As this edition of In the Word reaches you, we are about to embark on the Easter Triduum, those blessed days of entering into the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

It’s a busy time for many of us, with all the liturgies to attend and be part of. But on the flip-side, it is also, for Christians, a time of profound un-busyness, of deep quiet, of fasting, prayer and reflection.

I love the Easter Triduum because it reminds me again and again that there is no resurrection without the passion. The two are inextricably linked in the life of Jesus, as in our own lives.

And because we know how the story ends, those days of the Easter Triduum are filled with a strong sense of hope.

Hope is essential for human flourishing. When things go wrong or situations seem hopeless, our lives can quickly spiral downwards, out of control.

For those of us engaged in the great Mission of Jesus Christ, we are called to be hope-bringers. Many of the people we SVDs serve, both here and around the world, are living in situations which to them, seem devoid of hope.

Through our presence, our ministry, and our commitment to initiatives which promote human development and dignity we can bring a sense of being loved and known and cared for. And with that comes fresh hope.

The Easter Triduum, if entered into fully, takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions, from the despair of Calvary, to the hope-filled waiting of Easter Saturday, and then the joy of the empty tomb on Sunday.

May each of us recommit this Holy Week and Easter to being the hope of the resurrected Christ to those we meet. It might just be spending time with someone who’s lonely or reaching out to a refugee in your community. Simple, unhurried presence is one of the great transmitters of hope and love in our busy world.

Wishing you and your family a blessed Easter.

Fr Henry Adler SVD
Provincial