The Return of Hope

as published in Great Yarmouth Parish Life

Canon David Winter of Parish Pump


HE IS RISEN
 
The month of April starts with Easter, which is a lovely thought. Whatever else, Easter speaks of new life, of fresh starts, and the return of hope

The whole traditional story is about darkness defeated by a light which can never be extinguished. That's why, in our hemisphere, Easter seems to fit in well with the changing season. Fresh flowers in the graveyard match the Easter hymns inside the church: The Lord of life is risen to­day/ Bring flowers of song to strew his way'
 
It's a strange fact that, all through the long history of mankind, despite the evidence of our eyes, people have stubbornly refused to believe that death is the end. They buried their dead with food and implements they would need in the next life, whatever name they gave it - Valhalla, the Elysian Fields, Abraham's Bosom, or Nirvana. Jesus called it 'the kingdom of heaven' or 'eternal life'. The very idea of heaven is beyond our comprehension, because we can't image a life not lived in our familiar dimensions of space, time and physicality. But God lives beyond time and space, and Jesus said He is 'Spirit'
 
It's good that there are some things to believe in which we cannot possibly understand now. Although one day, St Paul said, we shall. Until then we trust, and Easter hymns and flowers are signs of the annual return of hope

 

image courtesy of Parish Life

 

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