Posted Thursday 9 April 2009
I was trying to remember the first Easter that I was conscious of. I didn’t make a very good job of it but I think that daffodils – or lots of flowers anyway – were certainly part of it, and Easter eggs which were coloured and patterned hens’ eggs, much later the chocolate kind.
I do remember that Easter day, like Christmas day, was ‘special’ though I could not have said why at the time.
Other Easters come to mind, like the first Easter after my mother had died in January which put me in touch with how the disciples must have felt and reacted to encountering the risen Christ whom they had seen suffer and die on the cross. That Easter there were tears of loss and of hope – and Easter can still do that to me today.
The symbolism of Easter as a Christian festival is rich and life-giving. Being able to share in the liturgical ceremonies and know their history adds immeasurably to the season. I am glad that in recent years more and more churches have begun to use these ways of rekindling faith.
As we were reminded again as Lent began, the early Christians made of Lent a season of preparation.
Those who were seeking baptism began a time of instruction and of penitence so that at the Easter Vigil they came to their baptism and first Communion, gathered together in one place for the service.
All who could would get to the cathedral where the Bishop would preside at the service which was once a year and always in the mother church. The symbolism of passing from darkness into light and of sharing in the risen life of Christ was, and is, compelling.
Actually baptism must have been a daunting step, not only because it possibly led to discrimination and perhaps persecution but in the actual rite itself – full immersion, often unclothed so that the white robe of baptismal new life could be put on – taking place in cold water and in semi-darkness, then leading to light and celebration with the Eucharist itself as the climax of Christian profession and welcome into the family of believers.
Life-changing it was meant to be and still ought to be now even though we have moved away from quite such a dramatic setting.
But, however we observe the feast –‘Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us, let us keep the feast putting behind us malice and wickedness and feasting on sincerity and truth’. Jesus is the one in whom sincerity and truth is to be found and who calls us to share in this new way of living.
The prayer at the lighting of the Easter candle gives us what we need to expect as we look to have the risen Christ walking with us through life –
‘May the light of Christ, rising in glory, banish all darkness from our hearts and minds.’
Yes – Amen – now and always.
+Idris
Category: Bishop's Office, Thought for the Month
