SERMON - APRIL 2007

VICAR: The Revd. Martin Fredriksen Tel: 694109

PARISH OFFICE (Mondays to Fridays 9.30am – Noon) Tel: 697641

FROM THE VICAR: 'I am the Resurrection and the Life'. These familiar words from St.John's Gospel, provide the opening for the majority of funeral services. It is this important fact that makes the Christian faith have any sense or meaning. If there is no resurrection, then life for some is jolly and, for others, utterly miserable — at some point it is going to come to an end, and that will be it! That may well be a Humanist way of thinking, but certainly not a Christian one.

Notice that Jesus is not saying that he hopes that there is a resurrection, or that he can tell us how we might rise again. He says I am — using that expression which, in the Old Testament, was considered only applicable to God himself. Remember the reply to Moses when he asked God who he should say had sent him, when he stood before Pharaoh, King of Egypt? — I am, that I am. The Resurrection is embodied in Jesus himself, who is God Incarnate — since resurrection can be enacted by God alone.

When other religions grasp something of the nature of God. they are going in the direction of the truth, but it is only the Christian faith that embraces a Saviour — and this is what makes it totally unique. Salvation was wrought at a great price — it involved accusation, betrayal, physical and mental torture and finally, death on a cross. The reality is extremely unpleasant, but it is only by embracing the Passion of our Lord Jesus, that we can begin to appreciate deeply the value of the Resurrection.

Shortcutting from Christmas to Easter may be more palatable but it fails to appreciate the immensity of our Lord's love for us as individuals, and for the whole of mankind.

I hope that you all have a truly happy Easter, but may I also encourage you to make an effort to come during Holy Week as well? Perhaps to try something new that you have not experienced before? If you have never attended the Paschal Liturgy on Easter Eve, you have missed one of the greatest and most moving events of the whole Christian calendar. Other additional services for Holy Week are listed on the facing page.

Martin Fredriksen

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