This morning, about an hour ago, I spoke to the Bishop of Colombo, Bishop Dhiloraj. All the churches attacked earlier this morning were Roman Catholic; on your behalf I have sent our condolences to the Archbishop in Colombo and told him we are praying for him.
Bishop Dhiloraj had been in the midst of his Easter Eucharist; he was just beginning the Prayer of Consecration when the police arrived and said, “You must come with us, they are about to come and kill you.”
He refused to move until he had finished the Prayer of Consecration in his packed cathedral, and I quote his exact words to me: “If God gives me permission to live, I shall live. If he gives me permission to die, I shall die.”
Such was the prophecy of Jesus, that he has overcome.
And today, we say the Easter acclamation, Christ is risen, with bittersweet joy, knowing that our sisters and brothers, and many others of other faiths, suffer and mourn.
Yet we still sing our alleluias, still we follow the command of Christ and respond with justice – but in love, not revenge and bitterness, here and around the world.
We mourn and condole, we weep with those who have lost all as the Church has done from time immemorial, for indeed, despite all, Christ is risen!
Happy #Easter! The Christian holiday commemorates Christ’s Resurrection, after his Crucifixion on Good Friday.
Made in the Netherlands in 1511, this altar-piece is only 25cm tall. It’s intricately carved with scenes from the life of Christ – the Resurrection appears on the right pic.twitter.com/RLqwgnSWZP
— British Museum (@britishmuseum) April 21, 2019