Beannachtaí na Cásca ó Easpag Mícheál
“Sa deireadh, beidh an bua ag solas ar an dorchadas, grá ar an bhfuath, maitheas ar an olc agus beatha ar an marbh."
Fírinne Dhomhain
Gach aon bhliain, agus muid ag ceiliúradh na Cásca, cuirtear fírinne dhomhain os ár gcomhair - fírinne, b’fhéidir, ar gá dúinn a chloisteáil inniu níos mó ná riamh. Cé go mbíonn sé deacair orainn uaireanta, a thuiscint, fágann Aiséirí Íosa Críost muid gan aon amhras sa deireadh go mbeidh an bua ag solas ar an dorchadas, grá ar an bhfuath, maitheas ar an olc agus beatha ar an marbh.
Domhan achrannach
Is pointe an-tábhachtach é, ach go háirithe d’ár ndomhan inniu atá achrannach ar go leor bealaí. Ní féidir liom ach smaoineamh ar thalamh Gaza báite i bhfuil, an Úcráin agus áiteanna eile atá i mbun cogaidh agus foréigin. Meabhraítear dom an fuath agus an deighilt a fhágann lorg ar ár ndomhan. Smaoiním ar an dídeanaí agus an t-imirceach. Ar an scáth a fhágann athrú aeráide. Ar an streachailt atá ann le greim a choinneáil ar chostas maireachtála. Smaoiním oraibh siúd atá in ísle brí, atá ag déanamh bróin dá dhaoine muinteartha, dóibh siúd nach bhfuil áit cónaithe acu. Dóibh siúd atá tinn nó daoine muinteartha leo tinn.
Bí muiníneach - bíodh dóchas agaibh!
Gach aon bhliain, gaireann Ceiliúradh na Cásca ar phobal creidimh chun muiníne - chun dóchais a bheith acu. Go leor blianta ó shin, um Cháisc, bhain an mhaith an lámh in uachtar ar an olc. Is cuma cé chomh dorcha atá sé -tiocfaidh an solas i gcónaí, bainfidh an mhaith bua ar an olc i gcónaí agus beidh Dia na beatha i gcónaí i réim.
Bí mar fhoinse dóchais trí ghníomh!
Gach aon bhliain, gaireann Ceiliúradh na Cásca orainn chun gnímh. Is féidir linn, ar nós na céad dheisceabail, domhan níos fearr a chothu tríd an teachtaireacht seo a roinnt, ní amháin i bhfocail ach inár gníomhartha. Is é mo ghuí an Cháisc seo, go ndéanfaidh muid cinneadh a bheith mar fhoinse dóchais trí ghníomh. Go ndéanfaidh muid iarracht a bheith mar sholas sa dorchadas, a bheith ina mhaith san olc, go ndéanfaidh muid iarracht a bheith dóchasach i measc éadóchais. Ná lig sinn éirí tuirseach de labhairt ar son na síochána áit atá cogadh nó an bheatha a cheiliúradh i láthair an bháis. Lig sinn freastal ar dhaoine in ionad iad a bhrú uainn, tabhairt nuair is féidir linn a thabhairt, cabhrú nuair is féidir linn a bheith cabhrach, a bheith cineálta nuair is féidir linn a bheith cineálta. Lig sinn a bheith mar léaró dóchais Chríostaí de chuid an 21ú hAois. Bíodh muid mar theach solais dhaonna ag treorú daoine ar bhealach níos fearr i measc dorchadais ár ndomhan. “Níl Sé anseo! Tá Sé aiséirithe! Tá Sé ag dul romhaibh go dtí an Ghailíl!” (Matha 28)
Beannachtaí na Cásca oraibh!
+ Mícheál Ó Duibhgeannáin
Easpag na Gaillimhe agus Chill Mhic Dhuach
Riarthóir Aspalda Chill Fhionnúrach
Easpag Chluain Fearta
Easter Greetings from Bishop Michael
“Light not darkness, love not hate, goodness not badness, life not death will conquer in the end.”
A profound truth
Each year the celebration of Easter, places before us a profound truth – a truth that perhaps we need to hear today more than ever. Even though at times we might struggle to get our heads around the idea, the Resurrection of Jesus leaves us in no doubt that light not darkness, love not hate, goodness not badness, life not death will conquer in the end.
A troubled world
This has a profound significance for our world today that is troubled in so many ways. I cannot but think of the land of Gaza soaked with blood, Ukraine and other places of war and violence. I am reminded of the hate and division that marks our world. I think of the refugee and the migrant. The shadow of climate change. The struggle to make ends meet. I think of those who are depressed, mourn the loss of loved ones, have no place to live. Those who are sick or have family members sick.
Be confident – have hope!
Each year, the celebration of Easter calls people of faith to be confident – to have hope. Goodness triumphed at Easter those many years ago. No matter how dark things are -light will always come, goodness will always triumph and the God of life will always prevail.
Be hope in action!
Each year the celebration of Easter, calls us to action. Like the early disciples we can make our world a better place by sharing this message not just in word but most of all in our deeds. My wish this Easter is that we would resolve to be hope in action. To try to light a light where there is darkness, to be good when there is bad, let us try to be hopeful when there is despair, let us never grow tired of talking about peace when there is war or of celebrating life in the face of death. Let us reach out rather than push away, give when we can give, help when we can help, be kind when we can be kind. Let us be twenty-first century beacons of Christian hope, human lighthouses pointing to a better way amid the many darknesses of this world of ours. “He is not here! He is risen! He has gone before you to Galilee!” (Mt. 28) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia"
Happy Easter!
Beannachtaí na Cásca oraibh!
+ Michael Duignan
Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh
Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora
Bishop of Clonfert
