Easter Message from Bishop Marcel Damphousse
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April 12, 2020Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
(Psalm 104 of Easter Vigil)
Easter Message 2020
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The year 2020 will go down in history books, regardless of the outcome of the COVID-19 pandemic. The battle against this tiny but dangerous virus is not over yet. The whole world is affected and trying hard to deal with its impact that has changed the normalcy of life. Whenever we will gain back our normal lives, it will be a “new normal”.
I’m sure you would agree that many things we took for granted were taken away from us. This might not
be entirely bad. Maybe this challenge will open our eyes to those things that we truly treasure and make
us realize what is most essential in our lives. I know for one thing, that this virus has not taken away my
faith. God is evermore present and seeks ways to enter into my life.
Throughout history, humanity has been hit hard with wars, natural disasters, oppression and corruption, plagues and diseases of all kinds. Never was God absent like some might want to think. Just like Christ on the cross, one may feel
abandoned and in need of reassurance.
So what is the good news that Easter morning brings us? What sign of hope can we stand on to surpass the suffering and misery we experience? The powerful victory of Christ over death and evil is the Good News. His resurrection from the dead opens the door the eternal life for all who believe in him.
In Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we are bound to one another in a love that heals and forgives
and in a life that has no end. It is no wonder why Christians throughout history have been able to be pillars of hope despite the hardships of life. As living-giving communities, they supported one another and laid down their lives for the sake of the brothers and sisters in Christ even if they were strangers.
As we reflect upon the importance of spiritual communion in the midst of social isolation, let us acknowledge and celebrate the source of our joy and our hope. Let us proclaim with zeal and courage, that a life in communion with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, truly makes a difference and is worth living no matter what trials come our way.
Remain faithful to God, follow Christ your Lord and walk
empowered by the Holy Spirit.
May we sing the refrain of Psalm 104 from the Easter Vigil as we pray for a new world, free of evil and the coronavirus: “Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.”
Happy Easter to you all and blessings upon your loved ones.
+Marcel Damphousse
Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie
