The week is considered holy for Christians the world over starting with the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and concluding with his resurrection. It is a simple message of renewal and the epitome of faith.

For many, it is a reminder of what it means to be a Christian.  This year started with turmoil and things have kept sliding downhill. It started with the charging of Laauli Leuatea Schmidt. He refused to step down from his ministerial post leaving Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa with no choice but to sack him. This led to a chain reaction where more ministers and associated ministers were terminated causing the ruling party to split.

We have had two failed attempts to remove Fiame as prime minister. A Speaker who would not hear anyone and parliament being suspended without effectively dealing with all the matters on the agenda. The political situation was hitting heavy and then the nation was thrown into darkness with fault after fault revealing that overdue maintenance work was not carried out showing the real state of the power infrastructure.

So far this year we have had the biggest meth bust in the nation’s history, illegal checks at the airport, an escaped prisoner, a gun-toting maniac on the run, a hostage situation, people being banished in a show of power, mass slaughter of turtles, a minister saying ‘trees will grow back’ after the cutting of trees older than 25 years old and we continue to have politicians continuing to lie to people on one forum and telling a different story on another.

For more than two thousand years, Easter has been a traditional season of hope, a time when humans of all faiths, and all degrees of faith, may, in modern terms, hit their reset buttons, perhaps making an effort to take their faith more seriously, or start something new to them, or jump into something they know they need to do but don’t know how to go about it.

We hope that this Easter, our leaders, politicians and most Samoans see the true meaning of the season and hit the reset button. People are hoping for a change where the leaders are focused on building the nation and not just working for themselves. We hope that our political leaders will be in church with their flock, hear them out and work with transparency and accountability. From a spiritual perspective, no sin is hidden from the eyes of God and one day we all will be accountable for what we have done in our lives.

To those who would be celebrating this weekend with alcohol, drink responsibly, do not become a nuisance, and start fights. Alcohol has been the reason for most fights and people have lost lives.

Please lock away those guns if anyone you know has access to them and would be engaged in parties. The same should be done for vehicle keys. If alcohol is being consumed, do not get behind the wheel of any vehicle. Not only will you be putting your life in danger but of other road users as well.

The long weekends are also when there are drowning cases. If someone does not know how to swim, please do not tread in water higher than your waist and always have someone supervising children. If the weatherman has issued a marine warning for not-so-calm seas, please do not take your small boat out beyond the reef.

It is also the time to think about how a culture of violence and abuse against our women and children can be tackled. Be responsible and look after the vulnerable and not be their abusers. It is also the time when the authorities seriously consider taking children off the streets and into schools by making education free for them. It is time to think about real social packages for those living below the poverty line.

Lastly, proclaiming people have been chosen by God, does not make it so. This will be shown in their deeds.

Happy Easter to everyone.