Bishop Ibrahim Mikhail Ibrahim
By the grace of God
Eparch of Greek Melkite Catholics in Canada.
To the Priests, Deacons, Religious Brothers and Sisters
And the faithful and friends of our Eparchy blessed by God
Christ is risen. He is truly risen!
“Some also of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers met him. And some said, ‘What would this babbler say?’ Others said, ‘He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities’ -- because he preached Jesus and the resurrection…So Paul, standing in the middle of the Areop'agus, said: ‘Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, `To an unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.’” (Acts 17: 18, 22-23).
In a world surrounded by darkness of wars and tragedies, a light shines from a tomb which was hewn out in the rock and was supposed to contain the body of a young man in his bright youth who was tortured and crucified until death, and was buried in it. Today, after more than two thousand years, no one has been able to stop the shining light from that empty tomb. No one has ever been able to invalidate the everlasting and ever new truth that Christ died and has risen triumphant over death and all its symbols. Yes, life in the One who said that He is the way, the truth and the life, has conquered death in an everlasting and abiding victory. However, this truth does not suit those who do not believe in it, for they consider it one of myths or frauds. Some of them have collected all their power and money to fight it. Capital money spent today in the globe to feed the media against the Church is an example that shows us how much is the veiled and unveiled enmity they plot. Nevertheless, the power of the Church lays in her meekness and non-violent defence of the human dignity and the rights of the weak in peaceful ways, inspired by the treasures of the Spirit and the unceasing work of divine grace given to her. In Palm Sunday, Pope Francis invited the faithful to look into the suffering that surrounds us due to evil present in the world. We too contribute to the increase of this evil. The Pope spoke about “our personal sins: absence of love and respect of God, neighbour and the entire creation.” “On the cross, Jesus experienced the weight of all this evil, conquered it by the power of God’s love, and defeated it by his Resurrection” he continued. “If we feel we are weak, inadequate, and powerless, we must not despair, for God does not look for powerful means as He has defeated evil by the cross” And he said “With Christ, we can change ourselves and the world. We must continue to proclaim the victory of the cross to all, and everywhere we proclaim this great love of God.”
When we speak about the Resurrection, we speak about the power of love that became a civilization of love for people in Jesus Christ. Our faith in the Resurrection of Christ introduces us to this civilization, and strengthens us to sow the culture of life in place of the culture of death. Between death and life, no other state exists. If you believe in the resurrection of Christ, you have automatically chosen the culture of life. But if you believe that death is the end of your existence, then what culture do you preach? An Atheist may answer you that he works for life as long as he lives, but once dead he will ceases to exist! They divinize the universe, from Heraclitus up to this day. They practice atheism, each in his own way; for the universe to them is nothing but a succession of accidents. To them, the universe creates itself by itself through accidents and not through creation. Nothing existed before it, and nothing will exist after it. To them, the idea of a creator and creation is not acceptable. The universe to them is like God to us. The universe fascinates them while the Creator fascinates us. They love philosophy while we love theology. They sink in the sea of the material while we plunge in the infinite seas of the Spirit. The way they walk must change in time to indolence and idleness while faith invigorates us to walk in the ways of labour. They see no more mysteries in the cosmos! They find no more amazing things. Nothing anymore makes them wonder. As for us, we remain in wonder and amazement before the cosmos and the divine truths! Their atheism drives them to their desires and lusts. Therefore, for them, self-control of instinctive lusts and desires is deceit and ignorance. Their worst enemy is the Resurrection of Christ since it contradicts their atheism which does not believe in anything other than material things and movement. Nevertheless, in order not to be misunderstood, I am aware that judgment of believers and Atheists alike belongs to God alone; for He is the judge of everyone. I am also aware that many who claim faith are practically Atheists and they contribute to the increase of evil present in the world.
We all know that counterfeit is one of the greatest dangers in the world. Similarly, one of the greatest dangers against the Church comes from "forged" Christians, whether clerical or laymen.
Pascha or Easter, my beloved, is nothing but a new birth that saves us from atheism which is death and annihilation. Easter drives me to see reality as is, in its plainness and simplicity, to start my conversation with God as a friend to a friend, and as a son to a father. It is the end of estrangement and a qualitative transformation from aversion to attendance; from bitterness to sweetness; and the end of worry that we will cease to exist. Easter is a full existential openness towards God: I have come to be in His presence!
My prayer to God is to bless you all in this most glorious feast, in order that we all wake up from our faults and sins rising up to Him who raises us to Him; that we turn the pages of hatred, anger, vengeance, violence, and divisions; and that we open the pages of love, repentance, and forgiveness.
May Easter of this year be a Passover for the whole world, for our beloved Middle-East, and especially for the wounded Syria, towards peace, love, and the lights of the true Resurrection.
Christ is risen. He is truly risen.
+ Ibrahim M. Ibrahim
Eparch of St. Sauveur for the
Greek Melkite Catholics in Canada
No comments:
Post a Comment