South Korean Archbishop: ‘At Easter, our lives lives intertwine with the Eternal’

By Vatican News

In his Easter message for 2024, Most Rev. Peter Chung Soon-Taick, OCD, Archbishop of Seoul, reflects on increasing our collective longevity.

He recalls that just a few decades ago in Korea, it was customary to celebrate the 60th anniversary with great splendor in a ceremony called “Hwangap“.

However, with the increase in life expectancy, even celebrating the seventieth birthday tends to be avoided, as it feels like there is still a long way to go in life. Statistics reveal that the average life expectancy of Korean women is around 86 years, while that of men is around 81 years.

“However,” notes the archbishop, “if our earthly existence ends after 80 to 90 years, what significance will that have in the vast tapestry of millennia of history? What significance will that add to the history of this earth and the universe if our individual life remains disconnected from the eternal?

Referring to a principle of communism, the archbishop affirms that “faith in the resurrection of Jesus is not like opium that helps us escape from this troubled world, as Karl Marx said, but rather involves a profound recognition that our lives in this temporal realm are intertwined with the Eternal.

This certainty, he continues, “involves a sincere commitment to embrace life in its entirety, even amid the trials of adversity, such as failure, illness, separation, and the erosion of love. The resurrection of Jesus gives us hope that these “deaths” “are not the end point but rather a new beginning, imbued with divine strength.”

Glimmer of hope in a deep-rooted division

Bishop Chung Soon-Taick also speaks about the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

“Faith in the resurrection of Jesus offers a glimmer of hope that even the deep-rooted division on the Korean peninsula may ultimately resolve into a future of unified existence,” he writes, and could transform “into a rebirth of harmonious cohabitation and shared prosperity. “.

And he continues: “May the transformative power and hope embodied in the resurrection envelop all who struggle with adversity, especially our brothers in the North.”

According to the Archbishop, the path to follow is therefore that of dialogue. “Authentic dialogue has the potential to transcend conflict and division, fostering empathy and understanding toward others,” he writes. “Political leaders have a profound duty to guide the trajectory of their nations towards development and the collective well-being of their people. »

A call to exercise judicious discernment

Bishop Chung Soon-Taick concludes his message with a petition for the upcoming legislative elections on April 10.

“It becomes imperative for us, citizens of a democratic society, to exercise sound judgment in the upcoming electoral process, electing leaders who are unequivocally dedicated to serving the interests of the people. Amid personal and social challenges, the resurrection of Jesus Christ serves as a beacon of hope, anchoring our faith in the potential for redemption and renewal. »

(Source: Agenzia Fides)