In celebrating this Holy day, the Church tells not only its followers, but the rest of us of the passion, the death and resurrection of Christ, and more so that the message held within His Holy Spirit is always with us.

The celebration and symbolism of today, in essence, holds deep lessons for us all as we go about our daily lives, interacting with our fellow citizens and with God.

The Apostle Luke tells of Jesus miraculously feeding thousands with fives loaves of bread and two fishes. “They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps remaining were collected they filled twelve baskets,” the Apostle wrote.

Luke also pointed us to that Holy Kingdom, which Jesus promised, the need to change our lives, the need for purification, and the process of ridding ourselves of our dark side so that we could achieve what awaits us in that Kingdom.

Today, I appeal to my fellow citizens, give a moment to the essential message which is common among all religions. Look deeply within yourselves, assess your negative emotions; identify those feelings of anger, aggression, envy, jealousy, apathy, hypocrisy, racism, prejudice, bigotry, withdrawal, and materialism, which appear to be the prevailing mood worldwide.

Acknowledge that many among us are sustained by emotions that are unworthy of the essential message of Jesus Christ, of all other religions, and our common humanity.

Over the past week, this country extended a hand to thousands of other human beings from neighbouring Venezuela, who have been struggling to survive in their homeland. Today, I must commend those among us, who displayed that humanity.

As Pope John Paul told thousands of Haitians in 1982, “The poor must recover hope”, we in Trinidad and Tobago extended a hand to thousands in the restoration of that Hope, and their essential dignity. In matters of this nature when we are called upon to show our humanity, let us pray that we will never be found wanting.

I urge all, particularly those among us who enjoy the priceless gift of education, may we all be like Jesus in our society, talking to each, seeking to help, and assist all those who need to healed and cured of that terrible disease of despair.

As our brother’s keeper, may we point our brothers and sisters to a place of spiritual attentiveness, and the glorious kingdom, which Jesus and others have said awaits us all.