Letter from Archdeacon of Worcester

It seems to me thatcertain key truths in our lives are beyond words. Not for nothing has theChurch brought poets, hymn writers, painters, artists and musicians into itslife to express what words are not adequate to say.The same happens with those we love. We usesigns and symbols to say what we mean – sometimes we say it with flowers. Ourpresents are not judged by their monetary value, indeed the smallest gift canbe the most affecting: it is the love they express which counts.

I think Jesus knewthis instinctively. It is worth noting that he wasnt given to delivering greatlectures, but did tell an amazing amount of parables. He asked many, manyquestions, and actually didnt give a lot of answers. He had a way of invitinghis listeners into the response required, and showed his power by acts of love.He was a sure hand in what we might call walking the walk, rather than talkingthe talk. This marked him out from among the other religious teachers: it gavehim an authority not of the scribes and Pharisees.

The mystery of GoodFriday and Easter is one such key truth. We tell the story from the gospelaccounts, and can point to the after-effects in the lives of the apostles. Wejourney with Jesus as he walks the walk to the Cross through the services ofHoly Week, and with flowers and Alleluias our churches burst into the new life Hegives on Easter Day. In doing so weglimpse the glory of the God for whom death does not have the last word, notever. Jesus does not just tell us this: he lives it, you could say he dies it,and is raised from the dead by the God for whom the first and last word isalways Love.

We are called to livethe risen life of Jesus too. Christ is risen, we are risen that is from oneof our Easter hymns. George Herbert, poet, pastor and priest, expresses it sobeautifully, where else but in a poem:

Rise heart; thy Lordis risen. Sing his praise
Without delays,
Whotakes thee by the hand, that thou likewise
With him mayst rise.
That,as his death calcined thee to dust,
Hislife may make thee gold, and much more just.