In his message to the faithful, Mgr Goh says that Jesus conquers “death". Love, not hate, is "the last word", and his "resurrection is our victory over sin and eternal death.” The prelate calls on believers to "live as free men and women in Christ" in a world "that is on the brink of despair” and is a slave to "relativism" that empties hearts.

Singapore (AsiaNews) – “This Easter, as we celebrate His resurrection from the dead, we know our hope is certain and substantiated. Unlike the world where hope is but wishful thinking, Christian life and the future of humanity is already anticipated in Christ’s resurrection,” said Mgr William Goh, archbishop of Singapore, in his Easter message.

At this time of celebration, Jesus defeats "relativism" and conquers "death".  In Him, there is "eternal life”. Thus, for the prelate, “We have a life beyond this world and our life is in Christ.” And “Love is [. . .] the last word; not hatred. Christ’s love has won us over to Him,” and his “resurrection is our victory over sin and eternal death.”

For the archbishop, “as Christians, we do not simply believe that Christ has died for us. Greater still is our belief that Christ is risen from the dead! [. . .] So let us live as free men and women in Christ; not as slaves of Satan.”

This “world is on the brink of despair and hopelessness,” where “each day, life seems to get more and more hopeless,” and everything “is changing so rapidly that traditional values are being put in question”.

In this “world of counter culture where the worship of God is replaced by the new religion of science and technology, humanity is replaced by love of self before others, and individualism and freedom at the expense of the community.”

A bottom-line "relativism" leads man to seek “to fulfil himself as much he can by extracting as much as he can from the world, especially the pleasures of life. [. . .] Yet, deep within, his heart remains empty and there is a vacuum within that cannot be filled by the passing things of this world.”

“Whether in good or bad times, in sickness or in health, in prosperity or adversity, we live with confidence that everything will end well in Christ,” the archbishop of Singapore said, for He “has shown us the way and become for us our leader in salvation.

Lastly, “I wish you all a blessed and Holy Easter,” the prelate said in concluding his message. “May the Risen Lord shine through you and give you joy and peace in the Holy Spirit. He is with you always."

Singapore is home to more than 200,000 Catholics, or about 5 per cent of the total population. Buddhism is the city-state's dominant religion with 43 per cent of the population, followed by Christianity (18 per cent), Islam (15 per cent), Hinduism (11 per cent) and Taoism (5 per cent).  

At present, the local Church is going through a phase of growth and vitality, which has led to the recent opening of a theological seminary, a real "milestone" in the history of the local community.

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