful! It is not here; it has been resurrected (Mt 28,5-6)".
He is resurrected and gives us tranquillity; He Himself is tranquillity. "He is resurrected - Christós Anesti. Its gospel completely eliminates the desire for tranquillity and joy found in every mortal soul. Now Christ is living and he is going with us.