Dear friends
Happy Easter!
Easter is the most significant time of the year in which the ‘tectonic plates’ of the universe and self-understanding shift. God has entered his world, as one of us, has lived among us and died because of us – and yet – has risen again, victorious over the powers of death and hell. Old certainties are overturned. Nothing that humanity can do, or conceive, can ever overcome God’s love.
Have you noticed how quietly it all happened? The resurrection is hidden. It’s a very quiet revolution. We read in the gospel accounts that when Jesus’ friends come to the tomb, early in the morning, they’ve missed him and the resurrection has already taken place. The tomb is empty and Jesus has gone ahead. The resurrection took place quietly but its impact resounds across the world unceasing.
When Jesus’ friends went to the tomb they were heart broken, expecting death. We too can be like that, heart-broken and tired, resigned to disappointment and expecting the worst. There is so much suffering, close at home and across the world that we can lose hope. Each Easter is a reminder of God’s promise and each celebration is an opportunity for us to look again at the world with courage and hope. This Easter is another opportunity for us to live with faith, hope and love and resist hatred and despair.
Easter is always an invitation to open ourselves to God’s quiet and powerful revolution. To allow Gods love to direct our lives more and more. Never underestimate your ability to change the world with your everyday actions and choices.
Perhaps like me you were moved by the video message from The Princess of Wales in which she spoke with quiet courage and hope about her personal circumstances with her health. Her words will have encouraged many whose lives have been affected by cancer. She is thinking of others and giving a simple and strong example of love, which is enormously affecting.
I hope that we may each find ways to share love and hope too. Christians have hope even during the darkest days because we know the truth of God that overcomes hatred, violence and lies. We live by this truth and show this truth in every small act of kindness, salvage and forgiveness.
I want to thank everyone who took part in Holy Week and Easter at Winchester Cathedral and everyone who enabled it to happen with such love and care. To see Sidesmen and sacred ministers, musicians and the flower team, Virgers, the visitor services team and volunteers, staff, clergy and children all work together to make the Cathedral a place of welcome, beauty and worship, and to be part of it all, is a real privilege.
I’ve been talking about a quiet revolution, but there must be space for exuberance too! I’ll close with an ancient prayer with lots of exclamation marks. This is by St Gregory of Nazianzus, Archbishop of Constantinople in the 4th century:
Today we rejoice in the salvation of the world.
Christ is risen; let us arise in him!
Christ enters new life; let us live in him!
Christ has come forth from the tomb;
Let us shake off the fetters of evil!
The gates of hell are open,
The powers of evil are overcome!
In Christ a new creation is coming to birth,
Alleluia!
Lord make us new,
Alleluia!
Amen
With blessings and best wishes,
The Very Revd Catherine Ogle
Dean of Winchester