Easter 2014

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The death of Kennedy, The first landing on the moon, the fall of the Berlin wall, the death of Diana princess of wales England wining the world cup. These and many many others are pivotal days in history. IF you remember them then you can usually remember where you were when you heard the news or where you was with watching the events unfold on TV or radio. 

Today we celebrate the most important day in history. One that has changed the world for ever. For it is here today that we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord from the death. The Church as the Exult says “shakes with joy.” We today share in that Joy. We have renewed hope, for we are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song.

So what does it mean for us to be this Easter people and to be the most important day in history? There are three things I think that we must try our best to do.

The first thing that we must do is to allow this joy to penetrate our hearts. For so many people depression and anxiety rule their lives. They live in constant fear. Look at the first Easter the women went down to anoint the Lord and they were in fear that he was not there they were anxious about what had happened to him. When they had found him and realised what had happened they wanted to tell others.

And so it leads me onto our next important aspect of the joy of resurrection we want to tell others. When we have something exciting to share we want to tell others. We want to sing it from the roof tops. How more exciting is the joy of the resurrection telling others what the Lord has done for us. And it’s ok to show it in our faces in our gestures its ok Lent is over. The joy of the resurrection is about living our lives in the light of the Gospel message the Good News.

Lastly the Resurrection is about welcoming the Lord in our lives and welcoming others. We welcome this weekend those who have been baptised and received into the Church. We welcome them particularly with joy. We ask the risen Lord to be with them as they continue on the journey they have started with us some two years ago. We ask for the intercession of our lady to help them in deepening a relationship with her Son. And on this Easter day we also welcome those who are visiting us or those who are venturing in after a long time. We welcome you all with joy.

This welcome also comes in many different ways. One visible way of welcome is to have the doors of the Church open. To allow others to come into the Church and experience the joy that we have is vital and important. To welcome the stranger to make people feel at home here in their home the Church.

So let us make sure that others know about this pivotal day in history. That we know the joy of the resurrection that we celebrate it well.

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