The Very Reverend Michael J. Pitts

Dear Friends,

And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new."

(Revelation 21:5 NRSV)

What we celebrate at Easter is more than the coming back to life of a dead man. When we sing

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia,

we are declaring our belief that God has begun the total renewal of the world and of the universe. The resurrection of Jesus is merely a foretaste of this recreation. We believe that we are caught up in this process through which, not only are we given new life, but the humanness of the whole of humanity is restored, and even the physical world is renewed.

Now, of course, we are speaking here of faith. When we look around at the world, either the physical world or the sphere of humanity, there may not be much to see of this re-birth. Indeed the evidence of our senses and of our knowledge of what is going on around us, might point us in quite a different direction. Even when we look within ourselves we might not find much, which could be described as the energy of total re-creation. Yet, often in spite of the evidence, that is what the Gospel invites us to see. Our Faith invites us to believe that transformation and newness is the real meaning of our life, of the life of the church and of the life of the world.

The Gospel story goes on to tell that the next stage in this process is the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit which makes possible new communication, and therefore new community, peace and justice in the biosphere. But the gift of the Holy Spirit is also an individual gift, given in our baptism, and renewed in our Eucharistic meal. The Spirit seals each one of us as an apostle of the new creation, and seals the church as both the bearer and the model of God’s newness.

So this season is not really about past facts, but about the interpretation of present and future reality. It is also about our vocation and the church’s vocation in the world. Our own life in the world is meant to be the bearer of God’s new life for the world. Our planning and management of the life and the affairs of the church is meant to enable the church to receive and live the renewing gifts of the Holy Spirit not only for individuals, but for communities and societies. Because Christ lives, we are always on the doorstep of a new world. The door is open and the living Christ calls us to enter and to bring with us the whole of humanity. That is what I mean when I wish you,

Happy Easter
Yours sincerely,

Michael J. Pitts,
Dean and Rector