Mary Magdalene turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus   (John 20:14)

There are many Easter stories to be told. Some are very dramatic, most very ordinary, some rather public, many more fairly private. These are stories of encounters that are life changing, or indeed "New life" beginning. The continuity of the Church down the ages may appear outwardly to be in great buildings, hierarchies or even people at prayer and worship, but the real continuity which all of these exist to serve is the presence of the Risen Jesus continually meeting with men and women.

According to many New Testament accounts, the Risen Jesus was not easily or quickly recognised - he did not appear where most expected, or even in a manner that led to instant identification. It was often in a special action such as the breaking of bread, or the way that a name was used, that led to him being known.

Mary Magdalene turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus

The Easter Story Centres on the Belief that God Raised Jesus

The Easter story centres on the belief that God raised Jesus, that the events of Good Friday were not the end, and that the one who entered this world in Bethlehem sharing our humanity, who died in Jerusalem for our salvation, is alive for evermore because God raised him bearing our humanity gloriously restored.

Easter stories are told as the Easter experience impinges upon and transforms individuals, groups and communities. These Easter stories tell of individual meetings such as that with Mary of Magdala in the garden, or with a band of disciples in the Upper Room, or with two walking along a road and inviting a stranger in for a meal, or with a group returning from a frustrating night fishing on the lake. At these points, the event of the Easter Story, the raising of Jesus, becomes more than story - it becomes Easter Faith.

This Easter Faith is far more than everything turning out alright in the end, it is rather a way of living in the power and love of the Risen Lord, it is a holding on to this power and love, even when all is not turning out alright, and even seems unlikely to do so.

The Humanitarian Crisis in Iraq

As we see the desperate mess and humanitarian crisis facing the peoples of Iraq, Easter Faith does not say "It was worth it" or that Pain must come before a fresh start!

Easter Faith instead reaches out to bring a hope that is not based on economic, political or indeed on any human analysis - but a hope that is based on the power and love of the Risen Christ to hold on to those in depths of trouble.

Easter Faith urges those who hold such faith to do all in their power to reach into the sorry mess of that shattered country. We each as human beings, and as Christians have a responsibility to do our part in bringing hope to the stricken people of Iraq. A terrible period of the long history of Iraq may be over, but the ending itself has been horrific beyond words.

Such a practical expression of Easter Faith will often go as unrecognised as did the Risen Lord himself, but its power is not in the recognition, but in the fact that it is a continuation of the work of him who gave and loved so much.

The Northern Ireland Peace Process

Peacemaking in our own land is indeed in accordance with the will of our Divine Lord. It faces at the moment serious setbacks. These setbacks are not the denial of the power of the Resurrection. These setbacks may however be telling us something different. Some friends of Jesus once had to be reminded after a frustrating night fishing to let down the nets on the other side. Could the insistence that the present process is the only way to peace prevent us from exploring other avenues to the very peace for which we pray?

What has been so infectious about Easter Faith is not that everybody has seen it demonstrated beyond doubt, because they have not done so. What has been infectious about this faith is that there are people constantly been touched by the Risen Christ in such a way that this meeting transforms their lives, and drives them forward with a conviction that simply brings hope and love to others.

The Easter Message Brings Hope to a Broken World

Easter Faith "belief in and realisation of the presence and power of the Risen Jesus" is the message that can bring hope to all who live in a broken world. Sometimes this hope is almost impossible to grasp because the surrounding darkness is so great. Perhaps it was the very gloom of a crucifixion on a Friday afternoon that made it difficult to recognise the Risen Jesus a few days later.

The Easter Hope Must Be Shared with Those in Despair in Ireland

Many still live today in an overwhelming darkness. In this our own city and country, there are so many caught in a spiral of poverty, from which there seems no hope of escape. There are others who are the victims of health services that no longer seem able to deliver. There are families crying out for more support services for those with disabilities, mental and physical. There are young people sucked into a life of addiction. There is no single direction to point the finger. None of this is anything like as extensive as what the people of Iraq are suffering, but nonetheless there are many in their own deep despair nearer home as well. There is good news that must be shared. It is the news of the one who can lift up those who are down, and give new life in places of suffering, of darkness and of death. For the Risen Christ to be recognised in many of these very places, God's people must be there, and God's people must be able to show in their lives the love and power of the Resurrection, or even more - the love and power of the Risen Jesus.

Easter faith gives special significance to all that is done in the name of Jesus, even when he remains unrecognised.

The Easter Eucharist in which we share is about recognition dawning for God's people. As we visit again the empty tomb, as we recall afresh the Easter story and stories, as we enter into the offering to the Father through which Easter was realised, we are fed afresh by the Living Lord himself in the sacramental Bread and Wine.

He is here to be made known to us in the Breaking of the Bread. But the Easter stories are not just what we have heard - the Easter stories are each of you, each of us, reaching out to recognise this Jesus who comes among us - perhaps only to be recognised fully as we follow him out into the world outside, back into our homes, back into our workplace, but nonetheless offering himself to us now in Bread broken and in Wine outpoured.

Mary Magdalene turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.