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Greetings:

Easter Sunday was such a great day.

We celebrated the resurrection of our Lord.

The sun was shining, the weather appeared as though spring was very near. There were pictures of Easter egg gatherings (scavenger hunts), of family time in the park, dinner tables set with the finest of china dishes.

It was a picture-perfect day, as it should be.

Except, the car window had frost on it leaving Nanaimo at 7am!

Then came Monday morning: it was pouring rain.  It was one of those “down” days.

Except for those who had exhausted all energy over the past number of days, struggling through lent, and then Holy Week. No guilt feelings for finding a good book, and possible long afternoon of rest. IT WAS SO GOOD.

Easter always comes though with the great acclamation, Christ is Risen. Alleluia!

Often spring rides along with Easter, for the spontaneous bringing forth of the new buds, and bursting bulbs of spring colours. Nature has a way of witnessing for us, those great words from scripture; “Behold I make all things new!”

A year ago, we were in the +20 degrees! This year, we are struggling to get high in the +teens! Those spring flowers are struggling to show their beauty. The new buds are lingering on the trees. I am sure, they are asking the same questions: ‘why?’ ….feeling frozen, while at the same time, we are restless, uncertain with feelings of loneliness and grief, in the midst of resurrection?

For this year, the news of the world was like 2 newspaper columns. In the 1st column, was the news of the resurrection, the celebrations of Easter. (As Christians this year, we are also witness to other major religions celebrating their major feast days in the month of April—the first time in over 30 years.)

The 2nd column is labeled with:

  • war;

  • people in refugee camps;

  • rising interest rates;

  • rising cost of living.

  • Along with many who are struggling to find affordable housing, only to find the price increasing at a greater rate than inflation.  

The stresses of life are compromising individual health systems.

The good news is, for us as Christians, the 2 columns are funneled into 1 at the bottom, in the Good News of the Resurrection. 

We have been invited to draw near, and see!

There is new life. There is new hope.

Part of this new hope and new life, is in the opportunity we have, after 2 years, to gather together, and personally share life and hope with each other!

Easter Sunday 2022 was so filled with this glory!

After 2 years of staying behind closed doors, it truly was as if 'the chains of death' have been broken into the living presence of Christ!

Blessings in this Easter Season,
Archdeacon Brian+