Roman Catholic Archbishop Jason Gordon yesterday appealed to citizens to emulate the teachings of Jesus Christ by demonstrating empathy and love.
In his homily to the packed congregation at the Good Friday Service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Port-of-Spain, Gordon said there is too much hatred and darkness permeating the society. Every time someone demonstrates indifference by neglecting the poor and downtrodden Christ “is being crucified all over again”, he added.
“The story of the passion is not so much a story of brutality but of love that was rejected and that love is rejected by you and me. We reject Christ and we crucify him over and over again when we are incapable of receiving and responding to that love.
“When I walk the streets of the city of Port-of-Spain and I see those living on the streets, there too Christ is crucified. When some have to sell themselves to make a living because they can’t find another way in this society to have a decent livelihood, there too Christ is being crucified,” Gordon said.
He said during his visits to the prisons he has met and interacted with inmates who have been incarcerated for years awaiting the start of their trials.
“Which means, as far as we are concerned, that they are innocent because in this country a person is innocent until proven guilty and yet they are in jail for no other crime but poverty. That’s the only crime they are in jail for.
“When their case is tried that’s for another crime but until such time, their crime is poverty. There I see the crucified Christ and I also see the apathy of the crowd because they are totally indifferent of their suffering,” he said.
Archbishop Gordon appealed to citizens to turn their hatred into love and to transform the unforgiven into forgiveness. He said this will create a far less violent nation.
“Love has the last word. To understand the crucifixion is to understand that love is triumphant to the end. When we show the worst of the anger, violence and hatred, Jesus Christ still forgives and embraces us.
“To live under the sign of the cross is to live under the sign of forgiveness,” Gordon said.