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Christian Conference of Asia
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EASTER MESSAGELast week the people of Thailand joyously celebrated the “Songkran” festival, a big, traditional celebration of the new year. Similar events at the same time were also celebrated in many South East and South Asian countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, India and Sri Lanka - heralding the start of the traditional new year. The Songkran festival in Thailand takes place every 13 -15 of April, and one of the famous celebrations is here in Chiang Mai where the CCA office is located. The Songkran celebration is a special time for a new year ritual giving much respect to water, the most important element in the agricultural culture of Southeast Asia. Also known as the “water festival” people use water as part of the ritual of cleansing and renewal for the new year, signifying one’s commitment to the renewal of life. “I am thirsty,” is one of the seven words of Jesus on the cross. (John 19:28) Those words echo the cry of many people in Asia and around the world – those who have no clean water to drink, women walking many miles to find water for their families, communities opposing the privatization of water, children suffering from skin and various diseases due to contaminated water. And our most recent fear is the impact of nuclear leakage in Japan that could contaminate our Asian soil and water. Ironically, this cry “I am thirsty” is strongly heard also in the midst of the devastating power of water in the form of floods and tsunami. Asia struggles heavily to cope with the impact of disasters that came one after another in quick succession, taking a heavy toll on human lives especially in developing countries. Religious freedom is becoming so fragile that lives were lost and many are in danger especially those of the religious minorities. These times are scary for many in Asia and we ask in fear, “what more is there to come?” “Do not be afraid...,” said the angel to the women who came to visit Jesus at his tomb. The resurrection account says that the women saw an empty tomb. They were taken by fear, but also by joy. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” (Luke 24:5) That experience enabled those women to move from fear to freedom, joy and hope. And they could not keep the good news to themselves. Jesus arose from the dead and left the tomb. He is alive! This, too, is our hope – that we can overcome the power of death, the same power that denies the people of God’s gift of Life. The risen Jesus calls us the Easter people of today to go and proclaim the power of life: “‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15). As we walk through Easter time, let us be transformed, renewed and strengthened in our commitment to the God of Life. Let us remain persevering in hope amidst fears and disasters. Let us allow God to surprise us in our journey to gain fullness of life for all, especially for the least and the vulnerable. HENRIETTE HUTABARAT LEBANG General Secretary posted by cbs on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 |
