The season inspires these messages of hope from religious leaders – PennLive

It has been a little over a year since COVID-19 forced a statewide shutdown for all non-life-sustaining businesses and shelter-at-home orders. Worshippers struggled to stay in touch with their religious congregations. Churches, synagogues and other houses of worship were forced to conduct services over the Internet, adopting an approach new to everyone.

During that difficult time, PennLive reached out to area religious leaders to share a message with their flock as the holy seasons of Easter and Passover approached. No one could imagine then a pandemic that would continue for the next 12 months, leading to more than 1 million cases statewide and 25,000 deaths.

A year later, much has changed. Pennsylvania has started to slowly open up thanks to the distribution of vaccinations to more than 5 million residents. We have contacted some of the same religious leaders to ask what 2021 message they wished to share with people, regardless of creed or denomination.

Here are a few of the uplifting thoughts from pastors, priests, rabbis and other religious leaders in our region.

Most Rev. Ronald W. Gainer, Bishop of the Harrisburg Diocese

Photographer: Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Jesus said: I am the resurrection. Anyone who believes in me, even though that person dies, will live. Our Lords words in Johns gospel are more than a celebration of Christs victory over death. They are a reminder that because of Christs sacrifice we have the gift of eternal life with our Heavenly Father. They also serve as a reminder that there is no force, not even death, that can defeat our Lord and Savior. Christ is risen! Christ has won the ultimate victory.

Throughout the past year, we have all been faced with what has seemed like endless waves of darkness. This darkness in our present moment might have felt like a tomb of our own. This Easter, let us remember that Christ is the Light of the World and He brings the light of hope and love to even the darkest of times. He has defeated death, and through Him, we can have everlasting life. May the peace, light and hope of this Easter reign in your hearts and homes, today and always. Christ the Lord is risen!

Bishop Audrey Scanlan of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania

Photographer: Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

For me, the most resonant theme of the past COVID-year has been love your neighbor or do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (Matthew 7: 12 KJV) This Golden Rule is found not only in the Christian tradition but in other faith traditions across the world, as we are called to a consciousness that extends beyond self and loved ones to embrace all of humanity.

Love your neighbor and wear a mask to protect them. Love your neighbor, work for racial justice in our country so that all of Gods children are honored and oppressive systems are vanquished. Love your neighbor and find ways to make healthcare accessible to all, to fund education for our children by equitable means, and to deliver a livable minimum wage.

Loving ones neighbor is a spiritual practice that requires the sacrifice of our privilege, time, resources and power. And, it is modeled for us by Gods Son who gave of his life that we might have eternal life. On Easter, we see how God transformed a life that was lived in a holy and sacrificial way. May we give glory on this Easter Day in the fellowship of Gods creative power as it transforms us.

Rev. Brenda Alton, Manager, UPMC Pinnacle Spiritual Care Services and founder, Kingdom Embassy in Harrisburg

Photographer: Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

When we look back over our lives and we think things over, we can honestly say that we have been blessed. We have survived but now it is time to thrive.

SURVIVAL is the ability to continue to live or exist despite difficult circumstances. The year 2020 was a difficult and very dark time in our lives. Bishop Desmond Tutu posits that Hope is being able to see there is light despite all darkness.

Hope allows us to thrive. THRIVE means to grow and develop well, to prosper or flourish. Many people survive but then they do not thrive; they simply exist. I encourage you to move into SURTHRIVAL mode. Now that you have survived do not dwell on the past. We have been blessed with an opportunity to flourish, that is SURTHRIVAL.

Romans 6:4 (NIV) says, We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Walk into SURTHRIVAL; you have survived, now thrive, and live life loud.

Rev. Roque Santiago of the First Bilingual Christian Church in Harrisburg

Photographer: Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

What a year it has been, the world has gone through this pandemic, politics and everything in between. As Christians we need to put our trust in our Lord.

We thank God for the doctors, nurses and frontline workers. Know that were praying for them every day. As we approach a new season I like to share the story in the Bible about what Jesus went through.

Were celebrating Holy Week and in our churches we preach about everything that happened that week.

First, He was received in Jerusalem triumphantly on Palm Sunday then He was crucified on Friday but on Easter Sunday He was resurrected in victory (He is Risen) Luke 24:1-12. The Resurrection Sunday is about Jesus dying at the cross for our salvation. We celebrate Jesus life and death. We believe in the power of prayer and in the One who is risen.

May the world come together as we celebrate this special day of the One who dies for the world. Our Hope of Glory, Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Rev. James Jackson of Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church in Harrisburg

Photographer: Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com

For Christians, this holy season is a time of renewal and rebirth. But this sacred season is also about re-emerging. In our faith tradition, our Savior Jesus had never experienced death; He had been alive with the Lord God since creation. When He closed his eyes and released His Spirit in death, He was entering a new situation. When He opened his eyes, He emerged from death ready to help humankind. He came out of the tomb with a sense of purpose, not to better Himself but to change the world around Him because of living through that experience of death.

