Jesus had gone into death with the power of life and could not be held there. He broke out into a new kind of life which was never going to end. The offer of forgiveness and eternal life is there for each one of us
In St.John’s Gospel chapter 20 we see how Jesus stood among the gathered disciples and announced “Peace be with you.” Jesus breathed on his disciples and said receive the Holy Spirit - he had to do this physically so they would believe and the Holy Spirit is still with us to-day and assures us of communion with God.
Sometimes we get weighed down with problems which overcome us and just like candles with wicks which get too soaked in oil and will not burn – we flicker and waver and drift away from the light of Christ. This can easily happen as the year progresses. After over 2000 years that promise is still with us – God is with us – the tomb was empty – through Christ we have been put right with God.
At Easter tide surely our faith should be stronger than any other time in the year, we need to hold onto that throughout the coming year.
Keeping the light of the risen Christ alive in our hearts shining brightly in our lives – lighting our paths: Psalm 119 v 105. “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” But we must continually keep our path alive with God through prayer – through faith that the Holy Spirit of God is continually with us – do not allow it to become saturated with doubts – like the candle flickering and wavering in oil.
In the book of Revelation to John we are asked to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches in the first century. God is saying the same thing to the churches in this century. We must share with others what God has shared with us – (As St.Francis said “not only in words but in our actions”) we have all been given a gift by God which he expects us to share with others.
To-day our hearts should be alight with the knowledge of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The church is the creation of the Holy Spirit – not the building - but a group of believers who owe their spiritual life to Him so let us open ourselves to the Holy Spirit – and allow Him to direct our lives – Open our hearts to the gift of God’s Grace which he gives freely to each one of us. May we know the joy of leading others through the door of salvation and out through the doors of service.
To-day we are alive with the Holy Spirit let us keep our hearts alive to Him in the year ahead. I wish you all a Holy Easter tide and God’s Blessings on the year ahead.
Wendy Simpson
