To our beloved brothers and sisters in Christ:
Prayers and blessings receive: On the occasion of the Holy Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Easter), we take this opportunity to extend our Episcopal greetings to the faithful sons and daughters of the National Council of Churches in Australia’s member churches, all Christians in Australia and around the world and to convey upon them our blessings.
The Feast of the Resurrection is Christianity’s most sacred and holy of commemorations. The Christian church universally without regard to differences of doctrine and ecclesiastical dates, remembers the life, death and resurrection of He who is ‘The Way, and the Truth, and the Life’ (John 14:6 NIV).
God’s love for humankind is exhibited in the sacrifice of His only begotten Son for the salvation of humanity, the remission of sins and the commencement of new life for His creation. As Christians we look to the Cross which resoundingly symbolises our faith and rest assured that the Lord, our God, has conquered death and trampled evil. God has given eternal life and everlasting happiness to all Christians who live in the hope of salvation.
While we as Christians celebrate the resurrection of our Lord, we must also remember in our thoughts and prayers those who suffer under the burdens of poverty, oppression and injustice, both in Australia and around the world. It is our conviction that the hope bestowed upon us by our Almighty God in this Easter season reverberates in the hearts of those who suffer and at the same time, compels those graced with positions of power and honour to make a difference. Let us all look to the plight of those who suffer with compassion and resolve to give their lives positive rebirth.
In particular the Assyrian Church of the East prays for the protection of suffering Assyrian Christians in their ancestral homeland of Iraq who continue to face the onslaught of persecution and fear. We implore our brothers and sisters in Christ to remember them during this holy season. May the Lord God look upon them with mercy as they, like us, shout ‘Hosanna in the Highest’.
Christ is Risen! May His resurrection be a blessing unto us all.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, forever and ever: Amen.
Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metropolitan
Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand
Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East
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