“Rise with Christ: From Tombs to New Life, From Fear to Peace”
Dear Rev. Fathers, Brothers and Sisters,
Grace and peace to you in the Risen Lord!
As we celebrate the great mystery of Easter, the Church proclaims with joy: “Christ is risen! He is truly risen!” This is not merely an event of the past, but a living reality that must transform our lives today. The Resurrection is not only about Christ coming out of the tomb; it is also about each one of us being called to come out of our own tombs.
Saint Paul reminds us with power and clarity, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile” (1 Cor 15:17). And again he proclaims, “Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:4).
Called to Rise from Our Tombs
Easter invites us to a personal resurrection. Many times, we remain buried in the tombs of:
- selfishness and self-centeredness
- unhealthy attachments to persons or material things
- comfort zones that hinder mission
- discouragement, fatigue, and spiritual dryness
The stone that seals these tombs is often our fear, pride, or unwillingness to change. Saint Augustine challenges us with these profound words, “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song.” And elsewhere he reminds us, “Rise, let us leave the tomb; for we have been raised with Christ.”
To be an Easter people means to live as persons who have already begun to experience new life—freedom from sin, freedom from narrowness, and openness to God’s grace. Let us ask ourselves sincerely:
- What are the tombs in my life?
- What stones must be rolled away?
- Where is Christ calling me to newness?
The Resurrection in a World Wounded by War
As we celebrate Easter joy, our hearts cannot ignore the painful reality of our world. The ongoing war in West Asia has brought unimaginable destruction. Thousands have lost their lives; countless families are shattered; children - the most innocent - are the greatest victims.
War today is not just a conflict of nations; it is a tragedy of humanity. It destroys human dignity, social harmony, the future of generations. In the words of Pope Francis:
“War is always a defeat… there is no just war; war is a failure of humanity.” War represents one of the gravest evils of human civilization. It leaves behind not only physical ruins but also deep wounds in the human heart - hatred, revenge, and division. As Saint Paul writes,
“God is not a God of confusion but of peace” (1 Cor 14:33). Yet today, confusion and chaos seem to dominate the world. The wealth of the world built upon in course of several centuries is destroyed in no minute, thousands of precious human lives are annihilated, social order is disrupted, families are displaced, and humanity itself appears wounded.
The Relevance of the Risen Christ
In this context of war, violence and unrest, the message of the Resurrection becomes even more urgent and meaningful. What were the first words of the Risen Lord? “Peace be with you” (Jn 20:19). Not condemnation; Not anger; Not revenge; but peace. The Resurrection reveals a God who conquers hatred not with power, but with love; not with violence, but with forgiveness. Saint Paul beautifully expresses this mission, “He is our peace… and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility” (Eph 2:14).
The Risen Christ stands in the midst of a fearful world and offers peace. This peace is not mere absence of conflict, but a deep reconciliation - between God and humanity, and among human beings themselves and with the universe.
Resurrected People are Peacemakers
Dear fathers, brothers and sisters, if we truly share in the Resurrection, our lives must reflect it. One of the most essential characteristics of a resurrected person is being a peacemaker. Jesus himself declared, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Mt 5:9).To be peacemakers means, healing divisions in communities, reconciling broken relationships, promoting justice with compassion, witnessing to love in a world of hatred. Thus, peace is not passive; it is an active mission and engagement.
Saint Francis of Assisi – Instrument of Peace
During this Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, we are invited to rediscover the witness of the saint, a true icon of peace. In a time of conflict and division, he became a bridge-builder. His life was a living proclamation of the Gospel of peace. His famous prayer continues to inspire the world:
“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.”
This is the spirituality of the Resurrection. This is the mission of every priest and religious.
The prayer of our National Poet, Rabindranath Tagore, should be our prayer and future vision:
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action-
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
(Gitanjali, No. 35)
Easter - A Call to Renewed Witness
Dear father, brothers and sisters, Easter is not just a celebration - it is a calling. Let us, come out of our personal tombs, renew our commitment to the Gospel, become signs of hope in a wounded world and be credible witnesses of peace and reconciliation As Saint Paul urges us:
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above” (Col 3:1). And let us remember the powerful words often attributed to a great voice for peace, Martin Luther King Jr, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
May the Risen Christ remove the stones that bind us; may He free us from all that imprisons us; may He fill our hearts with His peace. And may we, as resurrected people, go forth into the world as bearers of hope, as ministers of reconciliation and as instruments of peace. Let our lives proclaim with conviction: Christ is risen, and we shall rise with Him!
Wishing you all a grace-filled and transformative Easter!
+ Lourdu Anandam
Bishop of Sivagangai.
01 April 2026