Zagreb Archbishop Dražen Kutleša led a mass celebration at Kaptol on Sunday, on the occasion of the greatest Christian holiday, Easter, and told the faithful not to give in to negativity, but to persist in recognizing signs of hope.
"In this historical moment, marked by many uncertainties, it is especially important not to give in to negativity, but to persist in recognizing signs of hope. We must not give in to despair, because Christ's resurrection dispels all hopelessness and fills us with the joy that springs from faith," Archbishop Kutleša said in his sermon.
The Holy Mass was held in the filled Liturgical Space of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac at Zagreb's Kaptol.
On that occasion, the archbishop warned the gathered faithful that fear, sadness, and trauma lead people to make the worst assumptions.
"We quickly accept bad news, and we easily reject or barely notice the good. We are so consumed by negativity that we forget that in every loss, God opens new doors and gives us new opportunities."
The resurrection of Christ, which is celebrated today, is the 'alpha and omega' of the Christian faith, added the Zagreb Archbishop.
"Without it, faith would be an empty word, hope would be a deception, and Christianity would be extinguished at its very beginning. Christianity does not begin with an idea, but with an event, it does not rest on human wisdom, but on divine initiative," he emphasized.
In addition, Archbishop Kutleša called on believers to listen to the voice of God in the Holy Scriptures and the proclamation of the Church, despite the "noise and superficiality of this world."
"We misperceive the reality we live in. Too often we seek security in what we perceive with our physical eyes, but correct spiritual vision begins with listening. Spiritual blindness ends when the word of God resonates in our hearts," said the Zagreb archbishop at the Easter Mass.
Photo: HINA/Lana Slivar Dominić
