“Gentle Jesus, meek and mild” is perhaps one of the most misleading descriptions in all of history! Anyone who tells you that Christians are quiet and submissive has either got the gospels wrong, or is hanging out with Christians who somehow didn’t quite get the message. Christians are not called to be doormats. Instead, we are called to be troublemakers – but of the best kind!

It seems to be so impossible. The whole Easter story is a paradox. Life comes through death, courage from fear, faith out of doubt, reconciliation from betrayal. These terrified men, hiding in a locked room for fear of suffering the same fate as their leader, are suddenly empowered to speak out, sharing the good news of God’s redeeming and reconciling love, shown through the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah – God’s Anointed One, the Christ.

Jesus is gentle with their fear and their doubts, he calls them by name and they recognise him. He helps them to overcome their uncertainty. He restores broken relationships, renews trust, and gives them incredible courage in the face of the world’s incredulity and even ridicule.

This courage is not limited to those first disciples. History is littered with stories of people whose faith in Jesus reshaped their communities, and even sometimes the whole world. In a time when cultural morality was frequently stifling (especially for women and the poor and marginalised) and doing or saying the “wrong” thing could get you excluded and ostracised from your community, the message of freedom, forgiveness, love, and welcome that Jesus brought was a beacon of hope. It is no accident that Christianity usually flourishes most vigorously among those who suffer and struggle.

Over the past few days, I’ve read of increasing attendance at church, and how the cancel culture of today is drawing people back to faith, to a place where there is space for reflection, for understanding of human frailty and growth, and for forgiveness. In an ever more polarised and polarising world, where the tiniest slip (even years back) can cause total loss of reputation and acceptance in society, or where being an outsider means rejection and loneliness, the Church still offers warmth and welcome. God loves us all, forgives us our sins and stupidities, and invites us back into relationship with Himself and one another.

This Eastertide, may God give us the grace to speak this paradox of love and redemption, and to bring Christ’s peace to this warring and divided world.

Revd. Talisker