Hope has blossomed here this Easter as God's spirit changes hearts, writes Archbishop Seán Brady.
The heart of the Easter message is the triumph of life over death, of hope over despair, of peace over violence, of justice over contempt, of joy over fear.
This Easter people in Ireland, North and South, have a particular reason to rejoice. A spring time of hope has blossomed. In a succession of images many never thought possible, we have caught a glimpse of God's ability to make all things new. The spirit of God changes human hearts, "enemies begin to speak to one another, those who were estranged join hands in friendship, and nations seek the way of peace together" (preface to Eucharistic Prayer for Reconciliation II).
It has been a glimpse of the true meaning of Easter. For this we should never cease to give thanks and praise to God. It is a reminder to us that, in the words of St Paul, God's power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask for or imagine.
I congratulate all those who have worked so hard for peace, not just in recent months, but in all the years gone by. We remember, with gratitude, all who have poured the healing oil of patience and understanding dialogue on the troubled waters of our historic divide. Patient effort, frequent prayer and the willingness to take courageous decisions for the common good have borne fruit in the now tangible prospect of a brighter future for all. It is vital that we do everything in our power to secure the peace and to seize every opportunity for further progress.
Many challenges lie ahead. Amidst the celebration of progress already made and difficulties overcome there is also the pain of those who suffered so terribly. At a minimum we owe it to them and to generations to come to do all we can to ease their suffering and to heal their hurts. Humble acknowledgement of the wrongs of the past, and of the failures of all of us, linked to prayer for forgiveness have the power to open up new and as yet unimagined sources of renewal and reconciliation among us.
I applaud the spirit of generosity and goodness which is beginning to emerge and which can heal the hurts of bygone days. Because of the Easter mystery, I also wish to state my confidence in the ability of the human spirit, with God's help, to shake off the burdens of history, to overcome a legacy of bitterness and negativity and to refuse to be shackled by hatred. We can and are called by Christ to continue to break through the tomb of suspicion and distrust.
I am confident that those in search of a genuine and lasting peace will avoid romanticising or glorifying violence for sectarian ends. Peace is at once a gift and a question and a command. It commands all of us to do all we can to ensure that enmity and violence never curse this land again. But peace also questions us to know what we are prepared to do to promote forgiveness and reconciliation. It will require courage but remarkable courage has already been shown and, with God's help, will continue to bear fruit.
To build on the success of recent months it is critical that all those committed to peace:
Use only words that "build up" (Eph 4:29), especially when difficulties and differences arise in the months ahead;
Remain committed to the common good. There is no future other than a shared future. The success of that future will depend on our constant willingness to weigh personal and party interests against the demands of the common good.
Show that politics can work, that things can change. We have the opportunity to build more than just a stable democracy. We have the capacity to create a world-class political system based on the principles of partnership, participation, fairness and justice for all.
The Easter message of the Risen Lord is first and foremost a message of peace. As the violent conflict of the past subsides, the new frontier for peacemaking in our society will be the frontier of our collective quality of life, our peace of mind and our commitment to a just distribution of the goods of the Earth. Indeed, it is an indictment of our failure to move forward more quickly in the past that there is more poverty today in all sections of our community than existed 10 years ago.
If there is no peace without justice, then this deep injustice to so many in our society should become our new and collective priority.
Our aim therefore should be not just a shared future but a "just" shared future. This means not only respect for human rights and equality but also a fair distribution of the resources of our society, harmonious relationships and agreement with others. These are the basic foundations of shalom, of a real and lasting peace.
Believe in the impossible. God can surprise us with joy. This is the ultimate message of Easter. I pray that all will come to know the peace and joy of the Risen Christ this Easter, as the hope of the Resurrection draws us towards greater possibilities and a brighter day.