Easter is upon us! It doesn’t seem that long since we were celebrating Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Now in a few days we will be celebrating Easter and the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb. In real time, Jesus was about 30 years old when his earthly ministry began, and approximately three years after that he was being put to death on the cross in order to fulfil the prophecy of many, as we read in the Old Testament. For the church this is the highlight of the year, because without the rising of Jesus we would be in the dark place we were before.
The season of Easter brings us hope for the future as we can claim the forgiveness Jesus offers for our sins; he overcame the power of death so that we can have the hope of eternal life. Many, children in particular, will be given chocolate Easter eggs which are a way of acknowledging the sacrifice and hope that Easter brings. But whilst we will be enjoying a roast lunch, chocolate and all the other trimmings of the Easter celebration, there will numerous people who will not be able to share in the celebration in a similar way, because of war, conflict and terror. Many will have an uncertain future as bombs and bullets surround them in their own homes. Our hope may not seem far away, but for those who suffer in this and many other ways, hope for a peaceful world of freedom and comfort seems a distant dream.
I hope that as we celebrate, we will take a few moments to pray for and consider those less fortunate than ourselves, and in love and generosity, give of ourselves. Jesus asks us to “Love our neighbour as we love ourselves”; to give is a form of sacrifice, and I hope that we, like Jesus, can offer our own sacrifice by sharing the love we have received this Easter time.
I wish you God’s love and peace for this Easter time.
Revd Graham
