by CCSJ Chair, Leela Ramdeen
“O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Christ is risen and you are abolished. Christ is risen and the demons are cast down. Christ is risen and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen and life is freed. Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead: for Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the Leader and Reviver of those who had fallen asleep. To Him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.” (taken from an Easter homily by St John Chrysostom).
Happy Easter, my friends! Let’s reflect on the meaning of Easter in our lives. Our renewal of our baptismal promises must lead us to rise in Christ; to commit ourselves to take our belief in the risen Christ out into the world with us; to be His instruments of justice and peace.
In 1986 Blessed John Paul II reminded us: “We live in the light of his (Christ’s) paschal mystery — the mystery of his death and resurrection. ‘We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!’ We are not looking for a shallow joy but rather a joy that comes from faith that grows through unselfish love, that respects the ‘fundamental duty of love of neighbour, without which it would be unbecoming to speak of joy.’ We realise that joy is demanding; it demands unselfishness; it demands a readiness to say with Mary: ‘Be it done unto me according to thy word.’”
During Holy Week I attended a few services at Westminster Cathedral in London. I stood at the simple white marble slab in the Chapel at the Cathedral where Cardinal George Basil Hume is buried. He inspired me greatly. He wrote in his book The Mystery of the Incarnation (p 133): “It is one thing to repeat the formula ‘God became man,’ another to be so affected by that truth that our personal lives are changed.” This personal aspect about our union with God is repeated at least twice (pp 17, 102), “God does not see or looks at crowds. He sees and looks only at individuals.” (romancatholichomilies.blogspot.com).
I remember this holy man who committed himself to work with me and with others on his Committee for the Caribbean Community, to strive for justice for people of Caribbean origin – in Church and in society. When we published our report: “With you in Spirit?” and the media asked him if he believed that there really was racism in the Church in Westminster, he replied: “If one example outlined in the report is true, it is one too many.”
After all our struggles to fight for the rights of our “neighbour”, the situation in the UK is not improving. Read the article by Richard Godwin in the London Evening Standard (March 26) entitled: “Young, shafted and black”, about the plight of black youth in Britain. Godwin states: “Official new figures reveal more than half of Britain’s young, black men are unemployed — the worst-hit group and double the number four years ago. We ask why…”
We cannot afford to give up the struggle. Easter reminds us that Jesus came so that we may all have life and have it more abundantly. And we must celebrate the successes of our brothers and sisters who succeed.
Last week I was invited to the House of Commons by UK MP, Diane Abbott, to view the film, A Man’s Story, about the life and work of Ozwald Boateng, a British fashion designer of Ghanaian descent (see Wikipedia). The film records his journey over the last 12 years. It is being promoted in schools. Ozwald says that he uses it as a means of motivating youths, in particular, to believe in themselves and in their ability to achieve their goals. His belief in himself and in his God-given talents has enabled him to overcome the many trials that he has faced over the years.
He reminded me of our own T&T son of the soil, Andrew Ramroop, who, like Ozwald, has a bespoke tailoring establishment in prestigious Savile Row. Andrew also shares his gifts generously; he opened the Savile Row Academy to train youths who are interested in tailoring as a career.
Let Easter propel us to use the gifts God has given to us to reduce crime and violence, to build the common good; to eradicate poverty and social exclusion; to strengthen family life; to promote justice, peace, truth, love and harmony in our land and in the world.
