The feast comes soon after Easter Sunday. Resurrection is the celebration of Hope. It is a strong affirmation that God can create wonders even out of the tomb. Life will spring forth from death, when the Lord’s time comes. The last one year has been a year of darkness and death. You have witnessed so much of human suffering. Let the heart of Jesus heal everyone: the oppressor and the oppressed.
Myitkyina has been in the news for sad reasons and reasons of faith and sacrifice. Sad reason because of the great tragedy of killing the innocents in the streets, especially in front of the church. The Church was drawn into the struggle of our people, called to accompany our people in their blood and tears. You really walked a true way of the Cross. I pray that each one of you is healed of that sorrowful memories. For many of you, the thirteenth station of the Cross, of our mother crying over the dead body of her son, became real. We live in a country where hundreds of mothers live with inconsolable tears and their hearts wounded, like our Mother Mary, with the sight of their sons and daughters tortured and killed. To all those mothers and all of you directly involved, we pray with grace flowing from the heart of Jesus.
We are also grateful for the great witness the Catholic Church gave during the crisis. Starting from your prayer rally till today you have accompanied your people in their times of trial. The Myitkyina name is put on the international map through the inspiring witness of Sister Ann Rose of St Francis Xavier Sisters. The world watched with awe at the great sacrificial witness in front of the tsunami of evil. I commend the witness to the redemptive love of the sister, which inspired many to appreciate the Catholic Church and the religious life. Out of darkness, simple acts of generosity shines with great power.
This message of redemptive love is in summary the message of divine mercy. Forgiveness at the face of darkness, love at the face of hatred is the message our Lord gave to Sister Faustina in his many apparitions. Today’s opening prayer starts “Heavenly Father and God of Mercy, We no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for He is alive and has become the Lord of Life.” Yes, the resurrection mystery is solved through the mercy of God.
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