Pastoral Letter.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIII, Issue 10, 2 April 1923, Page 455

Pastoral Letter.

My Dear People,— Easter has again come round with its glorious message of life beyond the grave, life m all its fullness — ' ' The life of the world to come. ' ' Easter is robbed of half its; real message if the life of the world to come is for us but vague speculation. The glory of the Easter' message is its wonderful definiteness. The Greek philosophers believed m the immortality of the soul—that there was a real self that was deathless which the death of the body could neither touch nor alter., ; But the Christian religion -with its glorious message carries us far beyond this. It proclaims • a definite f act— r ' 'the resurrection of the body. " This fact is" unanswerable because it is based upon our Lord's own resurrection.- It was not merely His. Spirit that moved about the earth after v His burial, that appeared to. His V * disciples, that afterwards ascended* into Heaven, but His human body. CJjang'cd yes, m that.it was now "a spiritual . body, ' ' but still His body.'? He thus challenged^ His disciples', "Handle me . and see for a spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have." It was a body that could be seen and touched. Such shall be our Resurrection. We can say with -St. Paul, - ' '.If Christ then be; raiselcl from the dead we top shall rise. ' ' His

resurrection ,m the body is an earnest and pledge of purs. - / This T is of unspeakable comfort to all who have dear ones beyond the veil. We. shall, see -them again, and know them again m the body r at. the Resurrection of. the just. ' Siicli is tilje clear definite teaching of the Catholic faith, such is our. sure add certain hope. •.-... -•' " ' - '. :•■■■.■ But. Easter is tobe r spmet7hing more for us . than . the promise of life for the future, precious though: it is. It is to be life, and Power .nqwr— Power, to live, -power to coiiTquer sin,, power to, overcome physical disabilities and weakness ; power from the once, crucified but nV^RisenvliiirdiV;^^^ to us by the Holy Spint, m channels; of Grace. .We are to rise with'Biin now. This resurrection does go V on here on earth, ; th.is resui'i-eetion from V lower things, just according. a& "we V keep open r these -channels of grace and "seek these things which are above." May this Easter with its vision of our Risen Lord, qufekeii us to live more faithfully the. higher life— the life lived m Bain.— l auj., .'.'■ .. Yours faithfully and affectionatel.y, .:''■. WmVWALMSLEY WAIAPU.