Yesterday, I traveled to Fort Augustus, a small town, south-west end of Loch Ness, in the Scottish Highlands, for the Stations of the Cross and Passion liturgy on the occasion of Good Friday.

The ceremony was a profound experience for me, as I contemplated the vastness of God’s boundless love for humanity and the lengths to which he went to offer redemption through his only son enduring the burden of the cross.

My reflections also led me to consider the ways in which our leaders have failed to serve the common good, instead prioritising their own interests at the expense of the poor and marginalised.

Even worse, the poor are often gaslit when they speak up against this injustice. It struck me that while Christ reigned from the cross, our leaders choose to rule from a position of privilege, doling out meager scraps to their constituents. Christ sacrificed himself to reign, while our leaders are often willing to kill to maintain power.

If only we could truly understand the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice and follow in his footsteps, our world would be a better place for all.

However, there is hope – Christ did not remain entombed; his descent into the realm of the dead was a mission to eradicate suffering and death, and to lead us into the brilliant light of our salvation. As a result, we too can rise from our current seemingly hopeless circumstances and be embraced by the grace of a brighter future.

I pray that this Easter season will bring us all the joy, peace, and love that we desire and deserve. Amen.

Have a Holy Saturday
~ Fr. James Anyaegbu