Station 8

    Jesus is Risen

Matthew 28: 1-9 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.” Now I have told you. ’So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.

Alleluia! 

Jesus Christ is risen today!

He is risen indeed!

Alleluia!

This is the strangest Easter Day any of us will have ever known. We are prevented from meeting together in worship as we have always done. The church remains unadorned with fresh flowers, the altar is bare and the Paschal candle remains unlit. The organ lays silent and our voices will not ring out in praise; ‘Thine be the glory, risen conquering Son’. We are a people in exile. The pain and lament of Holy Week continues in our lives. Bishop Donald went as far as to say the Narnian winter has not ended.

On reflection, the empty church is akin to the empty tomb. It’s, dim inside, a little on the cool side, bare and unadorned. It is silent.

No matter what our trials and tribulations are at this time, we need to remember that Spring always follows winter.

Spring is in evidence all around us, trees in blossom, spring flowers abound, the sun shines a little warmer on our skin and the winds have softened into gentle breezes. God’s creation has taken no notice of the hiatus that has inflicted humanity. New life continues to present itself, in the spring lambs and the baby rabbits that have come to be associated with the Easter season.     

Be of good cheer! For at this very moment Christ our risen Saviour is reaching into the darkness, calling us by name and leading us out of the tomb and into the light of His eternal Kingdom.

We Pray

Risen Christ,
you are the king of glory and the prince of peace. 
You are the author and perfecter of our faith.
Be with us in our time of exile from one another.
Fill us with your Easter joy, 
that we may spread your love; 
deep and wide, broad and long. 
So that next year, 
others may join with us in celebrating Easter in our Church.
Amen.