Eastertide
Easter Message 2024
Alleluia! Alleluia! HE IS RISEN!
Fyodor Dostoyevsky toward the end of his life divided men into two classes, those who know the Eternal Life and those who do not. He is reported to have said that “the future of civilization, will rest with those who are citizens of eternity.”
When Mary Magdalene began her journey to the tomb of Jesus, dawn had not yet come and the darkness of the morning was reflected in the darkness that existed in all of those who loved and followed Him.
God forbid that we should take this joyful day and to allow it to descend into the realm of hopelessness or pessimism. The darkness of that first Easter Morning was in fact but a gateway to a golden dawn so wonderful and so triumphant as to mark a monumental turning point in human history.
The truth of the message that Dostoyevsky points out, is that the future of Civilization will rest with the citizens of eternity, those who live in a manner worthy of Christ’s Call: “ If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)
The good news for the days of darkness is HE IS RISEN! It is my prayer that each of us pick up our cross and follow Him in thought, word and deed living in His light!
May God Bless you this Easter Season with the joy of His Resurrection, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost!
The Right Reverend Robert M. Hammond
Bishop Ordinary, Diocese of the West
The Anglican Church in America
Easter Day
The Collect
ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen. ¶ This Collect is to be said daily throughout Easter Week.
The Epistle Colossians 3:1
IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
The Gospel St. John 20:1
THE first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
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