The spirituality of the 19 th century in which St Thérèse of Lisieux was schooled was one dominated by the notion of perfection. Yet she said to the consternation of many: "God is not interested in perfection; God is interested in relationships."

We need to reflect on this wisdom of "The Little Flower" because it is very biblical. According to the scriptures God entered human history in a decisive way when he established his covenant (relationship) with Abraham: " For my part, this is my covenant with you: you will become the father of many nations. And you are no longer to be called Abram; your name is to be Abraham ." (Gen 17: 4-5).

"Covenant" therefore defines who we are - a people bound to God and God to us. In this covenanted relationship God is always faithful but we are often unfaithful. The whole of the bible is a history of God renewing his covenant with us after we have repeatedly broken it.

The pre-eminent sign of the covenant is not the rainbow: " I now set my bow in the clouds and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. " (Gen 9: 13). The pre-eminent sign of the covenant is Jesus.

In Jesus God's words to the prophet Isaiah are fulfilled: " I shall not forget you . Look, I have you carved in the palms of my hands. " (Is 49: 15-16) Jesus himself puts it more reassuringly: " And lo I shall be with you always, even until the end of time. " (Mt 28: 20)

We often think that God's promise to us is that if we do good then good will follow us or if we pray fervently enough God will answer all our prayers in the way we want him to. The bible never gives us such simplistic assurances.

WITNESS OF ARCHBISHOP ROMERO

The only promise God gives us is that he will stand at our side no matter what. Jesus is the ultimate proof of this. Even though he cried from the cross " My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? " (Mt 27: 46). God did not abandon Jesus; rather, Jesus abandoned himself in the firm hope that God would vindicate his cause.

And God did, for three days later he raised his Son from the dead. Easter, then, is the Church's timeless proclamation that God is faithful to his promise. The angel at the tomb evokes this theme of fidelity when he tells the women that Jesus would meet them again " as he said he would " (Gospel of the Vigil) .

This abiding conviction that God is ever close to his people, despite their most intense suffering, has always marked the lives of great disciples of Jesus. March 24 marked the 25 th anniversary of the martyrdom of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador .

He witnessed the poor of his country being slaughtered daily and grieved over the injustices inflicted on them by wealthy landowners with the aid of the military.

In spite of their many horrors the people of El Salvador did not despair because Archbishop Romero was their embodiment of the message of Jesus that God is ever close to his people.

As we celebrate Easter, let us live the hope that the season embodies. Let us as faithful Christians witness to the biblical promise that God will never abandon his people.