GAWU’S Easter Message 2008: The Promise of the Resurrection

The Christian Observance of the Forty-Day Lenten Period of Prayer, Reflection and Abstinence comes to its culmination this weekend.

The end of Lent also ushers in the Holy week of Easter. Easter means Crucifixion and Resurrection – the bedrock of the Christian Faith. Destruction as symbolized by the crucifixion does not signal finality – any infinite end. It merely precedes the Hope of everlasting existence – the resuscitation and saturation of mankind.

The Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), the country’s largest worker’s bargaining unit whose members embrace the major faiths including Christianity, recognizes this most significant observance of the Christian community in Guyana.

A people’s faith gives them the meaning of life in all its transitions; faith provides sustenance and rationale for living and most of all people’s religious beliefs should give them tolerance, understanding and hope. The resurrection we are told is a story of prophecy fulfilled; a story of sacrifice for a whole race of true Believers. A Godly immortal soul was made flesh, dwell amongst his enemies and believers and paid a price, the fruits of which his followers still enjoy, albeit at varying levels.

GAWU can do no better than to repeat these sentiments it has expressed before as the Lenten season gives way to the Festival of the Easter Resurrection: We understand that Jesus Christ was amongst all other virtues, a representative of the lowly working-class. He sought to challenge imperial, repressive authority aided by a powerful Divine mandate. In the end – but as predicted by Holy Prophets – He was compromised by his own and by the grateful Powers – that be.

The Story of the Resurrection which Christians hold dear, however, submerges the Crucifixion on the Cross. Whether the Resurrection is myth or reality, the powerful Message of Hope, the Guarantee of Life of the Risen Lord, motivates a huge proportion of humanity to hold fast to a faith of sacrifice for the Greater Good.

In this time of threats to our national security, peace and well-being may the true Christians amongst us enjoin both their God and their earthly leaders to offer solutions to our challenges. Confirm too to the conditions and behaviours demanded of those who are beneficiaries of Christ’s pre-ordained ultimate sacrifice. There can still be an abundant, everlasting life for all of us to share. Enjoy the celebratory aspects of your Easter Festival – Cross Buns, Easter hats and eggs and kite-flying. And pray for peace and progress for Guyana.

Happy Easter 2008