Father Philip Writes...

April 2021

A boy said to his father, “Dad, is it really true that when you were a boy, you went to church every Sunday?” His dad replied proudly: “Yes, I went every Sunday!”​ The boy thought a minute and said: “I’ll bet my going every Sunday won’t do me any good either!”

What a contrast much formal religion of just going to church has been to what should happen to us at Easter. We are told in the Gospels that Jesus appeared to his disciples and the power of Easter began to work miracles in their lives. ​
They ceased to be despairing men and became daring missionaries and preached the Good News. Jesus’ resurrection invited them to open their hearts to new life. That same power of Easter continues to work miracles in people’s lives wherever it is preached and whenever people open their hearts to it. ​
The Good News of Easter is that Jesus wants to work miracles in you and me. The boy questioning his father had not seen any change in his father’s life. There was no evidence of new life in Jesus Christ. A question for us all is:
What keeps me from displaying the Risen Life of Christ more vividly in my life?
Maybe our reticence to live the Easter Life is that we give in to doubt. When the disciples came to the tomb, expecting to find Jesus dead, they did not find him at all and shortly it dawned on them that He had risen.  The empty tomb also offered another lesson. They would have to go on in His absence but empowered with His Spirit.
We are called to witness to the Risen Lord by passing on our faith rather like a baton is passed from one runner to another in a relay race. The baton of God’s kingdom is passed by Jesus to His disciples. They are to complete the work He began while living among us. John Henry Newman said:
“God has created me to do some definite service. He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another.”
The early Christians knew Jesus in the Breaking of Bread – the Mass –  ​
and unlike the boy talking to his father, the world saw they were changed by their worship. If we respond to Jesus, Easter will be evident in us, rather like the way described by the following little poem:
“I am my neighbour’s Bible: he reads me when we meet.
Today he reads me in my house, tomorrow in the street.
He may a relative or friend, or slight acquaintance be;
He may not even know my name, yet he is reading me.”
May we be more aware of our part in Christ’s mission and realise others judge him by what they see in you and me.
Come Holy Spirit and fill us with your Love!
Come Holy Spirit and fill us with your Love!
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'Father Philip Writes'
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