Father Zippler Reminding Belizeans About the Joy of Easter

As Belizeans get ready to celebrate Easter with their loved ones, Father Jeremy Zipple, the associate pastor at Saint Martin de Porres parish in Belize City, shares a heartfelt message about the true meaning of the season. He reminds everyone of Jesus’ sacrifice and the boundless love he offers to all.

 

Father Jeremy Zipple, Associate Pastor, St. Martin De Porres

 “Have you ever felt abandoned by friends? Betrayed by friends? Jesus had that very same experience. Have you ever felt abandoned by God? God wasn’t there for you? No one was there for you? Jesus had that same experience on the cross. He goes into the worst of what it means to be a human, the most moments of most extreme suffering and isolation and abandonment and hurt. He experiences all those things as a person, fully human, fully God, but also fully human so that he knows what we go through so that he can be there with us in our owns suffering so that he can say, I get you. I understand what you’re going through. And maybe he doesn’t take away the suffering in those moments when we’re feeling betrayed, when we’re feeling alone, when we’re feeling extreme suffering and sadness. Maybe he doesn’t take away those moments, but he says, I’m there with you in it, and I know what it’s like. And I’m feeling this moment that’s so hard with my holy presence and you’ll get through it. So that’s really what we celebrate as we’re walking with him on the cross. The fact that he’s been there and he’s with us when we go through it. And then finally, Easter Sunday, we celebrate the fact that death, that suffering does not have the last word. Sometimes we go through those difficult moments in life, but we have to remember they’re temporary. They’re always on the other side. His resurrection is new, life is rebirth and Jesus’ suffering and death ends in the most glorious joy imaginable.”