Easter sermons
Bishops emphasize power of faith
No conflict can be solved with war, terror and violence, says Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki (archive photo). photo
© Oliver Berg/dpa
Easter is the festival of peace, but the present is characterized by war and terror. This contrast determines the Easter sermons. The Christian message is therefore all the more relevant.
In the face of terror and war, the bishops emphasized in their Easter sermons the consoling and inspiring power of faith. The world is “marked by war, terror and brutal violence,” said Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki in his Easter sermon in Cologne Cathedral, according to the text of the speech that was distributed in advance.
“In addition to Russia’s war against Ukraine on our doorstep, which violates international law, the country in which the Risen Christ greets his disciples on Easter morning with the words: ‘Peace be with you’ is also affected.” No conflict can be solved with war, terror and violence, said Woelki. Easter therefore challenges us to stand up for a better, fairer and more peaceful world.
The chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, Georg Bätzing, admitted that love and non-violence won in the end is difficult to believe given the worrying conditions day in and day out. “It takes a long learning curve to get there.” But Easter in particular is the counter-story to the crisis-ridden present, emphasized the President of the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, Thorsten Latzel. “We are currently experiencing one crisis after another, terrible violence in Ukraine, in Israel/Palestine and in terrorist attacks,” said Latzel in his Easter message. “And we are experiencing how populists are trying to divide society.” The positive message of Jesus gives people the strength to stand up against it. “For me personally, this is the deepest reason for my hope: that I can stand up myself to oppose hate together with others.”
Easter is the festival that overcomes borders, said Essen Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck in his Easter message. Much of what is currently happening socially, politically and also militarily gives the impression “as if it were driven by fears that have paralyzing power.” However, the Christian belief in the resurrection can give rise to a strength “that helps to overcome evil, end wars and preserve the dignity of freedom in everything, against the madness and terror of injustice, the war machine and tyranny.”
Christians celebrate at Easter that, according to biblical tradition, Jesus rose from the dead three days after his execution.