The Risk of Unconditional Love and the Reward of Hope Restored

Easter at All Saints 2013

Dear Friends  

During Holy Week and Easter we are reminded that unconditional love is risky. When we really think about it, we are terrified to love with our whole heart, our whole being. To do so means opening ourselves to the potential of unbearable suffering, disappointment and pain. But Jesus goes against the grain of these instincts. He offers himself completely into the service of radical love even though he knows it will lead to his betrayal, suffering and execution. Despair however, does not have the final word. 

Hope. Resilient, unrelenting, glorious hope is the great reward of the resurrection we celebrate on Easter day. It is made possible because Jesus chose to trust in the Father, to respond with total vulnerability to God's love. The services of Holy Week and Easter help us to bear witness to this outpouring of passion that secured the salvation of the world. It confronts us with the question "Are we prepared to trust Jesus who has already won the victory for us, who offers us hope that cannot be destroyed?" 

As we tread towards the foot of the cross and then onwards to the joyful relief of the Easter dawn, let's pray that we experience the gift of love that challenges us deeply but gives eternity as it's reward. 

I leave you with the closing words of Archbishop Justin's sermon from his enthronement service this week:

"Optimism does not come from us, but because to us and to all people Jesus comes and says “Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid”.  We are called to step out of the comfort of our own traditions and places, and go into the waves, reaching for the hand of Christ.  Let us provoke each other to heed the call of Christ, to be clear in our declaration of Christ, committed in prayer to Christ, and we will see a world transformed."

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Justin