A letter from the Vicarage – Rev’d Andy Stand

 

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

In previous years, for the April magazine and in anticipation of Easter, I have written,

“I don’t know about you, but over these last few weeks, as spring has begun to exert its hold upon our weather; as the daylight hours have grown longer and the mornings brighter, and the daytime temperatures have risen, I have felt a growing sense of anticipation within me, a sense of excitement and joy and delight.”

I don’t know that those words really fit with the weather patterns we have been experiencing in the last week or so, and indeed at the time of writing there remains speculation that we could yet have snow (probably only in Scotland) for Easter! Nonetheless, the daylight hours are extending and the mornings are getting brighter, even if the temperatures aren’t quite keeping pace. I wonder would these changes be enough for you to feel that growing sense of delight and joy?

For me, a lot of this feeling will have to do with my anticipation of the coming Easter season, when once again the church can shout it aloud. “Christ is Risen! Alleluia!” We can celebrate again all that it means for us that Christ has risen from the dead; that despite the bloody torture of his execution on the cross, despite his shout of anguish and utter dereliction, “God, why have you abandoned me!”, despite the fact that he died and was buried; despite all of this, he fulfilled his promise to come back to life, and to offer us all the hope and joys of eternal life.

I wonder, how will you celebrate Christ’s victory over the grave? Will it make any difference to you? Will it put a spring in your step?

Or will it leave you unaffected? Untouched? Will you leave the events of Easter, well and truly consigned to the past? After all what possible relevance is there in the events that took place 2000 years ago in a land far, far away from Worcester?

Or will you believe that when Jesus promised to bring life and life in all its abundance, he was making that offer not just to his disciples, but also to everyone who would believe in him – and that can include you and me?

I know though, from personal experience how lonely a church can be on Easter Sunday morning, if for whatever reason you are not emotionally in a place for rejoicing, for singing and shouting. If you through personal circumstance find yourself unable to wholeheartedly rejoice, please do remember that Christ’s victory over the grave is for you as well. For it means that the God who created the world, is the God who loved the world enough to become human, is the God who asked God why he had abandoned him and is the God who loved Him enough to raise Him from the dead. He is the God that promises always to journey with us; and He is the God who promises always to love us, no matter what.

Whether you will shout or whisper it this year, do remember, “Christ is Risen. He is Risen indeed! Alleluia.”

Wishing you all a very Happy and joyous Easter.