Reflection from the Rectory

We sometimes forget 
  that the resurrection
  wasn’t an ‘all at once’
event. Only Mary
Magdalene met Jesus
on the Sunday
morning. For a time
she was the only one
that knew. For others it would be more of a
process, some on the Emmaus Road, for
Thomas not until he had placed his hands in
Jesus’ wounds and even for Peter, not until he
had thrice declared love for Jesus could the
light of the resurrection fully pierce the gloom
that his three-fold denial had cast.
You could say that there was a resurrection
road map! This year with the vaccination
programme in full swing we are beginning to
see the dawning of a new light as we look
towards to the lifting of restrictions, but without
being fully clear as to what might be possible
when. We must learn to be measured in our
response. I think the disciples too took time to
get used to the resurrection light and what life
would look like within it. It was a victory by all
means, but it couldn’t take away the horror of
the cross or the fear of being captured and
executed by the Romans themselves. The
resurrection was something the first disciples
would need to learn to navigate in a new joy.
This year we can celebrate Easter inside our
church buildings and we are beginning to be
able to make limited plans moving forward, but
we still need to be cautious. Perhaps this is
much more what that first Easter was like; a
new hope was born, but still not quite sure
where it would lead the disciples of Jesus.
The landscape of our ministry has changed,
because people have been changed; we have
faced our own horror and some will bear the
scars for many months or years. It feels as
though we can be triumphant in the empty
tomb but in the knowledge that many lives are
still under the shadow of the cross.
So let us be joyful in the story of God’s ultimate
revelation of love witnessed on Easter Sunday
morning, but let us also be sensitive to those
still struggling to make sense of life and loss.
Our message is for them, but needs to be
delivered with the deepest tenderness of
service where the light can begin to shine.
If you walk into a dark room and turn on the
bright light you will blind those who have been
sitting in the dark. If you light a candle and
allow their eyes to adapt, it is far easier to see.
May the light and love of the resurrection be
the source of our hope, joy and love, and may
we carry it gently to those still sitting in
darkness, but longing to see afresh.
A very happy Easter.
Chris

A Prayer from the Celtic Church
O Christ, the Master Carpenter,
who at the last, through wood and nails
purchased our whole salvation:
wield well your tools
in the workshop of your world,
so that we who come rough-hewn to your
bench, may here be fashioned to a truer
beauty of your hand.
We ask it for your own name’s sake. Amen.