An Easter message from the Most Reverend Geoffrey Smith,
Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, and Archbishop of Adelaide
Over the past year we have seen a lot of darkness in the world.
We have travelled through the darkness of Covid-19. We have seen the darkness of racism and the darkness of domestic violence and the darkness of gender inequality and the abuse of women.
Thankfully, light has begun to shine on these and other areas. There has been the light of vaccine development, the light of people speaking out, the light of public awareness.
All of this has been very good yet more light is required.
The Christian festival of Easter includes both the death of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. The death which we remember on Good Friday could not hold Jesus down. He became the first to break through death and break its ultimate hold over the whole creation.
In his life Jesus shone light on many areas of the darkness of humanity. He included people who were excluded from their family and community. He healed the sick and cared for the poor. He showed love and acceptance to many who were shunned. He reconnected people with God who loves us all.
At Easter we remember Jesus being the light who shone on the darkness of humanity and who could not be overcome by that darkness.
There is still much to be done to bring light to the world. There is much injustice. There is much poverty, inequality and suffering among many people. But Easter says because of Jesus’ resurrection the darkness won’t win in the end. The light has come, and the darkness has not overcome it.
We can join with the resurrected Jesus by shining light on dark situations, by bringing hope and justice, love and care, so that all people, and the whole creation, may have life in all its fulness – just what God intends.