The true meaning of easter

Chocolate hearts and Valentine’s roses were barely off the shelves before each and every shop became inundated with Easter Eggs. The local church leaders this week sought to remind us what the true meaning of Easter - resurrection, hope and faith.
In his Easter message Bishop Leo O’Reilly writes, “The reason we celebrate at Easter is not just because Christ rose from the dead in the distant past, but that we share in his resurrection today.
“As Christians, we already share in the new life of Christ and we look forward in hope to sharing the fullness of Christ’s life in heaven. As risen people we look upwards; we have hope. We certainly need hope. In recent months world news has told us of wars, of unspeakable barbarities committed against people for no other reason than their Christian faith. The memory of the mass-murder of a plane full of people in the Alps is still vivid and horrific. Closer to home we are aware of families touched by the sudden death of a loved one and by other heart-breaking tragedies.
“We think of friends burdened by serious illness, of others still suffering the effects of crimes committed against them in the past. In a time of austerity many still struggle to make ends meet. For a lot of people it is hard to find reasons to hope. Our faith in the resurrection of Jesus offers us the hope that Christ has overcome the power of evil and even death itself through his own passion, death and resurrection from the dead. His was not an easy victory over sin. His was no cheap grace.
“Our salvation cost Jesus very dearly salvation was brought not by Jesus’ fist, but by his nail-pierced hands; not by muscle but by love; not by vengeance but by forgiveness; not by force but by sacrifice. Jesus Christ Our Lord surrendered in order that he might win; He destroyed his enemies by dying for them. And conquered death by allowing death to conquer Him.As we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus in the week ahead, may our faith in the risen Lord lead us to experience anew the hope and joy of the Gospel and enable us to share it with others. I wish you all a happy and hope-filled Easter.”

How we view death
In his Easter message, Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh, Ferran Glenfield adds: “Easter is about death and resurrection. All around us in Spring we can see these two principles in action. This is no casual accident, for God has put them there in creation for all to see. On reflecting on death, the poet W.B. Yeats wrote: ‘Nor dread nor hope attend. A dying animal; A man awaits his end. Dreading and hoping all.
“The Resurrection of Jesus Christ makes all the difference to how we view death. Jesus promised his followers that their destiny was linked to his own. His resurrection showed that what he had promised, he was able to perform. That is the Christian confidence for the future, and for the present. Because Jesus lives, I can face today and tomorrow. I wish you a very blessed Easter,” Bishop Glenfield said.