Easter Message 2022 – Bishop Tor B Jørgensen

Easter Message 2022  –  Bishop Tor B Jørgensen, The Lutheran Church in Great Britain

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The Big Issue

I was in London on Palm Sunday. Celebrating with the congregation in Southwark Cathedral. Arriving some minutes before the service I was surprised by the fact that the Borough Market, close to the Cathedral, was already filled with people. In Norway Sunday mornings are silent and the streets are empty. Especially during the Easter Holidays. “Everyone” is lifting their hearts to the mountains seeking a week of snow, sun and fun.

I wondered: Is this big gathering part of the Palm Sunday procession?

Basically not – even if we were quite a few people with crosses in our hands joining in the hymn: “Ride on, ride on in majesty!”, most of the people continued their morning refreshments, looking on this strange “choir” with everything from supportive (?) smiles to indifference.

We who entered the beautiful cathedral were lifting our hearts to the Lord.

This Lent I have been reading the Gospel of John – supported both by Johan Sebastian Bach (experienced for the first live in Birmingham Cathedral in the Holy week of 1974!) and by David F. Ford new and refreshing theological commentary to the Gospel of John.

The Big Issue in John’s Gospel is the Big Question: “WHAT IS TRUTH?” – formulated by Pilate during the extended interrogation of Jesus on “the Long Friday” as we call Good Friday in Norwegian.

“What is truth?” a question challenging us also today:

In the present world of politics. In the new world of social media. –  And in a new and critical reading of history challenging old truths about a glorious past with all its glorifying narratives – and statues. –

How could our ‘Christian civilization’ accept racist notions about other human beings allowing us to oppress them and make them slaves for our own wealth and progress – and exploiting their natural resources to our benefit? –

To me it seems a reasonable truth that the legacy of this history is now haunting us both in the refugee- and the environment crises. Why is it so difficult to acknowledge and to follow the truth – leading to justice, reconciliation, and peace also today? We are overwhelmed by the catastrophic war in Ukraine – and by the acute refugee-crisis and the lingering climate-crisis.

It is easy to get disillusioned and detached, cynical and self-centred. What is truth? What is in it for me? Like Pilate after he had asked his big question, handing Jesus over to crucifixion, suffering and death even if he did find “no case against him”. Truth being overrun by interest of power!

David Ford is making an interesting observation in his commentary to John’s chapter 18: The question is not Pilate’s semi-philosophical question about truth. It is a personal one: “WHO IS TRUTH?”

The whole gospel is an answer to that question: From the introduction with the famous words: “In the beginning was the Word…” – to the affirmation at the end: These words are written “so you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name!”

Through the mystery of His birth, His life, His death, and His resurrection, He is challenging us to follow Him, because through Him we have got a glimpse of the glory of God, full of grace and truth.

The focus of this grace is his last words on the cross: “It is finished” – or better: “it is accomplished”.

His death contains the most important fact of his life: “God’s love for the world”.

The story doesn’t end there. In fact, it has not ended yet – starting with the important question by the resurrected Lord to the weeping Mary: “Woman, whom are you seeking?” (John 20:15) – and Mary giving him a confused and disillusioned answer. Then hearing his voice calling her name: “Mary” –  that changed everything! She experienced the Truth.

This Truth is still alive, changing our lives, giving us light and hope – in a confused world – hope of an eternal life where we all once shall meet him “face to face”, as Paul expressed it in his great hymn to Love which we can read in the first in letter to the Corinthians.

Jesus is the big issue – also today. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! Our Easter-faith is filled with Hope and Joy also this year.

Christ is risen – He is risen indeed!