YOURS FAITHFULLY
HAPPY ‘lockdown’ Easter everyone! Sadly, in the last 12 months the word lockdown has become part of our everyday language.
News reports, newspaper articles and our daily conversations have centred on the fact that, in one way or another, we have all been on lockdown in order to protect ourselves and our families from Covid-19.
I wonder what effect all this talk of lockdown and being locked-in has had on us? The word lock can have both positive and negative connotations. We can be locked out, locked up, we can have something locked tight and we can have things locked away. We are happy to lock our doors at night to keep ourselves and our loved ones secure. However, we can take hurts and failings and so lock them up in our hearts that the results can be negative on our mental and even physical health. So, what has all this to do with Easter?
Two thousand years ago in Jerusalem, the religious people and the Roman authorities thought they had achieved the ultimate lockdown. Jesus had been arrested, crucified and had died. To make doubly sure that this lockdown was effective they endeavoured to make it even more final – a stone-covered tomb, official seals and soldiers were all put into place.
However, the Christian message is one of freedom and on that first Easter morning God the Father unlocked the unlockable and Jesus walked into openness, freedom, resurrection life, with rulership of a Kingdom of which there will be no end.
Sadly, 2021 is now our second Covid Easter and this makes celebrating the Easter message much more difficult than in the past. While we might be grateful for Zoom and all the other electronic ways we have been communicating, praying and worshiping together, it doesn’t replace our traditional activities. It is not the same as being physically all together with our church family to share in worship and communion. It’s not the same as being able to greet one another with a hug or a handshake and joyfully sing ‘Christ the Lord is risen today, Hallelujah’.
Even if we can meet in person, it’s simply not the same when we are two metres apart, wearing a mask and not being able to sing.
However, while we might be in some form of lockdown, spiritually we do not have to be locked in. Jesus promised us that he would never leave us or forsake us. He promised that he would be with us even to the end of time.
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would dwell in us and give us peace. While it’s great to visit a church building with others and share in worship together, what we need to remember at this Easter lockdown time is that Jesus is with you wherever you are.
I believe that Jesus is with you at home. Jesus is with you in your garden or as you walk in the park. Jesus is with you as you wake in the morning and as you fall asleep at night. Jesus is with you when life is great and you feel like celebrating. Jesus is with you when life is grey and sad and you need to know his loving, comforting presence.
I believe that Jesus is with you right now as you’re reading this article. This Easter, if you’re struggling with life’s issues remember that locked down does not have to mean locked in. Talk to Jesus, I believe that he is the key that unlocks life in all its fullness.