Easter

Easter's late this year. Why is that? It's because, hundreds of years ago, a council of the church decided that the date of Easter Day should be calculated using a lunar calendar. It was to be observed on 'the Sunday after the first full moon on or after the day of the vernal equinox'. I guess it had something to do with the Jewish Passover. In the New Testament, the Easter events are linked with Passover, and Passover is also calculated using a lunar calendar.

In the western church, Easter Day this year is Sunday 16 April. What does the church remember at Easter? It remembers that Jesus was crucified (Passiontide and especially Good Friday) and that shortly afterwards his disciples believed him to be alive. (Easter Day and the rest of the Easter season). Such remembering brings together history and conviction. Few would question that Jesus was crucified; that seems as reliable as anything from antiquity. Most would also be happy to accept that the early church believed he had been raised. Where there might be disagreement is on what lay behind this belief and on what, if anything, the whole thing means.

We'll probably never know exactly what happened on the first Easter Day. Parts of the New Testament speak of an empty tomb; other parts focus on appearances of the risen Christ. From this, some have understood the resurrection to be a physical occurrence, while others have seen it as a spiritual experience. For some a miracle occurred in time and space, for others the miracle occurred in the hearts of those who knew Jesus.

As for what it all means, there are many options here too. For some it is a demonstration of God's power: the powers of darkness are defeated and the victory won. For some it is a sign of hope: if Jesus lives beyond the grave, so might we. For some it is a call to arms: to work for love and life in the face of sin and death. For some the power of Easter lies in what actually happened, for others it lies more in what the ancient story represents.

This year, here in Audlem, we will celebrate Easter again – with Easter Day being the Sunday after the first full moon after the day of the vernal equinox! Before Easter Day the mood will be sombre, from Easter Day it will be celebratory. Services will be held at each of the village churches, where congregations will gather with differing understandings and emphases. Whatever Easter means to you, you would be welcome to join us this year.

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