Minister's musings

Past Musing's

I am writing this during Lent as we approach Mothering Sunday and the fourth Sunday in Lent. Traditionally, Mothering Sunday was a time when folk travelled, sometimes many miles, back to their home church where they'd lived and grown up. That tradition has now faded, with the majority of people now experiencing Mother's Day instead. An opportunity for those with fond memories to celebrate. For those who have had less fortunate circumstances, Mother's Day can present a very different prospect of regret or loss. As a society we need to try to be as inclusive as possible, recognising that real people's lives are often messy, and seeking ways to support where necessary as well as celebrate.

Leading on from Mothering Sunday, this year takes us to Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. Palm Sunday reflects the joyful arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem to wild adulation and anticipation by the crowds. Yet if you know the sequence of the Easter story, then you will know how fickle those crowds turned out to be. How rapidly the mood changed from that of adulation and anticipation to accusation and aggression towards Jesus as we move in the story towards Good Friday. How strange it seems to call the day on which Jesus died by crucifixion Good Friday. Yet it was through Jesus suffering on the cross for our sake that we encounter both the humanity and divinity of Jesus, and can trust that God will be with us in both our joys and our sorrows.

The bleakness and despair of Good Friday and Saturday starkly contrasts with the sunrise of Easter Sunday morning and that amazing message of the resurrection of Jesus who overcame death itself. Easter Sunday is a day not only to celebrate Jesus Christ as the risen Lord, but also a day of new beginnings. We live in very challenging times for many people. May the revival message of Easter help to bring hope where there's despair, certainty where there's doubt and love where there is hatred. If heaven is ever to be found here on earth, then surely the lost, last and least in our society need to be sought out and protected by the found, first and favoured. Could that be your New Year resolution in the church calendar?.

Have a happy Easter!.

Robert