Easter greetings with reflections on Lent by Monsignor Hypolite Adigwe, Anambra State, Nigeria
Dear friends and acquaintances of Hypolite Adigwe,
Last week, Hypolite sent us his thoughts on Lent and Easter – and also translated them himself.
I send you these thoughts along with my best wishes for a blessed Easter season!
BE HOLY, AS YOUR FATHER IS HOLY.
Be holy, as your Father is holy.
Were these words not spoken by Christ?
Addressed to them, to us, to me?
Did Christ really mean them that way?
His life was just that holy.
And to be holy means to be like Christ.
But how can I achieve that?
For I am not a son of God like Christ.
And yet Christ tells me to be holy.
That through Christ I am a child of God,
And in his image he created me.
I cannot help but be like Christ.
Christ showed the way to holiness.
He spoke of love as a radiant light.
And allowed suffering to purify me,
To carry the cross like Christ.
He gave eight beatitudes to be holy:
To be poor in spirit like Christ,
To seek peace, not only for myself,
But for all of us in Christ.
To hunger and thirst for holiness
Was also taught by Christ;
To mourn is also good for you and me,
When we accept everything in Christ;
Gentleness also makes holy,
said Christ,
Let the pure spirit grow within you.
Christ taught that too.
The righteous one is certainly holy,
And so too the Father and his Christ.
That is why they expect from you and me,
That we be like the Father and his Christ.
May Lent and Easter, the holy seasons,
Lead you and me closer to Christ,
Who gave you and me holy seasons
That lead to Him.
Hypolite Adigwe, Msgr.