Bishop Christian Carlassare, bishop of the Diocese of Rumbek, sends an Easter message to the faithful of South Sudan, encouraging Christians to look to Christ to find the will to embrace one another in friendship.
By Bishop Christian Carlassare, MCCJ
When we are freed from our fears, our presence automatically frees others.
This is the journey we took during Lent to experience an Easter of liberation and life. Jesus is there to accompany us.
He knows how to transform the way of the cross into a strenuous path in which we come to encounter one another, we journey together and take on the challenge as a community. We don’t impose the cross on others, but we carry it together. Jesus carried the cross before us, and carries it today with us. He overcame darkness and death. He is the light of the world.
Why should we ever fear light? Why should we fear becoming an expression of that light? We are all born to make manifest the beauty of God that is within each of us. And when we allow the light of God to shine within us, we unconsciously give others the chance to do the same. This is our hope: a faith that transforms and allows life to flow where there seemed only death.
A famous physician of last century used to say, there is a driving force stronger than steam, stronger than electricity, stronger than atomic energy. It’s called will. Again, a proverb says: ‘where there is a will, there is a way.’ And I would add, good will.
Our wills can lead us astray. But a well-formed will – after the example of Christ – can take us far ahead. And friendship cheers us up along the journey.
Last January, 84 youth inspired us with their strong will to walk a peace pilgrimage from Rumbek to Tonj, encountering several communities. It is also the experience of the whole Diocese in the work of evangelization and in whatever we do in the name of the Risen Lord.
There is a long way to go, but we are never alone. And always under His light.
May you experience Easter within you and thrive.
