Easter Greetings 2011

Easter Greetings 2011
Sr. Yvonne Reungoat
Dearest Sisters,
We are experiencing the high point of Christian life while celebrating the Passover of the Lord: his passage from death to life, the total donation of His life for love of humanity. In Jesus, death is finally defeated, and love is an inexhaustible source of new life.
For many people the presence of suffering in the world remains a scandal, a fact apparently irreconcilable with the existence of a God who is Love. Sometimes this is also our experience. When we see innocent suffering, we find it difficult to deal with, to understand and to find light that gives it meaning.
The suffering takes place very often in our personal and community lives, throughout history and in the lives of persons. At this time in history we are struck by many world events that are the cause of deep sorrow: natural disasters, various forms of violence, war, the spread of poverty, and epidemics.
We cannot close our eyes to the reality of increasingly rampant immigration, which sees a large number of people trying desperately and with great hope for a better life, one that is more secure, fleeing from their countries to new lands. This suffering is more intense when you do not meet brothers and sisters who are concrete signs of God's love.
More and more young people around the world are looking for a meaningful life and they struggle to find living conditions that will help them to grow in humanity. How many girls and young women are exploited and not considered in their dignity!
Yes, Jesus continues to suffer and die today in our humanity. So many human beings are crucified with him that only He knows all their names. We are called to allow ourselves to be moved at these situations that we know of, with the same heart of Jesus, and not to remain mere spectators who are cold, detached, indifferent.
How do we live the Passion of Jesus in our lives? Do we participate in the salvation of the world following the call of Jesus to be witnesses of hope and, therefore, of deep faith?
In the Paschal Mystery do we discover the light that sustains our way that is always going up to Jerusalem, or are we tempted to remain on a human level, complaining about whatever happens?
Celebrating the feast of Easter means choosing again to pass from death to life, allowing ourselves to be converted to love, committing ourselves to guard and accompany the growth of each bud of new life that we will know how to recognize: "Behold, I make all things new. Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? "(Is 43.19).
My wish for you is for a holy Easter and it is sent to each one of you and to every community for reflection:
How and where do I today meet Jesus who died and is risen? Which signs of the resurrection do we discover in daily life and which hope may we share?
Jesus wants peace for His people. Today the world needs that peace which is more and more threatened. Celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus is an occasion to offer gestures of peace, to choose constructive words, to express solidarity, to feel ourselves sent to proclaim this good news: Jesus is Risen!
At Easter we, must awaken as different beings! Our joy must urge us to leave ourselves to communicate it and spread it. The whole Institute will become the harmonious and joyful hymn of the Alleluia that spreads throughout the world and reaches the hearts of so many young people who will unite with us to sing of the joy of the victory of life over death.
Mary, the Easter woman, rejoices with us and sustains us so that our Alleluia hymn may be the authentic expression of our joy.
On this solemnity I have a special remembrance for you, our elderly and infirm Sisters. Your daily prayers are a great gift for the whole Institute, for the Church and for young people. You are living a precious mission that makes you valuable to God and wraps you in the most tender love of Mary.
Happy Easter to all of you, dear Sisters, to your families, to the educating communities, to the groups of the Salesian Family and in particular, to our brother Salesians.
I thank you with all my heart for the wishes that you have sent me with great affection. Know that I exchange them with incessant prayer.