Dead and living mangroves, Roebuck Bay, Broome, Western Australia.
Photo : CAS.
This is the wood of the cross on which hung the Saviour of the world.
Come, let us worship.
For the Lord has risen.
Alleluia.

Issue 1, March 2007, Highlights:

Easter Message

Vatican Dossier

Wonders of the Kimberley - Frogs

Talkabout Kimberley
Social Justice Statement, 2006

Broome Launch

Fr Brian McCoy

Farewell to Fr. Kevin McKelson SAC

Graduation Address - Fr Ray Hevern SAC

KCP Magazine

Bishop Christopher Saunders - Easter Message

Jesus Alive on the Web of Blessings

I recently was told by a number of people in Broome that a certain famous country music singer had died. I hadn’t come across this news in the press so I decided to check out the story. So, I went to the internet, as you do these days, and discovered a web site called Dead or Alive. The country singer in question is ‘ Alive’ you will be happy to know – the web site told me in no uncertain terms. As I pressed the search button after typing in the performer’s name a huge red lettered message ‘ALIVE’ beamed across the screen accompanied by a cartoon of a smiling face. Other names I typed in were less fortunate than my singer and a black lettered ‘DEAD’ headed the page accompanied by information on dates and the cause of death and a cartooned sad face.

Feeling a mixture of mischief and curiosity I typed in the names “Jesus Christ” and “Jesus of Nazareth”. There was no entry under these names. No doubt you have to decide for yourself about this question of Jesus being DEAD or ALIVE, just as did the disciples of Jesus, Mary his Mother and the faithful apostles. There is no certainty about the resurrection of Christ where there is no faith. Faith alone will tell you that Jesus is alive and faith alone will sustain the hope that his resurrection promises for all of us.

The realization that Jesus is ALIVE is at the core of the Easter event and such a realization changes your life. Christ’s death on the Cross is built on the certainty of history and the testimony of the disciples. His defeat of the Cross, His defeat of the certainty of death revealed to us through faith, changes our lives because suddenly our lives are not futile. There is purpose in living and celebrating life.

Knowing that Christ overcame death and sin which itself brings death means that the great disappointments of life and our often repeated weaknesses are not fatal. We can overcome and thrive because Christ has brought us new life through God’s forgiveness. We are consoled that death when it comes to us, as surely it will, is not final. Our eternal life is boundless and fulfilling and loving.

Faith alone will tell you that Jesus is alive and faith alone will sustain the hope that his resurrection promises for all of us.

The fear of death has a crippling effect on hosts of people in today’s world. For them it is something to be pushed out of mind and never contemplated. On the other hand to witness the death of a faith-filled person is a huge privilege because it confirms what joy there is in the expectation of eternal life with Christ. In such circumstances Jesus is ALIVE to the person dying and also to those who believe in His victory over death. In that truth we can find peace.

Our Easter faith leads us to the wonderful certainty that Jesus faced death and defeated it in life that we might live through Him and with Him and in Him.

May you and your family celebrate the gift of Easter in your lives secure in your belief in this, the choicest of God’s blessings.

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