Reflection: Easter Day
Welcome to our series of Lent and Easter reflections.
The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle reminds us that Thomas needed proof of Jesus’ Resurrection, before reflecting upon what it means to be a Christian. This reflection is inspired by John 20: 19-28.
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Listen to the reflection
John 20: 19-28
Reflection
On Easter night, it is Thomas who needs the proof, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands…I will not believe.’ Then, there before him, risen life stands before him, the victory of God, Christ in grace and glory. And Thomas believes. We need to see as Thomas saw. Why? Because we make the mistake of thinking that Christian faith is teaching, something to learn.
Christianity is not words and thoughts, but life and bodies. Christian faith is not doctrine, it is the life and death of Christ. When Thomas falls to his knees and says ‘My Lord and my God’ he was looking at a man who was dead and who lives. At Easter we see what Thomas saw and God would have us see, a human life and a human death. To be a Christian is to recognise that all of life everything we do with our bodies, including dying is inseparable from God and that, even in death, our God lives. Easter is not piety, or proposition, or performance. It is just life in its fulness, God’s life and ours.
Prayer
O God in Jesus Christ you fell,
For love into the dark earth and died:
Give us grace to wait in patient
hope and love for the rich harvest
you have promised, that will
blossom in our hearts with abundant
life and love for all the world:
through Jesus Christ we pray
who is the promise of your love
restored, renewed and multiplied.
Amen.