Easter images: Revealing

The Supper at Emmaus

Caravaggio

Easter images: Rising

The Crucified and Risen Christ

Lyn Constable Maxwell

Easter images: Puzzling

St Martin-in-the-fields

Trafalgar Square, London

Easter images: Suffering

Wine Crucifix

Arnulf Rainer

Easter images: Breaking bread

Communion sculpture by Stephen Cox

Newcastle Cathedral

Easter images: Casting shadows

Thirty pieces of silver

Cornelia Parker

The garden at Easter

Even if our words were inadequate - and they often are - the garden would tell its own story of Easter.

The pulsatilla rubra would tell us of the blood of the sacrifice.




The pulsatilla purpurea would tell us of the majesty of the king.








And the fanfare of daffodils would tell us of our need and duty to worship him.

Exodus and Easter

In exile and separation
Darkness covers the land

and the people

Nature is suspended

and the first born die

The water is parted

and the tomb is opened

With the promise of land

and the presence of hope.

Passover
Resurrection
Liberation
Restoration
Re-creation

Synchronised Blogging Day: The Resurrection

Slipstream is having a synchronised blogging day on the topic of the Resurrection. I don’t recall playing on one of these days before, so I thought I’d give it a go.

Anyone who gives the Resurrection any thought at all is surely prompted to start asking questions. Depending on your starting point the questions will vary – but I’d hazard a guess that most of them will start with the word ‘why?’.

I fear that the church in this country tends to answer questions about ‘how’ – how did it happen; how can you be sure? Many Easter sermons will focus on the historical facts of the event. Now I think there is a place for that, but not in an Easter sermon. For me, the key issue isn’t the historical accuracy, but rather what does the Resurrection mean.

If the end of the Jesus story is the cross, then all we are left with is some radical ethical teaching and some miracles. But at the Resurrection – and beyond it – we are offered amazing hope. The hope that lets us dream and have visions that the imbalances in our lives and our world can be rectified and harmony can be restored. It’s the hope that through reconciliation with God we can be empowered to transform ourselves and our society.

I also think that in shifting the emphasis we can learn - from postmodernity - that questions are OK; that people can live with ambiguity and uncertainty. And if we can learn this, then we will be better placed to walk beside others on their spiritual journey, gently answering their questions, honestly acknowledging where we don’t know things; having a meaningful conversation rather than being dogmatic. In fact, as I write this I have the image of the risen Jesus walking to Emmaus. Too often, I fear, we drive people away by propounding absolute certainty, without leaving room for doubt and exploration. The disciples on the road to Emmaus came to the right conclusion after a time – maybe we could learn to let others complete their journeys, but with appropriate help from us.

Finally, the picture that I’ve posted is a sculpture by Lyn Constable Maxwell – thanks to Jim at Living Wittily from bringing it to my attention. Anyway, maybe to really understand the Resurrection fully we need to stand back and see the cross in perspective – and open our arms to others and our minds to the possibilities that hope can bring.

... in the light of Easter

o dance and sing
To exude and exalt
To reflect in wonder
To go with hope
And walk without fear.
To glow with grace and peace
And feel fully human -
Rejoicing in the light of Easter

To seek and serve
To connect and join
To be confident and calm
To involve and engage
And love instinctively.
To flow where the Spirit takes you
And not be overwhelmed -
Living in the light of Easter

(Inspired by a comment from Lucy and a bunch of talented, enthusiastic young musicians.)

Why celebrate Easter?

OK - the question's a wee bit misleading. What I really mean is why celebrate Easter in a special way, on a date determined by the moon and the vernal equinox? I remember having a conversation with one of our deacons several years ago, when we discussed the merits of any 'special' days in the ecclesiastical calendar. After all, we should live each day in the light of Easter ...

I suppose there's a cultural element of Calvinstic suspicion of high days and holy days behind this thought process!

Having said that, I do believe that we should celebrate Easter in a special way. In part because it's one of those occasions when people attend church who wouldn't ordinarily cross the threshold. So it's an oppor-chance-ity for them to hear about Jesus.

But I think there's a more important reason. I think that it's a chance for Christians to reflect on the theological significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. Now I know that talking of theology puts some people off, but there are ways to do this without over-complicating things.

I was listening to a podcast recently featuring the late Jaroslav Pelikan talking about the Need for Creeds. Pelikan has studied Christian creeds in depth - and despite my Calvinistic suspicion of creeds (anyone spotting a recurring theme?), I think that there is great value in using creeds to communicate longstanding beliefs.

Two things stood out for me in the Pelikan podcast:

1 - He spoke of the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom (used in the Greek Orthodox church), where the congregation say, "Let us love one another that with one mind we may confess the Holy Trinity one in essence and undivided." In other words, the creeds exist within the context of love - God's love for us and our relationships in a loving community.

2 - He also said that one of his favourite creeds is the Maasai creed. I'd never heard this before, but I think that it's absolutely wonderful!

"... always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and man, showing that the meaning of religion is love"

Easter is for creeds? Any thoughts?

Resurrection

Christian spirituality isn't a matter of life and death. It's a matter of death and life.