Easter Message 2026

The Easter celebration always carries within it the core message of hope for new life. As we gather as a community of faith to celebrate the Paschal Mystery of our Lord – His Passover from death into new life – may we all experience a special time of deep, fruitful, and spiritual renewal of our faith and hope in Him.

While celebrating the Eucharist on Holy Wednesday with our parishioners, including the participation of some of our school children, we had the opportunity to rediscover the meaning of the Holy Triduum during the homily. Through their responses to the celebrant’s questions, the congregation was particularly impressed by the level of understanding and knowledge the students demonstrated. Nevertheless, perhaps the most intriguing response came from a young child:

Celebrant: “What happened on Good Friday?”
Child: “Jesus died on the Cross.”
Celebrant: “Why did Jesus die on the Cross?”
Child: “Jesus died on the Cross to open the gates of heaven.”

What Jesus says in the Gospel has come to fulfillment: “Out of the mouth of babes you have perfected praise” (Mt 21:16). Children have always been lively instruments in the proclamation of the Gospel. Their honest and simple ‘theology’ can at times be profound, testimonial, and indeed educational for us adults.

What can one find in heaven? Surely not suffering, misery, adversity, conflict, pain, or evil intentions. Rather, in heaven one finds a life full of promise, joy, hope, comfort, reconciliation, and peace. Indeed, one encounters a loving God, who is the author and source of life.

During the Veneration of the Cross, the Good Friday liturgy invites each of us to proclaim: “Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the salvation of the world.” The Cross, once the cruellest form of execution for criminals, has now been redeemed by Christ and has become the most powerful means of salvation, leading us into the new life of God.

The image of the empty tomb – when Mary Magdalene, and later Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved, discovered it early on the first day of the week (John 20:1) – reminds us that nothing in this world, not even death, can imprison the God of life. In Him there is always the fullness of redemption and hope for new life. It is through the Cross that Jesus accomplished His once-for-all act of love.

May Easter fill us with this spirit, so that we may move forward to build God’s ‘heaven’ on earth with compassion, truth, and peace, and prepare ourselves to be with Him in eternal life.

By Fr Sang Ho