Coronavirus: church leaders offer words of hope and faith for Easter

The leaders of Australia’s Christian churches have recorded video messages for their dispersed flocks worshipping in isolation.

Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher. Picture: Hollie Adams

The leaders of Australia’s major Christian churches have sent a common message of hope, faith and patience to their dispersed flocks in their ­annual Easter speeches, as their congregations worship in isolation during the ­unrelenting COVID-19 crisis.

In a video message, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher said it might seem “impossible, even insensitive, to talk of hope when people are sick or dying, anxious or isolated, unemployed or otherwise burdened”.

“We’ve been through plagues before. Some have been devastating. But eventually they pass,” he said, adding people were ­demon­strating the light of Easter through “their works of mercy and prayer”.

In the ferverino Archbishop Fisher delivered at the Stations of the Cross at St Mary’s Cathedral on Friday morning, he said in the pandemic the “burdens” of “distancing, isolation and loneliness … are much lighter than those borne by many in our world every day”.

“As we offer material, emotional and spiritual support to others at this time, we lighten their load,” he said. “When we see the sick and dying, the isolated or anxious from COVID-19 and respond with generosity as our health professionals do, and our pastors and our civic officials, we are Veronica wiping the Lord’s fevered brow, Simon of Cyrene helping carry his cross, Mary and John keeping vigil, Christ sacrificing himself.”

Sydney Anglican Archbishop Glenn Davies said while the virus had sparked fears of unemployment, loneliness and death, it had not “killed” Easter and that “the message of Easter is that death has been conquered”.

“There is hope because God sent Jesus into our world,” he said.

The president of the Uniting Church in Australia, Deidre Palmer said “from death and devastation, new life and hope emerges”.

“As we come to Easter this year, we are conscious of all those who are affected by the catastrophic and unprecedented events in Australia of bushfire, of flood and drought in so many parts of our country,” Dr Palmer said. “Christians believe that through his life and ministry, Jesus identifies with and comes alongside us in our suffering, and offers comfort, love and healing in all we’re going through.

“In these times of crisis and trauma, we stand with each other, journeying and struggling together through the long road ahead.”

The Moderator-General of the Presbyterian Church of Australia, Peter Barnes, said it seemed “we are constantly swamped with the great issues of the day: droughts, then fires, then floods, then plague”. He said they all “point to the greatest issue of all time — the son of God walked this earth, and defeated sin and death”.

Melbourne’s Anglican Archbishop, Philip Freier, said Jesus’ death at Easter caused Christians to reflect on their own mortality, while in his resurrection was seen the promise of eternal life.

“The unexpected crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has brought this truth to the forefront of awareness,” the Archbishop said in a video message.

In his Easter message, Scott Morrison urged Australians to stay home, saying there would not be the opportunity for extended family gatherings.

“Easter will be different and we will be staying at home,” he said. “It’s important because we cannot undo the tremendous progress we have made together.”

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese echoed the Prime Minster’s theme, adding Australians needed to thank all essential workers during this time.

Additional reporting: AAP