by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
“Jesus, who was crucified, is risen!…The message which Christians bring to the world is this: Jesus, Love incarnate, died on the cross for our sins, but God the Father raised him and made him the Lord of life and death. In Jesus, love has triumphed over hatred, mercy over sinfulness, goodness over evil, truth over falsehood, life over death.” – Pope Francis, April 20, 2014.
The quotation above is taken from Pope Francis’ Ubi et Orbi Easter Message in 2014, entitled: ‘Come and See’.
Inter alia, he said: “In every human situation, marked by frailty, sin and death, the Good News is no mere matter of words, but a testimony to unconditional and faithful love: it is about leaving ourselves behind and encountering others, being close to those crushed by life’s troubles, sharing with the needy, standing at the side of the sick, elderly and the outcast… ‘Come and see!’… Love is more powerful, love gives life, love makes hope blossom in the wilderness.”
Let the love of Christ, who gave His life for us, spur us on to be true witnesses of our risen Lord and saviour, Jesus Christ. Death could not hold Him.
What does being an Easter people mean to us Christians? St Paul’s words in Romans 6:4 are instructive: “You have been taught that when we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptised in his death; in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new life.”
During this Holy Year of Mercy, let us ask for God’s grace to walk in the newness of life; to be dead to sin. Let us never grow weary of being merciful; of allowing Christ’s light to fill our hearts/our homes with love for God, neighbour, and creation. As we hunger and thirst for justice, we should reflect on our lives to ensure that we are truly following in the footsteps of our Lord.
I recall being invited by a principal to address 1,200 children at a large Catholic secondary school in East London, England on the theme: The challenge of being an Easter People in today’s world.
As I looked around the school there were wonderful friezes that the children had displayed, demonstrating how they should live as Christians. The caption on one frieze read: “Down from the Cross, out of the grave, and into the world.”
I asked them to share with me ways in which they were living their lives as followers of Christ – How were they acting as instruments of Christ’s peace in their homes/communities?
They seemed to be able to express quite succinctly what was expected of them as Christians. Yet, many of these students had been reported to the Principal over and over again for beating up Bangladeshi children in the neighbourhood after they exited their school.
It had become the “fun thing” to do because the Bangladeshi children were seen as “other”, “alien”, “different.” It was only through a planned intervention programme that we succeeded in turning that school around.
Bullying and other forms of violence are rampant in our schools/society. If we are to be bearers of the Good News, we must play our part to build communities of peace and harmony. Children learn what they live. Thus we Catholics have a duty to help strengthen family life – our own and those in our parishes.
I urge schools, particularly principals, to be vigilant; to develop, implement, monitor and evaluate programmes to foster safety and harmony in their educational institutions.
Whole school policies on discipline must include strategies that involve all staff and parents. Too often our institutions, including the Ministry of Education, wait until things get out of hand before intervening. A proactive approach is essential – one that includes multiple stakeholders.
In all the recent video-clips of violence in our schools, it is sad to note that instead of standing up for what is right, students/bystanders simply take out their cell-phones and tape the bad behaviour to upload on social media.
I watched the clip of the teacher who was being ‘cussed’ by a female student. I hope she did not simply retreat into the staffroom as the clip showed, without reporting the incident. If students feel that schools have capitulated, then bullying can easily escalate.
Now is the time to let Christ’s death and resurrection transform our lives.
Wishing you a Happy and Holy Easter!