Almost a year ago, like Jesus, we entered into an experience weve never been in before, and as we re-emerge this holy season, lets emerge better than we were. Let us emerge with a sense of purpose, to make the lives of the people better. Lets commit to being aware of the needs of others around us. Lets commit to trying to live in peace with our neighbors. Lets commit to showing more love, mercy, and grace to those we may not know. Why? Because if the past year has shown us nothing else its that our lives can be changed in the blink of an eye.

Jesus faced death alone so that we may face life together as one people for a greater purpose. Whatever your faith tradition, and even if you dont have a faith tradition, lets commit to being people who are kinder to one another.

Rabbi Ariana Capptauber of Beth El Temple in Harrisburg

Photographer: Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

The breath of all that lives praises God. Nishmat kol chai tvarech et shimcha Hashem (Hebrew). Take a deep breath, and let that breath praise God as we enter this season of spring, full of fresh air and flowers, and the goodness of new things. In this spring season, the Jewish people celebrate the holiday of Passover in which we recall the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, the redemption from slavery into freedom. But freedom was not a simple time, rather it was a wilderness in which the Israelites wandered for 40 years.

We could say that we ourselves in this time, beginning to be freed from the grip of the COVID-19 virus, are entering into a kind of a wilderness of our own. Some of us are vaccinated and some are still waiting. We are in a place where we do not know exactly which way to turn, but we recall that when the Israelites were in the wilderness God was with them. By day, they had a pillar of cloud to protect them from the sun, and by night a pillar of fire to illuminate their tents.

Today we ask God for protection in our own Jewish liturgy, in our prayer services, where we say, ufros aleinu sukat shlomekha (Hebrew) spread over us Your shelter of peace, Your tent of protection. So as we continue through this wilderness of COVID-19 and its aftermath, lets pray for God to spread over us a shelter, a Sukkat shalom, just as God did in the wilderness. And may we all make it through this wilderness together in peace and tranquility and praise God every day with our breath.

Rev. Kathryn Johnston, Mechanicsburg Presbyterian Church

Photographer: Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

Reflecting on this past year, a lot came down to what did you believe and when did you believe it. Wearing masks, wiping down groceries, staying away from gatherings even of family have all been up for debate. What is not up for debate is that jobs have been lost, loved ones have died, and lives and quality of life have been forever altered. Last year we declared boldly, Christ is risen! This year it feels a bit more like were coming out of the tomb ourselves blinking at the harsh, bright light, asking: Christ is risen?

The Good News is that the truth of God-with-us is not up for debate. It is not subject to our interpretation of the rules or our opinion on the matter. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our Lord stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). And that Word very clearly tells us how to love God. Love our neighbor. Feed our neighbor. Clothe our neighbor. Give our neighbor something to drink.

Have no doubt.

Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed!

Rawaa Mahmoud Hussain, Imam at Islamic Center Masjid Al-Sabereen

Photographer: Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com

In this challenging time that the world is going through due to the pandemic, it is necessary to present some words to make people feel hopeful again despite the difficult circumstances now.

God celebrates the human being and considers him honored. God says in the Quran: And we have honored the children of Adam. Islam teaches us that disease can afflict any person and that he who cures illness is God. However, it believes that God is the one who heals, but at the same time, it calls for what is termed (causes) such as going to the hospital, visiting the doctor, and taking the prescribed medicine. It calls for the preservation of human health, body, and soul, and it strongly demands that a person be protected from anything that might expose him to harm. Yet, it requires the sick person to be patient while he is recovering. It promises the ill person that God forgives his/ her sins because of his/ her illness and exposure to ill health.

Giving hope to people today is very important because it helps everyone overcome the ordeal we all experience.

Pastors John and Patty Leach of Life Center Ministries in Swatara Township

Photographer: Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

In this past year, we have had a front-row seat to the power of Gods unstoppable life. Weve witnessed the increase of His love and expansion of His kingdom in the lives of our people. From healings to salvations to provisional breakthroughs, our congregation has experienced His presence. Most overwhelming has been peoples hunger for God and a return to faith.

The depth of hope and love that we have experienced has been refreshing and deeply encouraging, as evidenced in the generosity in our food outreach and corporate commitment to prayer. This past year has removed distractions and indulgences, and many have rediscovered what is most important: an abiding faith, a love of family and friends, and a greater purpose for their lives. These truths will always sustain us in a grave season. As we turn to Christ, He gives us new life.

See the original post:

The season inspires these messages of hope from religious leaders - PennLive