Easter Season
“After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.” Matthew 28:2
Lord, your rising from the dead increases my faith, hope and love. May my belief in your resurrection change my attitude and behaviour towards others.

“Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb.” Mark 16:3
Lord your rising from the dead gives the world renewed hope. Remove the obstacles from my life that keep me from believing and trusting in the power of your resurrection.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen.” Luke 24;5
Lord, the power of your resurrection lives in the hearts of all believers. May your resurrection empower me to bring love, hope, and peace to others.

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.” John 20;2
Lord, your resurrection pierces the darkness of doubt and fear. May the power of your resurrection help me to deepen my love for you and all people.

God my friend, when Christ came back, no one recognised Him at first. That should be a cautionary lesson about who might present Him to me. Amen

“Jesus make me then to rise
From death to life, on such a wise
As thou rose up on Easter Day,
In joy and bliss to live for aye. Amen Gordon Huelin
“Risen Lord, come stand among us,
Awaken us to your presence,
Open to us the gate of glory,
Show us the path of life,
Help us to know you are with us now and always.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!” David Adam

Sunday
Sometimes we need to be reminded that Sunday, not Monday is the first day of the week! The Day of Resurrection, the eighth day of God’s great week, having rested in the sleep of death on his saving Sabbath, and risen to never-ending life in his human body. It is the first day of the week of weeks – the fifty days of the Easter Season – in which the glory and the joy of the Resurrection spill- upon the Church, upon humanity, that we might be caught-up in and transformed by his victory. His glory is the source of our holiness; let us rejoice in it!

‘Bear I don’t understand’ said the girl ‘you said this was the most amazing gift ever, but it’s empty!’
‘Yes’ said the bear.

‘Quack’ said the duck (Happy Easter)

Jesus remember me!
One of the criminals said: “Don’t you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come as King!” Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.” Luke 23:39-43
God, help me always to remember that you love every one of us, no matter what we have done. Your Son was given the death penalty, even though he was innocent. I pray for everyone who has been falsely accused and convicted. I pray also for all those who have been sentenced to death. No matter what they have done, they are still your children. Your love knows no bounds. Remind me of that when my heart is too small and judgemental.

O Lord, our Saviour and God, whom nails could not hold to the Cross, but only love: grant that we, who have received the fullness of your love, may be ready to bear before the world the marks of your Passion; who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen

Who’s Number One?
“An argument broke out among the disciples as to which one of them should be thought the greatest. Jesus said to them, ‘The kings of the pagans have power over their people, and the rulers claim the title ‘Friends of the People.’ But this is not the way it is with you; rather, the greatest one among you must be like the youngest and the leader must be like the servant. Who is the greatest, the one who sits down to eat or the one who serves? The one who sits down, of course. But I am among you as one who serves.”
Dear Jesus, you came to tell us that being number one is not what it’s all about. Help me to keep you as number one in my life and keep the needs of others close behind. Let me wake up each day and think of how I can serve others, especially during this time of pandemic. Help me to keep my priorities straight, which means that they are directed toward you. Amen