To all the Brothers, Co-workers and members of the Hospitaller Family of Saint John of God
After our journey through Lent, we are approaching Easter, and I therefore send my Easter greetings to the entire Saint John of God Family and to all the families and guests being cared for in the Order’s Centres and Facilities, praying that the Risen Lord will bring joy and hope to us and to the world. Happy Easter!
This is also the same message of hope that I offered you last Christmas for the celebration of the birth of the Son of God in Bethlehem. That was at a challenging time because of the wars that not only continued to be waged, but were actually spreading, and also because of so many other states of suffering. In that newborn Child, however, was the seed of life, and therefore of hope.
The life of the Son of God has been unfolding ever since His birth, proclaiming in words and tangible deeds the new life offered to us. But not everyone has accepted or acknowledged that life, and fewer still have taken it up. This is also the case today. Indeed, His life ended in failure in people’s eyes, leading to His death on the cross. Everything we said and all our expectations at the time of His birth seem to have come to nothing, leaving suffering to continue unabated in the world. It really does look as if there is no solution. Everything ended with the cross!
But it did not go like this at all. St Paul tells us,”hope will not let us down” (Cf. Rm 5,5). And the angel of the Lord confirmed this to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, who went out early in the morning, full of sorrow, to mourn at the tomb of Christ: “He is not here,for he has risen. Come and see the place where he lay, then go quickly and tell his disciples to go to Galilee is where you will see him.” (Cf. Mt 28, 1ss).
The God-Child who was born in Bethlehem and who died on the cross is risen and is keeping hope alive for all humanity. This is the news that should fill us with joy and help us to overcome the despondency which our bewildered humanity is experiencing, because the Lord keeps His word: His hope and His word are faithful and final (cf. Heb, 10:23) above, and in spite of, all the challenges and sufferings that our world is still having to endure today. The God-Child, the Risen One, is the foundation and the pledge on which our hope is pinned. HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL!
The General Government and the entire General Curia Family wish you a VERY HAPPY EASTER!
Brother Jesús Etayo
Superior General