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Christian Conference of Asia
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Easter Message
8 April 2012
Dear Ecumenical Friends,
It is with great joy that the community of faith around the world, which centers its life in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, shouts loudly: “Alleluia, Christ is risen!” Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is a mystery of faith that is beyond human grasp and understanding. The power of life overcomes the power of death! How can it be true, considering our daily realities which have traumatized many people? Nevertheless, we receive this message as our confession of faith, which gives us hope for life even as we walk in the valleys of many signs of death surrounding us.
Last week, people of Thailand were struck and terrorized by the bomb explosions in the southern part of the country. Apparently, communal tensions and conflicts are continuously spreading in different parts of Asia. People in many parts of Asia and the world are constantly in fear of the threats of natural disasters such as floods, typhoons, tsunami, drought, uncertainty of seasons due to the climate change. Poverty is still rampant despite the noticeable economic growth in some parts of the Asian society. At the same time there are increasing worries related to the issue of nuclear power which potentially disturbs and destroys the peace and security in the region.
These realities and many other forms of the power of death often terrify us, just as the women in the tomb of Jesus on Easter morning, whose minds were still troubled by the power of death that had taken away Jesus, their loved one, were at the same time facing the reality of an empty tomb. They were told: “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not there. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” (Mark 16:6-7) They were reminded of the power of the promise of God which should become their source of hope in the midst of confusion, and become the driving force to continue their ministry in the world where Jesus was.
Last week we observed a sign of hope through the process of by-election that had taken place in Myanmar. For the first time, after many years of experiencing the repression of their rights, the people were able to participate in a by-election process which was considered free and fair. We need to uphold the churches and people of Myanmar in this democratization process, especially as the large stone that had hindered them from enjoying the fullness of life, has begun to be removed.
In the same week, we also observed another sign of hope in the meeting of the leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), which called attention to at least three important matters that may have a significant impact on the dignity of life in the region:
(1) lifting the sanctions imposed on Myanmar in order to support the democratic and economic development of the country; (2) the importance of developing a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, and invite China to participate in the process, and (3) persuade North Korea to resume talks under the ASEAN Regional Forum on keeping the Korean peninsula nuclear-free. We need to continuously pray for the commitment of the leaders of ASEAN countries and for the leaders of all Asian countries, such that the wisdom of God may guide them, and that justice and peace may prevail, particularly in the life of the people in Asia.
We are the people of Easter; we the churches in Asia are people with hope in God. In the midst of the groaning of the whole creation in labor, we hold on to God’s promise that “the creation itself will be set free from its bondage of decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”(Rome 8:18-21)
Let us, therefore, live in hope and struggle in hope, “be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (I Cor. 15:58)
Wishing you all a Happy Easter,
May we be resurrected in His transforming Grace!
Rev. Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang
General Secretary
posted by communications on Monday, April 09, 2012 |
