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The Anglican Free Communion “The Episcopal Free Church”
The Free Protestant Episcopal Church
Primus: Easter Message
London, England, UK. April, 2018
The story of the events leading up to Easter is one of great drama and mystery, with complexity, contradiction and confusion. Yet the story depicted in extreme unimaginable cruelty is one of great hope the world has never been able to parallel in all similar events of heroism and self-sacrifice. Although born out of a age and culture so far back in time, the Jesus story has such a weight of truth about it that other stories pale into insignificance in the light of this one, evoking, as it does, responses deep within the human psyche. Many of us of a former generation were brought up in our theological formation on books like C.B.Moss' 'Who moved the stone' as answers from various perspectives had to challenge a developing scientific and enquiring society. Our faith in something we all simply took for granted became subject to historic investigation and research. That process has over the years accelerated with new works like 'Jesus the Heretic' and 'Caesar's Conspiracy on the invention of Jesus'. There are many more. As Christians we are constantly being buffeted by much thought-provoking literature. We cannot dodge the onslaught but be ready to testify to our personal understanding of how this Christ-story has made such an impact on us. What is so often forgotten in the academic debate is that the story, powerful in pain and imaginary, is not some narrative with or without historic certainty, but a catalyst of great inspiration and motivation. It leads to many things, the like of which the world has witnessed in the transformation of lives, to the enriching of human beings to fight the darkness of despair and hopelessness. The story is not a tale of ancient history made into a religion; nor is it a cause of ritualistic drama commemorated on altar and pulpit with colour and eloquence. It is something so powerfully embedded in both our culture and consciousness that it bears the seeds of salvation and deliverance. Our worldwide Communion is mandated to make this known. And our Communion is committed to break the oppressive chains which would deny anyone their complete freedom. All that is wonderfully explained in the Constitution. It makes for a Communion truly representative of what is at the heart of true resurrection. May the Risen Christ life be glorified in each one of us this Eastertide.
With love and blessings,
+++Richard Archbishop Primus
England 2018.