The Rector writes - Easter Day

Writing to the Corinthians (1:15 v14) St Paul says quite simply: “If Christ has not been raised then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain”. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead - the Paschal Mystery - which we are celebrating in a special way this weekend, and for the next forty days, is the heart of Christian Faith. Rightly, St Paul recognises that without the new life of Christ rising from the tomb the Gospel cannot ring true. Easter Day is the proof positive, the absolute vindication, of that self-emptying in the Incarnation which accepted the consequences of human sin in death, and now transcends all that is partial and limited. St Paul’s conviction is that Christ is risen – something which he had experienced at first hand in his own conversion – and that there is a power and an integrity which enables us, in our turn, to proclaim “dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life, Lord Jesus come in glory”.


2,000 years may separate us from the original Easter witnesses but every time we share in the Mass we are able to make the words of the two disciples on the Emmaus road our own: “did not our hearts burn within us” (Luke 24 vv13-35). Faith in the resurrection is an understanding of an historical event in a particular place, but it is also a truth which resonates within each believer and gives meaning and purpose to our lives. In the midst of all the sadness of this world and the suffering of so many, we can take our stand with Job: “I know that my Redeemer lives”. Despite every sign to the contrary, our conviction is in a loving God who raises his Son out of death and demonstrates that, ultimately, love will not be overcome. What was true for Christ will, pray God, be true for each one of us: “after my awaking, He will set me close to Him … I shall look on God … these eyes will gaze on Him”.

During the Good Friday Liturgy each year the whole Church intercedes for its Pope in an ancient formula going back to the first centuries: “Let us pray for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict, that God who chose him to be a bishop may give him health and strength to guide and govern God’s holy people”. This Good Friday that prayer held a particular poignancy as Pope Benedict finds himself at the centre of a storm of criticism. I know from what a number of you have said that there is a fallout from this which is having its effect on lay Catholics. With a Papal Visit scheduled for September it is likely that the negativity will intensify and it is important that we keep the Holy Father in our daily prayers. The saintly Cure d’Ars used to say that the Devil sees further than we

can and will do anything he can to undermine anything in the future which is going to be fruitful in God’s hands. Humbly, quietly and faithfully, we need to get on trying to lead good and holy lives, not allowing the forces of evil to throw us off track. That surely is the message of Easter – its relevance for us today.

I would like to put on record the gratitude of the parish to those who worked to make Holy Week and Easter such a beautiful expression of our Faith. To those who prepare and clean, and serve and make our music – and especially among them Chris. Daly, Terry Worroll and Iestyn Evans – the rest of us say a sincere “thank you”.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOTICES

Congratulations to the nine people who were brought into full communion with the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil – to those Baptised, Received, and Confirmed. They are God’s gift to us – may we prove worthy of them. At each Mass on Easter Day we have the chance to renew our own Baptismal Vows and to be aspersed with the Easter Water.

As Easter Monday is a Bank Holiday there is only one Mass here – at 10am. For the rest of Easter Week Masses are at the usual times i.e. 7.15am, 12.30pm & 6pm.
Please pray for the soul of Maria Cura who died on Tuesday aged 85.  Maria lived in Pictor Place, off Duke Street and worshipped here until she became housebound. Details of the funeral will be placed on the noticeboard. RIP

All the parish organisations are having a break this week. The Gregorian Chant group, the Taize group, and the Legion of Mary resume next week.

The London Oratory School Schola and the London Oratory Brass will be coming to St James's on Friday 7th May at 7.30pm. The programme includes the world premiere of a new plainsong Mass setting by Roxanna Panufnik together with Motets by Anton Bruckner, Gabrieli's In Ecclesiis and the Canterbury Te Deum by Grayston Ives. Tickets from www.seetickets.com

A film "No greater Love" will be on general release from April 9th. It provides an extraordinary picture of life in the Carmelite Monastery in St Charles Square. Please try to see it if you can and encourage others to do so. A breath of fresh air in today's climate !
New sets of weekly Offertory Envelopes are available at the back of church for those who have signed up for them. This is a simple way to help regular giving. If you would like a set of envelopes, fill in one of the forms and return it through the Rectory door.

This is the last opportunity to contribute your lenten savings which can be put in the box near the door at the back of the church designated Lenten alms – this year the savings we make will be divided between the St John Southworth Fund (to help the needy in London) and the Thai Children’s Trust.