AN EASTER MESSAGE TO THE MAORI PEOPLE FROM THE BISHOP OF AOTEAROA

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 36, Issue 1, 1 April 1945, Page 12

AN EASTER MESSAGE TO THE MAORI PEOPLE FROM THE BISHOP OF AOTEAROA

(This is a translation from the Maori).

We have now reached one of the greatest days m our Church year, the Day of our Lord's Resurrection from the dead, St. Paul says: "Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast; not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness: but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

As an evidence of the importance of this day m the estimation of the Church, there is a rubric at the end of the H.C. Service which states: "Every Parishioner shall communicate, at the least three times m the year, of which Easter to be one."

I put forth this appeal to all who have been Confirmed to remember this instruction of your Church. Notwithstanding your long absence from

the Lord's Table, if you are truly repentant and possess even a little faith, y s ou are welcome; come and take .the body and blood of your Lord to sustain you. Listen to those: words of the prayer and make them your own: "And here we offer and present unto thee O Lord, ourselves, our souls, and bodies."

Come then and seek the true life. Don't waste your time seeking for the good things, of the material side only, and miss that which is invaluable, although not seen by the physical eye. Listen to St. Paul's message to us: "The things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not: seen are eternal." Our Lord has told us: "Man shall not live by bread -alone."

Christ has risen from the .dead: and we shall also live. All nations of the world, whether Christian or pagan have a belief man existence beyond the grave. Even the lower creatures have such an instinct.

Take the caterpiller. When it knows its time is ending, it prepares itself for the change by building its casket. — its cacoon. This he attaches to a twig or branch. After some time the old body becomes changed, and later that same cocoon produces a beautiful butterfly, and the glory of the latter exceeds that of the former.

We have a local bird we are very fond of, the Pipiwharauroa. It is a migratory bird and will be leaving our shores during this month of April for a distant land to re-appear again about October. It flies some thousands of miles over seas that it knows not, and for lands it has never seen. But it is being guided by a natural instinct, and m due course arrives on the. land which it seeks. Who taught these creatures around us: these wonderful things?

Yes, man is also a creature of God and He has taught us that there is life on-the other side of the grave. But we" are told "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap." So be on the watch.

A new world is being barn just now. We don't know yet what it is going to be like. The great nations of the world are fighting for a position for themselves under the sun. The current is so strong that many of our sons are there too. What has the future m store for them. There is an old proverb of our ancestors: "Shake off the pith that nothing but the heart remains."

Anything of a destructive nature, let us abandon. Hold firmly to spiritual things that have followed m the wake of the Resurrection. MayGod bless you all and give to you the real joy that has come down to us as a result of our Lord's Resurrection.

The Maori Synod that met at Tikitiki was largely attended and the re-

ception given to the new Bishop of Waiapu was enthusiastic and heartfelt. The bishop created a fine impression by his> kindly •" ways and genuine desire to help the Madri people to attain the higher ideals of life. He has a natural missionary instinct which won him a place immediately m the affection and regard of all the Maoris who were present. His kindly humble way of approaching problems that concerned the Maori people gave the Maori that confidence m a leader which will be of mutual help m the days to come. There were many interesting and important subjects brought up for discussion which we hope to print m our next issue. Meanwhile the Diocese may-thank God for sending us a bishop who is so acceptable to the Maori portion of our Church.