A Pastoral Letter for Lent and Easter

Dear Sisters and Brothers.

Our society has been described as a post-truth society. In this society emotions and personal beliefs are more important than objective facts. The success of people such as Donald Trump is a sign of this society. He appeals to his supporters because he reinforces their beliefs, for many that the 'system' has failed them, and that everything that does not agree with his worldview is 'fake news'. He claims to be alongside those who have been marginalized, mainly white blue-collar men, despite being one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the world. He can do this by appealing to their emotions and affirming their personal beliefs, even if these are not true. He is a glaring example but these trends are all around us.

As Christians we would challenge this view but still affirm the importance of emotions and beliefs. We would state that there is ultimate truth that undergirds all that is and challenge those who offer their views as truth.

In our attempt to engage with this deep truth we seek to excise the falsehoods in our own lives. So the period of Lent is a time for self-examination and reflection. Where we ask ourselves such questions as, do I reflect the image of God within me? How does my life demonstrate the faith I have? Are there aspects of my life I ought to change?

These things are never easy and Holy Week and Easter reveals to us the Christ who leads the way. The way which takes us through suffering and death in order to gain resurrection life. This life is the life as God would have us live, and produces the person God wants us to be. This is no cheap fix, either for God in Christ who walks this way before us and suffered on our behalf, nor for us, if we are to take his call to 'follow me' seriously and seek to be continually transformed by grace.

If Holy Week and Easter are about anything they are about passing through suffering to find new life. To gain new life we need to accept (suffer) death. To move from where we are we must be willing to die to what we have been, how we have behaved, what we have done, and move forward trusting that our loss will lead to new life. If we cling onto how things have been we will never discover what new life is like. This is the message of Easter.

Your brother in Christ,

David

Rev. David Hookins