Easter Message from Fr Toby Lees

Dear Listener,

The Lord appeared to His disciples after His resurrection saying, ‘Peace be with you’. Many times in Sacred Scripture, He offers His peace. He comes into situations of great tumult and says, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid’. (John 14:27)

This message of peace and reassurance is one which Jesus still conveys to us today. In a vision to Julian of Norwich, Jesus reassures her: ‘All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well’. It’s a message which the Queen of Peace remind us of. Our Lady echoes the words of her Son telling us that His peace is more than the simple absence of conflict, but the union of our hearts with God – and it’s Our Lady to whom we consecrate our work at Radio Maria England.

We do not live in easy times; there is much financial uncertainty. Perhaps worse still, fundamental truths about humanity are questioned or flat-out denied in our mainstream media each day. In the midst of this and talk of ‘my truth and yours’, Radio Maria continues to be a Christian voice by your side, the voice of sanity. This is because we seek not to echo the fads of the age, but the eternal truths of God, conveying them as best we can in a confused time. Christ’s message of peace has never been more urgent, and I am personally grateful for your support to help maintain our exclusive Catholic radio station. As Frank Sheed realised, there can be no true sanity without good theology.

Those who first witnessed the resurrection offer a response which is of perennial value, because in their distress, they run to Christ. The women who go to the tomb are distraught with grief having witnessed His sacrificial death. They were overcome with fear and yet in that moment, they encounter Jesus who says, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me’. (Matthew 28:10)

With eyes that look for signs of God’s Providence around us, we become better attuned to His work everywhere, and most especially within us. I often speak about ‘worldviews’. Your worldview is important because it is the canvas upon which Christ’s activity makes its mark upon us. Culture matters; it can open us up or shut us off to Christ’s grace. My hope is that as you listen to Radio Maria, we help to form you and those you love, in a properly Christian worldview, one in which we become more attuned to God’s work, and more alert to the manifold opportunities to witness His love.

As we celebrate Easter, you’ll hear programs on the Paschal Mysteries, as well as be helped to engage with the liturgy – the expression and re-presentation of those mysteries – in a deeper way. You’ll hear stories for your children which prepare them to receive the gospel and music which proclaims costly love. You’ll hear the inspiring stories of Christians from around the world who know the persecution of Good Friday, but also live the joy of Easter Sunday. They are united to Christ in His Passion and are filled with the hope of the Resurrection. We want to help keep Our Lord by your side, bringing His reassurance to you – in your home, in your car or at work.

I thank you sincerely for your support of Radio Maria England, whether that is through volunteering, listening to us regularly, or your donations. Without donors and volunteers our work would stop. It is you who enables us to continue to do what we do and bring the message of Christ to a world in so much need of it. Your support is part of your Christian witness, part of your living out of the great commandment to proclaim the Good News to all nations. Please continue to be as generous as you can, especially this Easter.

May the Peace of the Risen Christ be with you always,

Fr Toby Lees OP

P.S. You can now listen to Radio Maria England on Digital Radio in London, Cambridge, Birmingham and Bristol, online, via Tune-In, by downloading our FREE Radio Maria App, and on your Smart-Speaker: Just say, ‘Play Radio Maria England’.

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