00:00And the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro sent a message of faith and hope to Venezuela and the world.
00:04Via his social media accounts, the President said,
00:07Beloved people of Venezuela, sisters and brothers of our homeland peoples of the world,
00:12on this Easter Sunday, Celia and I wish to share a message of love, peace and hope.
00:17Holy Week reminds us of a very deep truth.
00:19There is no resurrection without passion.
00:22First comes the cross, the pain and the sacrifice, but then comes new life.
00:26Jesus said to Martha, Your brother will rise again, John 11, verse 23.
00:31And then he assures her, I am the resurrection and the life.
00:35Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.
00:39John 11, verses 25 and 26.
00:42That is our first point.
00:44The one who raised Lazarus also rose.
00:47The one who raises dead and has risen, and that is why hope is never lost.
00:52The leader continues, Martha responds to Jesus with a simple and firm faith.
00:57Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God.
01:02John 11, verse 27.
01:04That is where it all begins, believing.
01:07Then Jesus said, Take away the stone.
01:10John 11, verse 39.
01:12And later he cries out, Lazarus, come forth.
01:15John 11, verse 43.
01:17That gospel also speaks to us today.
01:19It tells us that we must remove the stone of hatred, of lies, of division, and of resentment.
01:26It calls us to step up of everything that keeps us trapped inside.
01:32And when the Lord says, He is teaching us that resurrection also means healing, setting free, forgiving, reconnecting, and walking
01:40together again.
01:41Finally, the Venezuelan president wrote, That is why this Easter Sunday is a time to declare with conviction that this
01:48is the victory of life and truth.
01:50Death does not prevail.
01:52Christ prevails.
01:53Life does not prevail.
01:55Truth prevails.
01:56Hatred does not prevail.
01:57Love prevails.
01:58And that victory calls us to seek unity, dialogue, reconciliation, and peace among all people.
02:04Furthermore, the rising Lord leaves us a beautiful and eternal promise.
02:08I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
02:12Matthew, chapter 28, verse 20.
02:14That is our third certainty.
02:16Until the end of time, Christ accompanies His people.
02:20May the rising Lord bless Venezuela and the peoples of the world and fill us with faith, love, and hope.
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