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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Urbi et Orbi Message for Easter
"The Resurrection of Jesus Is Essentially an Event of Love"
H.H. Benedict XVI
March 23, 2008
www.zenit.org
Benedict XVI's Easter message delivered today at midday before he
imparted his blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city of Rome and the
world).
Resurrexi, et adhuc tecum sum. Alleluia! I have risen, I am still
with you. Alleluia! Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus, crucified and
risen, repeats this joyful proclamation to us today: the Easter
proclamation. Let us welcome it with deep wonder and gratitude!
Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum -- I have risen, I am still with you,
for ever. These words, taken from an ancient version of Psalm 138
(v. 18b), were sung at the beginning of today’s Mass. In them, at
the rising of the Easter sun, the Church recognizes the voice of
Jesus himself who, on rising from death, turns to the Father filled
with gladness and love, and exclaims: My Father, here I am! I have
risen, I am still with you, and so I shall be for ever; your Spirit
never abandoned me.
In this way we can also come to a new understanding of other
passages from the psalm: "If I climb the heavens, you are there; if
I descend into the underworld, you are there … Even darkness is not
dark for you, and the night is as clear as day; for you, darkness is
like light" (Ps 138:8,12). It is true: in the solemn Easter vigil,
darkness becomes light, night gives way to the day that knows no
sunset. The death and resurrection of the Word of God incarnate is
an event of invincible love, it is the victory of that Love which
has delivered us from the slavery of sin and death. It has changed
the course of history, giving to human life an indestructible and
renewed meaning and value.
"I have risen and I am still with you, for ever." These words invite
us to contemplate the risen Christ, letting his voice resound in our
heart. With his redeeming sacrifice, Jesus of Nazareth has made us
adopted children of God, so that we too can now take our place in
the mysterious dialogue between him and the Father. We are reminded
of what he once said to those who were listening: "All things have
been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Father
except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him"
(Mt 11:27).
In this perspective, we note that the words addressed by the risen
Jesus to the Father on this day -- "I am still with you, forever" --
apply indirectly to us as well, "children of God and fellow heirs
with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also
be glorified with him" (cf. Rom 8:17). Through the death and
resurrection of Christ, we too rise to new life today, and uniting
our voice with his, we proclaim that we wish to remain forever with
God, our infinitely good and merciful Father.
In this way we enter the depths of the Paschal mystery. The
astonishing event of the resurrection of Jesus is essentially an
event of love: the Father’s love in handing over his Son for the
salvation of the world; the Son’s love in abandoning himself to the
Father’s will for us all; the Spirit’s love in raising Jesus from
the dead in his transfigured body. And there is more: the Father’s
love which "newly embraces" the Son, enfolding him in glory; the
Son’s love returning to the Father in the power of the Spirit, robed
in our transfigured humanity. From today’s solemnity, in which we
relive the absolute, once-and-for-all experience of Jesus’s
resurrection, we receive an appeal to be converted to Love; we
receive an invitation to live by rejecting hatred and selfishness,
and to follow with docility in the footsteps of the Lamb that was
slain for our salvation, to imitate the Redeemer who is "gentle and
lowly in heart", who is "rest for our souls" (cf. Mt 11:29).
Dear Christian brothers and sisters in every part of the world, dear
men and women whose spirit is sincerely open to the truth, let no
heart be closed to the omnipotence of this redeeming love! Jesus
Christ died and rose for all; he is our hope -- true hope for every
human being. Today, just as he did with his disciples in Galilee
before returning to the Father, the risen Jesus now sends us
everywhere as witnesses of his hope, and he reassures us: I am with
you always, all days, until the end of the world (cf. Mt 28:20).
Fixing the gaze of our spirit on the glorious wounds of his
transfigured body, we can understand the meaning and value of
suffering, we can tend the many wounds that continue to disfigure
humanity in our own day.
In his glorious wounds we recognize the indestructible signs of the
infinite mercy of the God of whom the prophet says: it is he who
heals the wounds of broken hearts, who defends the weak and
proclaims the freedom of slaves, who consoles all the afflicted and
bestows upon them the oil of gladness instead of a mourning robe, a
song of praise instead of a sorrowful heart (cf. Is 61:1,2,3). If
with humble trust we draw near to him, we encounter in his gaze the
response to the deepest longings of our heart: to know God and to
establish with him a living relationship in an authentic communion
of love, which can fill our lives, our interpersonal and social
relations with that same love. For this reason, humanity needs
Christ: in him, our hope, "we have been saved" (cf. Rom 8:24).
How often relations between individuals, between groups and between
peoples are marked not by love but by selfishness, injustice, hatred
and violence! These are the scourges of humanity, open and festering
in every corner of the planet, although they are often ignored and
sometimes deliberately concealed; wounds that torture the souls and
bodies of countless of our brothers and sisters. They are waiting to
be tended and healed by the glorious wounds of our Risen Lord (cf. 1
Pet 2:24-25) and by the solidarity of people who, following in his
footsteps, perform deeds of charity in his name, make an active
commitment to justice, and spread luminous signs of hope in areas
bloodied by conflict and wherever the dignity of the human person
continues to be scorned and trampled. It is hoped that these are
precisely the places where gestures of moderation and forgiveness
will increase!
Dear brothers and sisters! Let us allow the light that streams forth
from this solemn day to enlighten us; let us open ourselves in
sincere trust to the risen Christ, so that his victory over evil and
death may also triumph in each one of us, in our families, in our
cities and in our nations. Let it shine forth in every part of the
world. In particular, how can we fail to remember certain African
regions, such as Dafur and Somalia, the tormented Middle East,
especially the Holy Land, Iraq, Lebanon, and finally Tibet, all of
whom I encourage to seek solutions that will safeguard peace and the
common good! Let us invoke the fullness of his Paschal gifts,
through the intercession of Mary who, after sharing the sufferings
of the passion and crucifixion of her innocent Son, also experienced
the inexpressible joy of his resurrection. Sharing in the glory of
Christ, may she be the one to protect us and guide us along the path
of fraternal solidarity and peace. These are my Easter greetings,
which I address to all who are present here, and to men and women of
every nation and continent united with us through radio and
television. Happy Easter!
[Translation distributed by the Holy See]
© Copyright 2008 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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