Persad-Bissessar: Plant spiritual seeds this Corpus Christi

Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar is calling on all citizens to reflect on how society can persevere through the covid19 pandemic period, and be motivated by God’s presence to become tools for change in the lives of others – especially the less fortunate.

Extending Corpus Christi greetings to the Roman Catholic community, Persad-Bissessar said Corpus Christi celebrates the presence of God’s goodness.

“It commemorates his everlasting commitment to be with us in our difficult times, while it reminds us that his presence will be a guiding light to the enrichment of our lives.”

This Corpus Christi, she said, comes at a time when many are burdened by significant economic and social hardships, job losses, business closures as well as the inability to provide basic necessities.

All this, she said, creates: “A grey cloud of national uncertainty, which has gotten much worse in the last few months as a result of the covid19 pandemic.

“Never before have our citizens faced such a vulnerable time. Citizens have lost hope, battered by an immense crime wave, mass unemployment, growing poverty and overall poor governance.”

However, Corpus Christi, she said, allows for reflection on the presence of God.

Quoting Pope Francis’ 2018 Corpus Christi homily, Persad-Bissessar said, “Jesus became bread broken for our sake. In turn, he asks us to give ourselves to others, to live no longer for ourselves but for one another.”

She said citizens must all undertake deep introspection.

“The only way we can defeat the ongoing hardship as a people is if we live for each other, act in goodness for each other as well as have faith in each other.”

Planting is a Corpus Christ tradition and Persad-Bissessar encouraged people to plant spiritual seeds.

“Besides the physical planting, let us undertake the planting of spirituality where we base our trust in God and undertake acts of kindness towards our fellowman, especially those in need, so we can plant goodness into our nation.”