Bishop's Easter MEssage 2007
We have recently celebrated the bi-centenary of the abolition of slavery. We were reminded that the church both benefited from slavery as well as led the campaign to end it. People on both sides used the bible to support their arguments, but good triumphed over evil and it was accepted that the big picture which the bible proclaims is that God sets his people free.
The message of Easter is the message of freedom. Christ triumphed over death and invited his followers to share in his victory. But the battle goes on. We still have slavery in different forms – as bonded labour, the sex industry and illegal slavery. There are people enslaved by addiction, poverty, prejudice and war, but the power of the resurrection should inspire Christians to know that good can triumph over evil, if only we can see the big picture that the bible proclaims, and campaign for that freedom which is God’s will for his people.
When we see the oppressed set free, peace instead of war, the hungry being fed, the rich trading fairly with the poor, then we are seeing the power of the resurrection in action. Without that we cannot claim to be alive in Christ nor he in us.
+ Dominic Monmouth