The Ven Kathryn Percival: Why Easter is such a big celebration for us all

We've just celebrated Easter – and I wonder what that has meant to you. Chocolate eggs for your household? Spending time with family? Enjoying some sunshine on the Bank Holidays? All of those things are great, and I’m a big fan of them all myself. The emphasis on new life and rebirth does fit in well with the start of Spring. But of course, it means more than that too. Easter is a significant moment for Christians. It actually harks back to Christmas, when we remember God coming to be with us. As Jesus, he becomes a tiny human baby, grows up in a humble family in a remote village, and takes on every human emotion there is. Then, before and on Good Friday, we see how Jesus experiences the darkness of human existence. He goes through real pain and suffering as he is executed on the cross. He dies for all humanity, whether you believe in him or not.

And then – amazingly – he comes back to life again, which we celebrate on Easter Sunday. The fact that he is raised to new life means that we all have that opportunity as well. For me, it helps to know that death is not the end. There are plenty of awful things going on in our world, including what’s happening in the Middle East, in Ukraine, and even sometimes on our doorsteps at home. Easter doesn’t stop those things being horrendous, but it does mean that evil, pain and suffering are not the last word. Not even death is the last word, because life and love will always triumph. So that means Easter is genuinely life-changing. That’s why we celebrate in church on Easter Sunday with amazing flowers, or party-poppers, or fabulous decorations. Churches are often bare on Good Friday to help us to reflect on the genuine grief and sadness at Jesus’s death. But then they are transformed before Easter celebrations. It’s hardly surprising that churches hold Easter egg hunts, or give out chocolate eggs as part of this celebration. We choose to sing joyous worship songs or triumphant hymns. Often new converts choose to be baptised by being dunked right under the water – that’s also a sign of new life. However you celebrated Easter, I hope you know that there are people at your local church, ready to help you with the highs and lows of human existence throughout every day. Find out more on www.portsmouth.anglican.org