So much has happened and is happening in our world this year and its only April! The pace of change in so many realms is head-spinning. The temptation may be to stick that spinning head into the sand and pretend everything goes on as normal. But instead should we not do as Karl Barth suggested - 'take your Bible and your newspaper, and read both'.
Perhaps reading our newspapers would lead us to despair, as news of the tragic murder of Pakistan's Minorities minister hits us, a tragedy for all who cherish religious freedom; as we see images and hear stories of unrest and uprisings in Egypt, Bahrain and Libya, Syria, Yemen and Ethiopia with all its associated violence. Then we have seen earthquakes in Christchurch, NZ and NE Japan, with all the devastation that followed them. But we should not give in to that. Barth went on to say that for the Christian, our interpretation of the news should always be fuelled by our understanding of the Bible. And a dominant theme of the Bible is hope.
Easter is a permanent reminder that violence and destruction, arrest and even death are not the end. Darkness cannot overcome the light; Hatred cannot overcome love; and tombs don't always contain bodies.
