Bishop Harold’s Easter Message
Easter Day is the shocking and surprising declaration that God makes himself most powerfully know in the worst of times. The situation couldn’t have been worse when the women came to the tomb. Not only had the Jesus whom they followed been put to a cruel death, shattering all their deepest hopes; but even his body which they had come to anoint, had been taken from them.
We live at a time when many of our hopes have been dashed. Many of our farmers have lost precious livestock and the recent support of the Executive is just a small glimpse of light at a very dark time. For others, it is the re–emergence of deep sectarianism at the turn of the year, and the sense that there is little intentionality in government about a Shared Future. Others face this Easter in a province with a level of unemployment and child poverty which we thought unimaginable even just a few years ago. It is as though hope has gone, futures lie buried, and even the remains have been taken away.
The message of Easter is quite simply this: do not give up hope.
The resurrection emerges amazingly out of the ashes of hopelessness. At first it may be hard to see the signs – but Christ is still alive, and God is at work under the surface at even the toughest of times. Look out for a glimpse of his presence this Easter, and find that spiritual heart which gives meaning to life, especially when things are at their worst.
+Harold
Down & Dromore