Easter Reflection 

Our world is portrayed through the eyes of the media as one of suffering: Gaza, Ukraine, West Papua, Yeman, China, Russia and the United States all seem to be places of conflict, disagreement and danger. Closer to home we are aware of soaring rates of crime on the streets and domestic violence. It would be reasonable for any person aware of what is happening to cry out: My God, My God why have you abandoned me?

It's no coincidence that these words are reported as the last words of Jesus on the cross as he quoted Psalm 22. From the Psalms to the Gospels to today, these words echo through history as people look at their own personal tragedies and the tragedies of the world around them. That sense of being let down is an important part of the Easter story. In the final week of the life of Jesus he was involved in arguments, betrayal, accusations, arrest, torture and death. 

The story leading to Good Friday is one which reflects our world today. But we ask our students to be “Pilgrims of Hope.” As Christians we see a hope beyond the face value of despair being lived by so many people. Many of our Year 10 students have been reflecting on Suffering in recent weeks. Some have taken a stance that there is no value in suffering, while others have a sense that there can be growth and even hope in events of great distress.

Easter Sunday is a call for hope. The story which has echoed through the two thousand years of Christianity, and in many other traditions as well, is that there is hope even in the shadow of death. A call to look beyond the moment to the potential is a difficult call. It challenges us to make a difference. 

A person in the moment of suffering is rarely looking for theological reasoning – they want help. If we have given some food to a hungry person, donated clothes to an op shop, given words of comfort in a time of sorrow or worked to make our environment a healthier place, we have given hope. St Theresa of Avila once declared: "Christ has no body on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassionately on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours!"

Project Compassion

One way the Church has reached out to live the Easter Message for over 50 years now is Project Compassion. This is a great opportunity to assist some of the most needy people in the world, sometimes in moments of great disaster. We raise money at school for Project Compassion through BBQs and casual clothes days. By going to https://fundraise.projectcompassion.org.au/o/catholic-college-sale you are able to be a person who changes the lives of others. This link will be open through the whole of Lent.

Jeff Hobbs 

Director of Religious Education