SOUTH AMERICAN DIOCESE: May 4, 2016
Paschal Epistle of Bishop John of Caracas and South America

Dear brothers and sisters,

Christ is risen!

The whole of creation both visible and invisible rejoices. Angels along with humanity, the heavens and the earth together celebrate the Resurrection from the dead of their Creator. With them we also celebrate. We, however, as Christians bear the name of Christ and, as such are called not only to celebrate Christ's Resurrection, but to be actual partakers of this saving event, for, as St Paul says, this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality (1Cor. 15:53).

Thisincorruption, this immortality is to be attained only in the suffering Christ, crucified for our sake. In the mystery of the Cross we are to become joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified together [with Him] (Rom. 8: 17).

We must have fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means [we] might attain unto the resurrection of the dead (Phil. 3: 10-11). The Resurrection and the Cross are inseparably joined. Without the Cross there is no Resurrection. Resurrection comes only through the Cross. Thus we see that through the whole history of Christ's Church, Christian saints, entered into the mystery of the Cross, through martyrdom, asceticism and other Christian struggles, embraced the Cross as their way of life, and, crucifying the desires of the flesh, attained to the joy of the Resurrection.

If our old man is crucified..., that the body of sin might be destroyed (Rom. 6: 6), then we can rise from our sinful passions to see the risen Christ shine in our life, and, as His true followers, have true hope of eternal life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall also be in the likeness of His Resurrection (Rom. 6: 5). Christ's Resurrection is not only the fore-type, but an absolute promise, of our own resurrection.

Let us all strive to live the mystery of the Cross, that we may also be partakers of the unfading light of the Resurrection.

Christ is risen! Truly He is Risen!

John,
Bishop of Caracas and South America,
Buenos Aires,