Bartholomew I: The Resurrection of Christ is the only ark of salvation for a humanity in crisis
Istanbul
(AsiaNews) - With a thought to the crisis that is afflicting the modern world,
the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I celebrated the Easter
holidays of the Orthodox Christian world, by sending a message that emphasizes
the importance of the resurrection of our Lord as only response of salvation for
the world. This
world, for Bartholomew, believes that through economic globalization "it
has gained eternity'. In
fact, globalization is based on a reckless material well-being that denigrates values
which attempt to preserve the dignity of 'human existence.
His
message emphasized that there is no miracle recipe for eternal life on this
earth beyond the saving message of the resurrection of Christ. The
mythological search for '"fountain of eternal life" is of no use,
said Bartholomew, because "'immortality exists in Christ and is offered to
all through Him."
"If
the resurrection of Christ only involved Him, it would have no meaning for
us," Bartholomew begun. "But
Christ is not risen alone. With Him the whole human race is risen.... The
message is joyous for all, because the Resurrection of Christ cancels the power
of death. Those who believe in Him, confess the resurrection of dead
and so are baptized into his death, resurrected together with Him and live to eternal
life. "
"The
world is far from Christ - he continued- trying to accumulate material goods in
which it places all of life's hope. Man inconsiderately hopes that through
wealth he will avoid death. And the man who errs in accumulating wealth, as if it
could lengthen his life, spreads death to others. He rips their economic
strength of survival and often violently interrupts the thread of their lives,
hoping that it will save his life".
"You
do not need - added the Ecumenical Patriarch - to destroy peoples to allow other
peoples survive. Nor is there any need to destroy defenseless human beings to allow
more prosperous fellow human beings live. Christ offers life on earth and the
heavenly life to all. He
has risen for those wishing to follow the path of the resurrection. In
contrast, those who directly or indirectly spread death, believing it to extend
or facilitate their lives, condemn themselves to eternal death. "
"Our
Risen Lord, Jesus Christ - Bartholomew underscored - came into the world so
that all men may have life and 'have it abundantly. It would be a great mistake
to believe that the welfare of the human race can only be decided through infighting.
We follow, brothers and
beloved children in the Lord, the Risen Christ, in all his works. Let us help those who live without means of
subsistence, to keep them alive."
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