Death and despair will not win out

THIS time last year we had just gone into the first period of lockdown and were wondering what to expect. There was fear, bewilderment and uncertainty, and during the past year the unexpected has happened again and again. One year on, there are people grieving the loss of loved ones, and people of every age living with the loss of so much that was once familiar in daily life, not least contact with friends and family.

Over the year, things have continued to change, whether it has been decisions about education and exams, rules around Christmas, or how many people can meet and where; and we have been constantly trying to manage our expectations and those of others, not least as we now live an uncertain roadmap out of restrictions. Yet into all that has come the joy of vaccination.

As the horror of this virus and its impact became ever clearer, who would have expected that in a matter of months there would be a successful vaccine rollout? I certainly never expected to be receiving a jab within a year of the first lockdown.

This week, Christians across the world mark Holy Week, as we recall the events leading up to Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. His first followers had such high expectations of his political leadership and godly power. Yet their expectations were shattered on that first Good Friday when Jesus was cruelly nailed to death on a cross. Their sense of loss was overwhelming as they began to come to terms with the fact that it had not turned out as they had expected. Three days later when some women went to the tomb, their expectations were further challenged when they discovered the tomb was empty and Jesus’ body had disappeared. Yet soon they were to discover the truth that Jesus was alive. His overcoming death was way beyond all expectation and it is this offer of new life and hope that we will celebrate on Easter Day.

As we each look back on the past year and acknowledge the loss and the shattering of the expectations we held in early spring last year, may we also have the courage to be expectant about the future. I pray you will hold fast to the hope of the empty tomb and the unchanging love of God who in Jesus Christ has ensured that death and despair will not have the final word.