The Catholic Weekly 17 April 2022

catholicweekly.com.au T here’s nothing darker or more hopeless than a tomb. When Jesus was laid to rest it was the end of his movement. His nearest had deserted. His dear- est were desolate. And he had gone where none can escape: to Hades, to death. We’ve been through dark times lately. Bushfires, plague, floods. On the in- ternational scene: inva- sion, economic turmoil, politics. Is there any light at the end of such tunnels? the disciples asked two thou- sand years ago. Jesus’ death seemed so final. It left them feeling numb, alone, fearful. Unsure about the future. Scared the darkness would en- dure. Yet three days later there was a spring in their step and their hearts were bright again. Not just re- suscitation, not just ex- tension of use-by date, they were talking ‘resur- rection,’ new life. What had changed? Everything had changed. The stone covering was rolled away to reveal the empty tomb. But not quite empty: it was filled with light, brighter than headlights, stage-lights, sunlight. Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the light of the world, no darkness could over- come. A light that says, amidst our darkest anxieties, there is refuge and com- fort: Jesus the light of faith. A light that says that af- ter suffering comes re- demption: Jesus the light of hope. A light that says that after redemption there is glo- ry: Jesus the light of love. We shine that light of faith, hope and love into the darkest places today. Christ is truly risen. Alleluia ! T his week, in full self- praise mode, the Edi- tor of the Sydney Morn- ing Herald announced a change to its publishing practic- es: “the Herald is dropping hon- orifics.” To give effect to this nod to the zeitgeist, updates will be made to the paper’s 248-page internal style guide, which the Editor called the “newsroom’s bible.” The amended ‘bible’ will direct journalists to refer to the PM, for example, not always as ‘Prime Minister,’ not even ‘Mr Morrison,’ just ‘Morrison’; the changes will take effect from Easter. The justification offered by the Editor - Mr (!) Shields is es- sentially one of keeping with the times as society becomes less formal and such designations and references are valued less. For a paper that has as its edito- Light after Darkness Titles matter, M From Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP EASTER MESSAGE Faith expressed in art and life: Christ, top left, is depicted with a crown of thorns in this modern artwork, his disciples at the Last Supper, the Resurrection is depicted in this 18th-century painting by American art Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 2021, at the Stone of Unction or Anointing, where it is believed burial. Easter, the chief feast in the liturgical calendars of all Christian churches, commemorates Christ’s resu PHOTOS: CNS, CROSIERS; CATHOLIC PRESS PHOTO BENJAMINW Dallas McInerney rial motto ‘INDEPENDENT. AL- WAYS’, its celebration of falling in behind the crowd and taking a crab walk to Twitterism, is a lit- tle curious. It might be easy to ignore the Herald’s proud rebuke of titles for Premiers and Prime Minis- ters (in fact, all of us) but for a counter point in the Easter story. Arrested from the Garden of Gethsemane and pursued by his enemies, Jesus is presented to the local Roman Governor for judgment and punishment; his alleged crime was his claim- ing of a title. Pontius Pilate finds himself reluctantly embroiled in the unrest amongst Jews in Judea who are displeased wi Jesus and his public ministry. For the baying mob, casti Jesus as a usurper and a thre against the Roman Empire w a sure way to pressure local a thorities do unto Christ what t Jewish leaders couldn’t or we en’t prepared to do themselve With his hand now forced by p litical considerations, near an afar, Pilate puts to Jesus perha the most consequential que tion in history’: ‘Are you a Kin Jesus Christ?’ This wasmore than a questio about a title, in fact the Gospe tells us it’s a question of ma parts. For the Jewish leaders, J Duty-bound, Pilate asks the question of Jesus, never really believing the claim, much less its threat to Rome. Jesus’s answer sent him to the Cross: “You have said so.”His crucifixion followed, then his resurrection and, with it, our salvation.” Dallas McInerney