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Easter messages
View(s):President Sirisena: God’s love transcends all at Easter
President Maithripala Sirisena said that Christian devotees who celebrate Easter with great devotion demonstrate that an incomparable supreme sacrifice was made to rise above humans and achieve divinity.
Issuing a message for Easter Sunday, he noted that the unparalleled supreme sacrifice made by Jesus Christ to save human beings who are born in sadness and experience sadness throughout life, will be remembered forever. “The love which makes the human mind soften with kindness is a gift from God transferred through Easter.”
“When Jesus Christ saved the human mind from sin, mankind was blessed forever. Jesus Christ, who was magnanimously selfless even to sacrifice his own life for the sake of fellow human beings, thus was an example for humankind to understand that divine love is eternal. He demonstrated the truth that somebody can be destroyed but not be defeated,” the message said.
Prime Minister: Love, compassion and forgiveness at Easter
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said Jesus Christ was and is one of the greatest teachers of history, whose message of love and compassion has touched hearts and transformed lives of people throughout the ages.
Issuing a message in view of Easter, he said that the cross was a challenge to the political and religious hierarchy of the day; the cross continues to challenge Christians to herald in change in keeping with the doctrine Christ preached – that of love, compassion and forgiveness. “The season of lent teaches them the meaning of sacrificial love that was so poignantly depicted in the life of Christ,”
“Christians observe Good Friday at the foot of the cross and rejoice in the resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday – symbolising the victory of justice, mercy and forgiveness that form the foundation of selfless living Christ preached,” the message said.
John Amaratunga: Christ, the way, the truth and life
Marking this year’s Easter as it is something unique to be celebrated along with the Sinhala New Year festival, Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga in his Easter message noted it is time to make society aware of the great love shown by Christ in offering his own life at Calvary. “We are called upon to turn towards Christ, who was the way, the truth and life, in changing our lives by turning away from sin.”
Catholic Bishops’ Conference remembered the needy at Easter
As Easter falls today, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka called for equality among all Sri Lankans for sustainable peace and reconciliation in the country.
“True peace is an outcome of justice. We celebrate this Easter at a time in which the people in our country are searching for new paths to establish justice and truth. There is an effort to develop solidarity and reconciliation among the people in our motherland. This could be done only if we respect one another avoiding petty differences and safeguarding each other’s dignity. Let us ask for the gift of peace and justice upon our dear country and its people,” the Catholic Bishops said in their annual Easter message.
“Easter is the most sublime feast of the Liturgical year in which we proclaim and celebrate the victory of Jesus of Nazareth the Risen Lord Our Saviour, over sin and death. We let the words of the angels resound in our ears. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen” (Luke 24.5). This is also a suitable time for us priests, religious leaders and laity to rededicate our missionary commitment in the footsteps of St. Joesph Vaz, the Apostle of Sri Lanka” the message said.
Remembering the people who suffer without the basic needs of life, the collective body of Bishops said that the Christian discipleship always invites people to take care for those in need since it is their duty to recognise the face of Jesus in those who suffer.
“In spite of different schemes for economic development, most of our people seem to be entrenched in poverty. Our Easter joy must make us recognise ever more deeply the demands of Christian discipleship. We need to do all we can to alleviate the pain of those around us.”