Rector's Pondering ...

1 May 2011
Team Rector, Geoffrey Connor
The Promise of New Life
After an unusually hard winter it has been great joy to see new life springing up in my beloved garden.  Seemingly endless frost, ice, snow and cold weather has not deterred Mother nature from donning her finest greenery and clothing the bare soil with renewed finery.  The Spring bulbs and flowers are opening and there is so much promise around.  Though there has been (and still is) a lot of tidying up to do, it is less arduous a task because nature is showing endless possibilities.  As I wander around, cup of coffee in hand - and occasionally a spade or fork! - I feel the joy of nature.  The early morning buzzing of the bee and the singing of the birds are, I suspect, nature's way of singing Alleluia!  The winter is passed.  Darkness gives way to light.

There is an Easter message in all this.  Eastertide is a wonderful season not only because it coincides with Spring and the signs of new birth all around us.  It is also a time to spend with our Risen Lord as he announces the joy and fulfilment of God's plan for human destiny in a series of marvellous encounters with the disciples. The Easter Story is a great celebration.  The bursting of Christ from the tomb is the showing forth of new light in a previously darkened world.  There is the potential and promise for our faith to really Come Alive in a very special way.  We are, after all, Easter People who draw strength and purpose from the Risen Christ who opens our hearts to immense possibilities.  We are no longer limited because eternal life has been made available to us and we are called to live as Redeemed people who really believe in the promises of Jesus that we shall always be with Him and He with us - to the end of time - is his promise.  This should make a huge difference to our lives.

Inspired by the Taize community, a young Christian once wrote:

Christ comes.  Again and again he comes walking into our today
challenging us, leading us, loving us
into responding anew to His Call ...
the Easter Christ; dead and risen,
invites us to leap across the barriers into the tomorrow of the Church
with doors flung open, a place of sharing for all, with all.
He comes that we might live to dream with daring;
and pray with hope for a potency that creates into reality
a decent life for all

A risen life filled with infinite joy and possibility.  That what it means to live as Easter People and to celebrate all that God offers us through our Risen Lord.  Seize the day! Let the new light and life of the Risen Easter Christ flood your lives so that, like my  garden (and yours), you will blossom with renewed zeal for life, for each other and for God.

[Top]