Easter Message from Fr Pat – 20th April 2025

Stopped in our Tracks

I was stopped in my tracks by last Monday’s Gospel which twice alluded to ‘Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.’ There’s a claim…. the same claim made of the Father who raised Jesus from the dead. In faith we subscribe to these almost fantastical claims. There is however a danger, because we are so familiar with the story that it may no longer ‘stop us in our tracks’. The reality of Jesus’ resurrection should always awaken our sense of wonder, joy and hope. Scripture reminds us that Jesus shared with us in all things but sin…. in all things…. in life, in death, in resurrection. That’s the heart of Christian faith, the firm hope of new life, of resurrection when our earthly pilgrimage is done. The resurrection of Jesus, our resurrection at some time in the future is not some kind of amazing magic trick. It is the fullest expression of the Father’s love for us, the Son’s abiding in us, the Spirits ongoing transformation of our lives. We could allow Easter to touch our hearts more deeply by trying to recapture our sense of wonder, by allowing ourselves to be ‘stopped in our tracks’ by all the wonders that we have been gifted with by our extravagant God of Life. I was stopped in my tracks by last Monday’s Gospel which twice alluded to ‘Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.’ There’s a claim…. the same claim made of the Father who raised Jesus from the dead. In faith we subscribe to these almost fantastical claims. There is however a danger, because we are so familiar with the story that it may no longer ‘stop us in our tracks’. The reality of Jesus’ resurrection should always awaken our sense of wonder, joy and hope. Scripture reminds us that Jesus shared with us in all things but sin…. in all things…. in life, in death, in resurrection. That’s the heart of Christian faith, the firm hope of new life, of resurrection when our earthly pilgrimage is done. The resurrection of Jesus, our resurrection at some time in the future is not some kind of amazing magic trick. It is the fullest expression of the Father’s love for us, the Son’s abiding in us, the Spirits ongoing transformation of our lives. We could allow Easter to touch our hearts more deeply by trying to recapture our sense of wonder, by allowing ourselves to be ‘stopped in our tracks’ by all the wonders that we have been gifted with by our extravagant God of Life.
Wishing you and your families a blessed and joy-filled Easter. Wishing you and your families a blessed and joy-filled Easter.

Fr Pat