April
Fr. Michael writes….
Is It True?
I noticed a TV listings magazine in the local newsagents this week, bearing on its front cover the legend ” EASTER STARTS HERE “. Don’t be tempted, it doesn’t! The media have a tendency to trivialize everything they touch. Easter has nothing to do with entertainments of doubtful quality, nor with eggs, fluffy chicks or mythic bunnies.
The Gospel accounts tell us of the true significance of Easter. It all began with a group of women, followers of Jesus of Nazareth finding His tomb empty. They told the disciples who thought it silly women’s talk ( or women’s silly talk). Not only Thomas could not believe. Since then, every kind of argument has been advanced about the empty tomb and its nature, but the fact remains that Jesus’ enemies could not produce the body of Jesus. The tomb was empty because God had raised Jesus from the dead. Upon this fact is based the central theme of the Gospel. His followers who had been reduced to utter despair by the crucifixion saw Jesus Who appeared to them over a number of days. These appearances created their faith and from it the gospel of the Resurrection which they proclaimed.
This is what gives Christians hope even in the face of the awful seeming finality of death. “In Christ shall all be made alive “ . This truth transforms our whole attitude to death. The sadness of parting from our loved ones remains, but we know that we cannot wish to keep them back from the glory that God has prepared for them, the things that “ eye has not seen nor ear heard, wonderful beyond all telling”. The great preacher, the late Leslie Weatherhead approaching the end of his life wrote “ I long to slip away... There are so many people waiting for me on the other side “. We need not fear death, for our faith is in Christ and His resurrection.
ALLELUIA, CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA.
That’s where it begins.
God bless you all this Eastertide,
Father Michael