Being an Easter People
It has been almost 40 years, and now three bishops of Rome, since John Paul II famously said "We are an Easter People; and alleluia is our song". In his 1986 Angelus sermon, he continued "We are not looking for a shallow joy but rather a joy that comes from faith". Ours is a faith that overflows in joy - a joy that comes from seeing the Lord.
John chapter 20:19-20 tells us: "When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord."
The Season of Easter gives us the opportunity to focus on Christ's victory over death. It’s so important that we notice how the Lord shows the disciples his hands and side. There is some connection between the sight of his wounds, which through the mystery of faith, causes the welling-up of joy in our hearts. He has not become 'un-crucified', nor did he dodge death; but through death has conquered death.
We are given seven weeks to celebrate Easter - seven times seven, a deeply symbolic number in the the world of the Bible - and the season draws to a close with two important festivals:
- First, the Feast of the Ascension, on Thursday 29th May, which will be kept with a 7pm Solemn Eucharist (Holy Communion with incense) at St Illtyd's Newcastle.
- Second, the Feast of Pentecost (Whitsun), which falls on Sunday 8th of June, and will be celebrated in each of our local churches, and with the return of Central@4 at Nolton Hall - which will run for five weeks.
The nine days between the two feasts are to be kept as a "Novena" (nine days of prayer) dedicated to the outpouring of the Spirit and Church growth and revitalisation. More details can be found here:
https://www.thykingdomcome.global/
