With schools having reopened after the Easter holidays last Monday, there is a sense that Easter is all over. But on reflection it is only beginning. Easter will extend out for a full six weeks and then after that the spirit of Easter is lived out each day. For some people it is tempting to stay in Good Friday and not to move onto Easter. Why is Easter so important to us? Why embrace it with any enthusiasm? Easter reminds us that in the midst of darkness, pain, upset, anger, depression, disappointment, uncertainty and difficulties, that there is light and hope. If we stay in Good Friday we will never give ourselves permission to move on. Easter is not saying that life will be trouble free, pain free or that life will be just perfect. But it most definitely says with great conviction and certainty that life does have meaning and purpose. It also reminds us that we have a reason to keep going and that our faith energies us on our own daily journey, particularly during difficult days.

We also begin our journey through this month of April. Unlike other months it is not named to commemorate anybody or anything special. It gets its name from a Latin word, ‘Aprillis’ which means ‘to open’. This is a very appropriate name because nature is indeed opening up to new life all around. We too are invited to open up to new life in our daily lives. Our journey through April and Easter are very much coinciding. Our prayer today is that we will be open to the blessings and energy that Easter is bringing and will continue to bring.