This year's Easter messages from our bishops remind us that the Easter story always gives us hope in a difficult world.
From the Bishop of Worcester:
I have recently returned from leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. While there we visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, which was built in the year 327 on the spot where Jesus was crucified and where he rose from the dead. It’s a deeply evocative place.
The Bible tells us that Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem when he saw the shape that it was in. Tragically, it's just as bad, if not worse, now - it is still a battleground.
And yet, it is because of what happened in that city all those years ago that we can have hope. As Christians we know that, through the resurrection, which we celebrate again this Easter, Christ is risen from the dead and that in doing so has conquered all that is evil, all that is painful and death itself. So we can go through this world rejoicing with Christian hope, able to confront the terrors of the situation that exists in the Holy Land and others across the world, in Ukraine and elsewhere.
We can do so in our own communities seeking to spread hope through our faith in the resurrection of Jesus.
Christ is risen! Happy Easter!
Bishop John
From the Bishop of Dudley:
On Easter morning, Christians will say:
Alleluia, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed. Alleluia!
It is the cry of joy as we celebrate Jesus rising from the grave. As we celebrate that fear, death, anxiety and pain will never have the last word. In the end God’s love is stronger, and the love of God will prevail.
When the women disciples found the tomb empty on the first Easter day, we are told they went to share the news, ‘afraid, ‘but filled with joy.
It’s easy for us to be afraid: The cost-of-living is soaring alongside war in Ukraine and the climate crisis; the list goes on and on. Fear and anxiety are a natural part of being human. But as Easter people, as Christians, we know that beyond all these things lies the risen Lord Jesus, reaching out to us and saying ‘Peace be with you.’
Jesus reaches out to our broken and scarred world with hands still bearing the marks of the nails and says: ‘Do not be afraid, for all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. And behold I am with you always, even to the end of time.’
It’s OK to admit to doubt, OK to say we are fearful and anxious, but these should never have the last word. Afraid we may be, but ‘filled with Joy!’
Alleluia, Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed. Alleluia!
Bishop Martin
