Easter is late this year, coming as it does in the back end of April, the month in the Northern hemisphere when we finally turn our backs on Winter. There is a fullness to life, expressed so well by the Simon & Garfunkel song ‘April’  

“April, come she will, when streams are ripe and swelled with rain”  

Recent days in England have seen the arrival of the President of the Irish Republic , Michael Higgins, for the first state visit since the establishment of the Irish Republic back in the 1920s. He was received with due regard, in a spirit of welcome and reconciliation after the turbulent years of the Troubles.  

Yet for some, whose lives had been so damaged and hurt by the pain of those years, it was hard to accept that he was here. But then reconciliation is never an easy road to follow. Memories are ever present, the loss of a family member just as keenly felt, the nights still lonely when someone you loved is no longer there.  

After the terror of 9/11, Bruce Springsteen later released an album “The Rising” including a song “You’re missing” One verse tells of such emptiness.  

“Pictures on the nightstand, TV's on in the den
Your house is waiting, your house is waiting
For you to walk in, for you to walk in
But you're missing, you're missing
You're missing when I shut out the lights
You're missing when I close my eyes
You're missing when I see the sun rise
You're missing”  

Yet somehow we have to move on. Carrying the burden of anger, seeking further revenge only serves to maintain the hurt. To see how people in different parts of the world have sought to solve their pain of loss through conflict by extending friendship, is an example to us all.  

The forgiveness of the Father in the mystery that is Easter is there for all of us to experience. The recognition that often we don’t fully appreciate the enormity of our actions was acknowledged in his words from the Cross  

 “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”   

Even forgiving Peter his denial was not too much.  

For after the days of the Triduum, comes Easter.  

Station 15 Resurrection  

Morning,

and first light in the garden,

brings shadows of women moving.

Turning,

they did not recognise

in this Springtime Pasch,

the Nazarene passing over into Galilee . Contained in the finger space

of the morning dawn,

the Resurrected Christ

greets us.

Rabboni,

we did not trust you,

we did not understand.

We thought it was over.

‘No, my people, it has just begun’

Greetings this Easter and let us continually forgive each other

END

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