Letter from the Bishop of Worcester

The factthat the date of Easter varies from year from year is an irritation to many intodays secular world. It means nothing to them that it is set by the date ofPassover, the commemoration of the People of Israels Exodus from Egypt, which itselfis celebrated at the first full moon after the Spring Equinox on 21 March.

To me it seems fortunate that, though the date of Easter falls on a different dateevery year, we live in a part of the world where it is always in spring, the season when we are reminded of thepattern of death and resurrection by the natural world. Everything bursts intonew life at just the time that we are celebrating the new and eternal life ofJesus risen from the tomb. The vivid and bright greens of the hedgerows togetherwith the radiant yellow of the daffodils combine with the chorus of song birdsto proclaim that the reign of winter is ended and life is bursting forth anew.

This shouldsurely be an indication to us that death and resurrection are built into the natureof things. We see the pattern all around us just as we see it in all itsfullness on the stage of human history in the crucifixion and resurrection ofour Lord. We should also expect to find it reflected in our own experience.

New life hasburst into my life in the most wonderful way during the last few months as aresult of my relationship with and marriage to H-J. It came after a long periodof what I have described as a wilderness, a period of distress and sadnessfollowing bereavement.

My hope and prayer for allof us this Easter is that, even if we feel trapped in what feels like anenduring experience of pain and dereliction, we shall have faith that love willtriumph; that resurrection life is waiting round the corner for all of us. Maywe know deep within our hearts that resurrections will follow crucifixion assure as spring follows winter, as sure as day follows night. May we know thatdeath will not have the last word but that life and love will prevail.

Bishop John.