Pray with us - A series of Easter reflections
Transforming Nottinghamshire Together is supported by the Church Urban fund (CUF). Join our national team as they reflect and pray this Holy Week and Easter. Visit throughout the weeks as we make our journey together.
Further reflections on Holy Week and Easter.
Over Holy Week, we journeyed through the cheering crowds on Palm Sunday; the betrayal, arrest and denial of Maundy Thursday; the trial, scourging and crucifixion of Good Friday and the emptiness and waiting of Holy Saturday. And now, we arrive at Easter. The emotion, despair and grief of the past few days can be seen on the face of Mary Magdalene as John’s Gospel records her weeping outside the tomb on that Easter morning, finding that the tomb was empty and presumably the body of Jesus had been stolen.
This despair and grief was still etched into the hearts of the disciples when Jesus returned to them. They had barely had chance to get to grips with what had happened on Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified, seemingly taking away all of their hopes for the future, and now everything had changed again.
It is through these tears that Mary encounters the Risen Jesus. It is through these tears that Mary sees the new life and hope that Jesus offers.
The Resurrection of Jesus offers us joy and hope.
When we look at the world around us, with warfare, poverty, loneliness, grief and hurt – we may find our faces wet with tears, and yet Jesus calls each one of us by name this Easter and encourages us to look at him, and find in him hope and joy; and that in him and the promise of the Resurrection we will have the promise of the hope of heaven, where every tear will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4).
God of glory,
by the raising of your Son
you have broken the chains of death and hell:
fill your Church with faith and hope;
for a new day has dawned
and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
