Rev Rosie writes about Easter

Easter! When I talk about Easter with many people it might be about the cost of Easter eggs these days, or the fact that they seem to get smaller as the years go by; some people have spoken about the fact that Hot Cross Buns are now available all year round, when they used to be something special to be enjoyed in the weeks run up to Easter. For some, Easter is about the school holidays or the long weekend that comes with Easter of two Bank holidays
 
As a child, Easter marked the beginning of the holiday season and my Dad’s focus on getting the boats ready and launched, having had them pulled out and worked on over the winter months. I have pictures of the boatyard in the weeks before Easter in 1963 (I think) when everything was frozen and the men were working hard to break the ice so that the boats could be put in. Easter was always busy but there was a priority made of going to church on Easter Day
 
If Easter eggs are what you enjoy, I hope you have enjoyed eating it/them. The sad thing is that they are so quickly gone if we are not careful
 
The church focuses on the events of Easter Day and the days that follow for Jesus and the disciples for nearly seven weeks. We think about what happened that first Easter Day, from the perspective of Mary Magdalene (who is the first witness of the risen Jesus). We think about how Jesus’ appearing in a locked room to the disciples, twice (the second time for the benefit of Thomas and his doubts) changes their whole perspective on life and where, being followers of Jesus, life would take them. There are appearances where Jesus teaches those disciples as he walks along the Emmaus road with them; one where he cooks breakfast for some of them who had been out fishing overnight but caught nothing; and a conversation he has with Peter, which restores Peter’s relationship with Jesus, and gives Peter a new focus and purpose in life
 
For those who were present in Jerusalem on the first Good Friday and Easter Day, there would have been nothing much to celebrate. With Good Friday and Jesus death, all the hopes of those first followers of Jesus were dashed; their dreams ended. Even on Easter Day there was confusion. What had happened at the tomb? Had the body been stolen? Who might have taken it? Did Mary really see Jesus alive? And the disciples would have been fearful. Would they be arrested and put to death too?
 
But as the days and weeks went on their lives were transformed. Jesus was alive! He was appearing to them and teaching them. They could touch him, and he ate food – he wasn’t a ghost! But things had changed! Weeks later they would see him ascend into heaven, and ten days after that they would experience the Holy Spirit, Jesus had promised, and their lives were turned upside down again
 
There is so much that happens in Holy Week and at Easter that are the foundations of the Christian faith. Is it any wonder that we think long and hard at this time of the church’s year. Christ died for the sins of the world. He overcame death and rose to life on the third day. His appearances and the encounters the disciples had, confirm that Jesus rose from the dead. His ascension, returning to the heavenly Father, and the sending of Holy Spirit for all who believe in Jesus, meant that God could be with us and in us all, all the time. And the mission of Jesus Christ to reveal God’s love for and to everyone continues
 

Easter is so important but it is only when held together with the birth of Jesus, God’s Son, that the significance of God’s love for each one of us can truly be seen. And our hope for the future is underlined!

Happy Easter everyone!
 

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