An Easter message from The Right Reverend Dr Christopher Cocksworth, the Bishop of Coventry:
‘Woman, why are you weeping?’. The woman was Mary Magadalene, one of Jesus’ followers, who loved him very deeply.
Mary was distraught. Only days before she had seen Jesus, on whom she had placed so many hopes, cruelly executed.
Now she was at this grave which looked as if it had been horribly desecrated, the body was gone. Life sapped from her as surely as each tear ran down her cheeks.
That’s what it’s like when we go through hard times. When disappointments come and loved ones go.
Something of Mary’s grief and pain is familiar to all of us. But this time it was to be different for Mary.
The person speaking tenderly to Mary (she thought he was the gardener) was Jesus himself, risen from the dead. ‘Mary’, he went on to say, calling her by her own precious name. Everything changed. Here was Jesus – alive! Her love restored. Her hope renewed. Her life alive again.
That’s what Easter is about; the reality of our hurting and the reality of our healing through the hope of new life that Jesus brings. I pray this Easter you will know Jesus is alive and that through him God can bring light and love and life into whatever situation you find yourself.
Jesus is always calling your name. Why not do what Mary did, turn and speak to him? That will make it a very happy Easter.
