Easter gives us fresh enthusiasm, hope - Catholic Bishops' Conference in Sri Lanka

Easter is the most important celebration for us, Christians. The Son of God who became man for us and for our salvation proclaimed the Good News that the Heavenly Father unconditionally loves us and cares for us, states the Catholic Bishops' Conference in Sri Lanka in a press release.

Excerpts: "Our Lord Jesus Christ, rooted in the love of His Father and empowered by the Holy Spirit emptied Himself in loving service with the same predilection for the outcasts.

His Ministry was met with opposition from the Religious Leadership of His time which culminated in His passion, crucifixion and death as had been foretold by the prophets. He became the Suffering Servant who took upon Himself the sins of others in order to redeem them. Saint Paul in his letter to the Philippians brings out this mystery of death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus very powerfully: "Christ Jesus emptied himself taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross.

Therefore, God also highly exalted him and gave him the Name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:6-11).

"Thus by his Passion, Death and Resurrection, the Redeemer won for us the privilege of being God's children again.

"This year, we are celebrating Easter at a very important and critical period in the history of our country. It is the dream of all Sri Lankans, here and abroad, that peace and lasting peace may return to the country. The feast of Easter gives us fresh enthusiasm and hope that the Sri Lankan society be delivered from all forms of evil, hatred, division, violence and counter violence."