Monsignor urges Christians not to succumb to cynicism

In his Easter homily Monsignor Joseph McGuinness, spoke of the power of the Easter message to enable Christians respond to the challenges and cynicism of today’s world.

At the at the Easter Vigil in St Patrick’s Church, Tyholland, the Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Clogher, referred to the horrors of war and violence, the destruction of human lives, the rising levels of homelessness, Direct Provision and increased strains on family life, adding ‘there can seem to be a greater concern for the price of houses than the value of homes’. It is easy, he said, to succumb to a ‘cynical and weary view of life and begin to lose hope’.

However, Mgr McGuinness pointed people to the Church’s Easter Proclamation where there is a different message, one of dispelling evil, washing guilt away, restoring lost innocence and the coming of joy and peace.

‘On this Easter night we are presented with the supreme example of the triumph of value over price. For what Jesus has done for us is of a value beyond measure, and given without any thought of the cost.’

The death and resurrection of Jesus ‘exposes the worthlessness of human betrayal, greed, jealousy and cruelty’, he said.

His message was that Christians must respond, repent and celebrate through their living of the Easter message; that despite suffering, grief, cruelty, poverty and injustice – and the temptation to give in to these - ‘the greater truth is that there is also human kindness, compassion, generosity of heart’ as well as hope, consolation, joy and love.

Mgr McGuinness prayed that everyone would be ‘fearless in living and proclaiming the Easter message in all its joy’ and that the world would experience ‘the infinite value of love and a hope beyond price.’