Today, Good Friday, a group of young people will carry a giant cross up the centre aisle of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh. I am conscious that they will be doing so almost 25 years to the minute since the signing of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement.
These young people were not born in 1998. They have no recollection of the terrible violence which brought so much destruction, bloodshed, grief and trauma within our communities.
Sadly, neither have we adults achieved sufficiently since then the vision of that Agreement which was about partnership, equality and mutual respect in relationships within and between these islands.
This afternoon during the procession of the cross, I will pray that the 25th anniversary might be a catalyst for greater engagement in the unfinished work of peace, healing and reconciliation. I am conscious of what Saint Paul writes about our crucified and risen Saviour (Col 1:15-20):
“All things are to be reconciled, through Him and in Him, everything in heaven and everything on Earth, when He made peace by His death on the cross.”
