Scatters fear and gloom

This Easter our thoughts will be with those who are frightened. We will pray for those people across the Middle East forced from their homes or in constant fear of a missile ripping through their apartment block. We will be thinking about children terrified by a world gone mad as the bombs drop around them. This Easter we will be praying “Lord, have mercy” and praying for peace, not just in the Middle East but in the conflicts around the world that make people afraid for their future.

And in this country, many thousands of miles from the fighting, we too will be fearful. We know that even if the war in the Middle East ended tomorrow that the cost of fuel will rise and this will hit some families hard. Small businesses will struggle to stay open as costs rocket. Farmers face eye‑watering bills just to grow the food the country depends on. These are fearful times for us and for the world.

The Bible tells us that after his crucifixion, Jesus’ disciples met together in a locked room because they were afraid.  They were afraid that they would be next. This was a reasonable thing to fear. They had associated with a convicted and executed criminal even if the conviction was a trumped-up charge and the execution unjust.

 But then everything changed. The risen “Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you”. The disciples were “overjoyed when they saw the Lord”. This is Easter. Into a room full of fear and grief comes Jesus, risen from the dead. The one who endured the terrors of the cross is now standing amongst them bringing the gift of peace to fearful hearts. In one sense, their situation is the same – they were still at risk - but, in every way that matters, their lives are changed utterly. The Risen Jesus stands amongst them and says, “Peace be with you”.

 The coming days and months will be challenging for many.  We may find ourselves feeling frightened about what is to come. This is natural. The Easter hope is not that bad things will never happen. They will, but when they do, we are not alone. The Risen Jesus stands amongst us and gives us the peace that passes all understanding. In the great Easter hymn, Thine be the Glory, we sing:

Lo! Jesus meets us, risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom.

In all the turmoil of the world may you meet that same Risen Jesus who scatters our fear and gloom and brings us peace.

The Rt Revd Matthew Parker, Bishop of Stafford