April 2010

In the summer of 1863 over three days in early July the small town of Gettysburg in southern Pennsylvania changed forever. History simply overtook it. What took place was the decisive battle of the American Civil War between the Confederate forces of the South and the Union army of the North. Around 50,000 men suffered as causalities. On the 19th November that year Abraham Lincoln visited the battle field. The purpose of his visit was to honour the dead and to dedicate the newly laid out Soldiers National Cemetery. In the midst of that event and surrounded by a melee of people the president of what had become the now extended United States of America gave a speech from a soap box. Few took note of that speech on the day. The crowds were moving around and there were many distractions. However what was delivered became a landmark address in our understanding of democracy and freedom. On that day Lincoln predicted mistakenly, "the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here," yet was perfectly accurate when he continued, "but it can never forget what they did here." His speech, considered of little significance that day, has with a broader perspective become a landmark address in history.

As we come to the great events of Holy Week and Easter I suggest that something like this but far greater occurred in relation to Jesus Christ. If present at the time we might simply have seen another criminal suffer an excruciating death. Many in the crowd might well have thought that few will note or remember what was done. Easter day changes that as the tomb is empty and eyewitness after eyewitness testify to the otherwise impossible: God raised Jesus from the dead. This most decisive event in all history has consequences for our lives, values opens up the possibility of a relationship to God: It is for us to find it out.

+Alistair