Happy Easter! From Oxford

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view, even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
- From this morning's reading, 2 Corinthians 5.15

There was a man who dwelt in the east centuries ago,
And now I cannot look at a sheep or a sparrow,
A lily or a cornfield, a raven or a sunset,
A vineyard or a mountain, without thinking of him.
- G.K. Chesterton

Happy Easter!
Alleluia! He is risen!

On a chilled, overcast morning, I walked down High Street, to St. Aldate's, to attend Christ Church Cathedral Matins at Oxford. It was full of people, and after the service, there was a very long queue waiting outside to enter for the next service.

I sat under the stone arched ceilings, tall and reaching toward heaven. The thick, golden robes worn by the clergy rustled and skimmed the floor as they walked. The sermon by the dean was given from the raised, wooden lectern (it requires stairs to get up there) in the centre. I liked several things that he said, but he started by pointing out that the first Easter morning was confusing. Nobody knew what what going on and what to expect. Nobody knew yet what it meant. That just reminds me of God's mysteriousness. We are not going to understand Him, and that is part of our need to trust in Him. The resurrection changed everything, and thus, confused everyone. It is a wonder, really. A deep, confusing wonder why God would want to love us humans. But we are made from that love, so in us dwells that love. He is at the centre of all.

We sang hymns and heard readings from Scripture. The all boys choir of about 32 sang with the most beautiful harmonies. They sang ancient words that resound and sink into me, giving me chills as the "Amen" resounded off the stone.

Glory be the the Father, and to the Son:
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.