Vicars Letter
The
Easter Message
Jesus Christ has died and is risen from the dead.
So proclaims St Paul and, in one way or another, most of
the New Testament writers. We are called to follow
Christ. We are called to die to parts of us so that other
parts may rise. The Church is called to die to parts of
its life so that other parts may flourish. We are
reluctant to die, it is painful, it involves loss. Yet
without dying, there will be no new life. The story of
God's people is one of dying for new life. Sometimes the
dying is enforced. The people of Israel could stand their
oppression in Egypt no longer; they left everything and
started a new and in time prosperous life in Palestine.
The people of Israel were taken into exile in Babylon;
there they developed new ways of being God's people which
stood them in good stead when they returned home and
developed new ways of living in changed circumstances.
Many of the saints had no choice; they were martyred.
Some chose martyrdom. Maximillian Kolbe was a prisoner in
a concentration camp. 40 men were to be killed because
some rules had been broken. A family man was chosen -
Father Kolbe asked to take his place. The father of the
family survived to bring up his family.
Most wise people agree that there are many activities
undertaken in the Church of England that are less
fruitful than other activities. We would do well to
relinquish elements of our life so that other new
elements may grow and flourish. Deciding what needs to
die and what is well preserved and developed is a matter
for discrimination. What would better serve the kingdom.
The judgements involved are difficult. Yet we today so
often fear to take the risk. We do nothing. We struggle
to do too much, we grow burdened and tired, we have
insufficient money or time for everything; we will not
assist some things to die and so we deny opportunities
for new life, new growth.
As we spend 50 days celebrating Jesus resurrection let us
so deeply receive the good news of the new life that we
can see more clearly why in us, in our church life, must
die so that this new life, new spirit may be embodied in
the life of the world. I wish everyone a joyful
Eastertide.
Christopher Morgan-Jones
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