LIGHT WILL FOLLOW OUR DARKNESS

Alleluia!

The Lord is Risen.

Christ, the light (life) has dispelled the darkness (death).

As we acclaim these phrases today, the situation in which we live and the difficulties that we face due to covid-19 pandemic tells that we are still in darkness, yet to receive the light. We are still in agony, yet to rejoice. We are still experiencing crucifixion, yet to rise up. Thousands have died. Hundreds are dying and lakhs are getting infected day by day. These raise questions such as: When will I be…? Or will I be also…? Besides, the apps that show how nearest we are to the coronavirus, news that view the number of confirmed cases around the world and instructions that are circulated from the authorities for preventive methods may make us feel insecure. In the wake of these insecurity and fearfulness; is it possible for us to celebrate the Easter? If yes, how meaningful can the Easter be? If so, what can we drive from the Resurrection of Jesus?

Sickness and death are two inevitable enemies to the human being. All people born of flesh in this world have to undergo these two evils at some point of one’s life. There is no escape. Even the great sage and spiritual teacher Buddha despite affirming to come into realization of these two realities in life could not provide solutions to escape from these realities. But Jesus provides solution. He has overcome these two evils. By His resurrection he overthrew death, by doing so he has surpassed sickness.

Over the centuries, science and technologies have certainly helped improved our style of living. The mass communication facilities have undoubtedly turned the whole world into a global village. Despite these goods, today they are not able to respond to the covid-19 pandemic effectively. They have become mute and helpless. Therefore, the proponents of these faculties are turning to God not with the hope of finding solution but with the tag of blaming God as the source of coronavirus pandemic and accuse him of punishing the humanity with this contagious disease. At this juncture, they are forgetting that it is God who is the source all science and technologies.

Well. God doesn’t inflict contagious sickness and violent deaths on human beings as a punishment. That may be a subtle way of looking at God and comprehending the reality. As I affirmed above sickness and death are part of our nature. God has given us gifts such as wisdom, knowledge and understanding to face them with hope and courage. Jesus during His life on earth used His wisdom to love others, used His knowledge to confront corrupt authorities and flawed systems, used His understanding to embrace the cross as necessity for salvation even though He did not deserve it. As a result, he attained the fullness of human life: resurrection from the dead. Our human life reaches its fulness only when we rise from dead.

As we celebrate Easter, we are called share in the resurrection of Jesus. To be part of His resurrection we need to make use of our gifts of wisdom, knowledge and understanding as Jesus used. If we were to make use of our wisdom well, we would not have faced shortage of food. If we were to make use of our knowledge well, we would not have let this deadly vires spread. If we were to make use of our understanding well, we would have stayed at home.

Therefore, this year the celebration of Easter is not about possibility but a necessity. The Easter of 2020 call us to realize our misuse of God given gifts and raise up from that. Easter becomes meaningful when we use our wisdom to love others rather than killing others with bombs and missiles. Easter becomes meaningful when we use our knowledge to establish just society rather than diminishing the truth. Easter becomes meaningful when we use our understanding to embrace the nature of life rather than countering it with our immoral life style.

Taking inspiration from Pope Francis’ special urbi et orbi blessing let us not be afraid. Because, God cares for us. Sickness and death are part of our life. We always have our hope in Risen Christ for the better things that follow this pandemic. Let us remember that there is no resurrection without crucifixion. The light has no meaning without darkness. As the resurrection followed crucifixion, the light will follow our darkness. Christ, the light will raise the humanity from this affliction.

Let us boldly acclaim: Alleluia! The Lord is Risen.