Easter message

30th March 2018 by

There has been a remarkable public reaction to the ball tampering affair by some of Australia’s test cricket team. A few weeks ago they were signing caps for young fans and now they are being shamed for their choices. Crowds are fickle and celebrity status can quickly turn sour depending on public opinion.  The crowds who chanted “Hosanna” to Jesus were soon chanting, “Crucify him.” I am amazed that people cry out about cheating in a cricket game, yet they are accepting of elected leaders who engage in immoral behaviour and silent about the treatment of refugee and asylum seekers.
During this week I listened to an interview with Dr Nick Martin who has written an essay about his work as the senior medical officer providing health services to people in the detention centre on Nauru. The policies of our government and the bureaucratic delays have resulted in unnecessary deaths, severe mental health disorders and profound despair. Public opinion considers that some sins weigh more heavily on the scales than other sins.
The apostle Paul reminds us that “sin abounds” and that we have all fallen short. The crucifixion of Jesus demonstrates that God extends mercy to all humans even if we do not deserve it. Jesus came into the world, not to condemn, but to save. Whoever we are and whatever we have done we can be forgiven. The hope of the resurrection is more than comfort beyond the grave. Embracing Jesus means connecting with the power to rise to new life, to be forgiven and transformed by God’s grace.
So take heart, rising with Jesus means we have the gift of new life, a new beginning and a second chance.

Happy Easter!

Kaye

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Easter – a gift to a hurting and broken world.

13th April 2017 by

Across the Easter weekend we consider the stories about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as they have been handed down to us in the Bible.
On the night when Jesus celebrated the Passover Feast with his friends he held up a piece of bread and after giving thanks said, “This is my body.” The next day Jesus was tormented and tortured until he offered up his last breath and the body of Christ hung lifeless on the cross. His friends lovingly carried that body to a borrowed tomb and laid the body in the burial place. By the Sunday morning, the body of Christ had been transformed by the mystery of the resurrection. It must have been somewhat changed because Mary didn’t recognise him at first. The body was the same and yet different, recognisable yet veiled. Many of the friends of Jesus saw him, although they did not always recognise him right away.
After he had appeared to many of them Jesus went away from view and entrusted to his followers the task of being the Body of Christ. I like the words of St Augustine which are sometimes quoted when the bread and wine are served for Holy Communion.
“Let us receive the Body of Christ, let us become what we receive, the Body of Christ.”
The work of Jesus continues as the Church carries on the business of being The Body of Christ, a gift to a hurting and broken world, new life where despair and decay have taken hold, a story to nourish and inspire us for our life together.
Happy Easter!
Kaye

Click here for an Easter message from the Queensland Synod moderator Rev David Baker. 

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