St Luke’s View

Dear friends,

My mother, as most of you know, was a life long teacher. And it was therefore with a definite tongue in her cheek she used to quip – those that do will do but those who cannot – teach! However, any form of teaching focuses the mind and always brings a greater understanding of the subject in hand.

Well this week of my writing, the Grove Academy chaplains, have been giving a multimedia presentation on Easter to the school’s pupils. And this has caused me to really think through the meaning of our Lord’s passion and resurrection.

But that is not a bad mental process for everyone at this time of year. For, of course, the events of Holy Week were at the pivot point of all human history. However, our own interpretation of them also goes to the very foundation of what we each believe and what our personal faith is built upon.

Because in them is the meaning of our forgiveness for failure and worse. In them, is the certainty that what we see is not all that we get. And, in them, is the explanation of how after that first Easter the world was changed forever.  Yet these events also extend an invitation to us as well. The invitation that says – you have been bought at a very dear price – the world has now seen evil defeated – you are reborn to eternal life. Now do something about it! Indeed, go out and teach by your words. Go out and preach by your behaviour. Go out and show your gratitude by playing your part by being the new person within. For Easter always means as Iris Hesselden writes:

Be the person you want to be

The person deep within,

Don’t be afraid to face the world –

Let the future begin!

Hitch your wagon to a star

And follow where it leads

Be strong of purpose, brave in heart,

As every plan succeeds.

Time to be what you want to be

Step forward, take your cue,

The spotlight on, the curtain raised,

The stage is set for you!

Every blessing

 for a restful and worshipful Easter,

Graham