WASHINGTON — Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the head of the Archdiocese of Washington, is urging people to find hope this Easter.
“In spite of all the violence around us, in spite of the evil that we see, bigotry, division, all around us, we must never give up on that spark of divine life and grace within us that gives us hope,” Wuerl said. “We know that each one of us can make a difference. We can fashion a better community. We can make a better world.”
This Sunday is Palm Sunday, marking the start of the holiest week of the year on the Christian calendar, culminating in Easter Sunday next weekend.
Wuerl said in order to accomplish a better world, start by looking inward and making small changes.
“Societal change takes place, political change takes place when hearts change, and that’s why we have to start with ourselves,” the cardinal said.
He said that’s why Holy Week is so important — it is an opportunity for change.
“If we change, and enough people change, then our political order changes, then all the things that are wrong around us change,” the cardinal said. “But it starts with individuals taking an action, taking an action motivated by love and by care of one another.”
He suggested finding time to reflect and pray with an open heart, ready to listen to God and God’s word.
“Every time there is a tragedy, every time there is one of these horrible events that takes place, don’t we always say, ‘We remember people in our thoughts and in our prayers?’”
“We remember them in our prayers because prayer is where we go to be in contact with God and that’s where we find our peace,” Wuerl said. “But also our courage to go out and try, try to make this a better place.”
