“As Christians, we must not lose hope! God is at work! God is watching over us!” said Bishop Iustin of Maramureș in his Easter pastoral message this year, referring to the numerous conflicts unfolding worldwide.
In his message, the bishop spoke about the responsibility of world leaders to preserve peace and to serve the common good.
“Do they understand that the power they have received must be exercised in the service of good, of prosperity, freedom and dignity of the people they are called to lead—and not for confrontation and wars of domination and conquest of other nations?” he asked.
“Do these leaders—many of whom consider themselves Christians—realise that they will be called to give an account before God and before Christ, risen from the dead, for how they governed and whether they served the will of God on earth? Judging by our world and its leaders, we are not convinced they have understood their calling,” the hierarch said.
Bishop Iustin emphasised that all nations are God’s creation, and that injustice against other people or persons is an affront to God.
“If those who lead nations would think not only of their own people, but understand the role of humanity as a whole and of each nation in particular—since all peoples of the earth are God’s creation and part of His providential plan—they would realise that to wrong, subjugate or destroy other nations is nothing less than a defiance of the Creator’s will,” he explained.
He added that God’s providence extends to every person, family, community and nation, sustaining the harmony of the entire universe.
Although injustice and wars anger God, Bishop Iustin encouraged believers not to despair, affirming that Christ does not abandon humanity.
“As Christians, let us not lose hope! God is at work! God is watching over us! God will not allow His creation—humanity, full of beauty and greatness—to be swallowed by death, by nothingness and by hell.”
He also expressed hope that there are still many righteous men and women whose prayers sustain the world.
“Let us believe that God still has on earth many men and women of holy life, whose prayers rise continually to heaven like fragrant incense. They are the offering of humanity before God, as were the Mother of God and Saint John the Baptist, and as are all the saints.”
Finally, he highlighted God’s care for both the elderly and children.
“Let us be convinced that God cares for the elderly of holy life, who are the living, unwritten history of families, communities and the Church. He also cares for children, who are His angels sent to earth and who have not yet had the chance to enjoy the beauty of life. They, too, have the right to live life as a gift from God, just as we have lived and rejoiced in it,” the bishop said.
Photo: Diocese of Maramureș and Sătmar
