"For there is always light" - Holy Week reflection from our Executive Director
"For there is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” - The Hill We Climb, Amanda Gorman
During the Catholic Tenebrae service preceding Easter, candles are blown out one by one as the story of Jesus' final week is told. The room slowly descends into darkness as we hear about His arrest in the garden, trial and death before, finally, He dies and is laid to rest.
As the final candle is blown out, so too are our hopes that the world can change. The promises Jesus made are unfulfilled and darkness has overcome. It’s important for us to allow darkness and sadness to stay with us a while so we can properly grieve our losses.
During March we gathered Network of Kindness and Catalyst members together, and talked about the challenges we’re facing. It didn’t take long before conversation turned to the cycle of injustice and poverty that our communities feel trapped in. We talked about how, though the work that those gathered are doing is vital, it only a temporary fix, and long term systemic change is the only way lives will truly improve.
It can sometimes feel like the final candle has been blown or, at best, is flickering in the breeze. It’s right that we acknowledge the feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness that comes with this.
In the words of John’s Gospel though (verses 19:38-42 below), even as the tomb is closed, there is still hope. Nicodemus has used too much myrrh. Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish establishment, has remained in the shadows for much of the story in John’s Gospel but here he finally steps out and demonstrates that he believes Jesus is still the Son of God. A strange thing today if he believes that the burial is the end of the story for Jesus.
In the darkest moments there are still flickers of light. There are still members of our communities who refuse to lose hope in the possibility that the world can change. As they’ve fed the hungry, visited the lonely, welcomed refugees, we have to hold onto the hope that the way the world is, isn’t the way it will always be; that together we can come together, share our experiences and understanding as together we work to see our communities transformed.
James Green, Executive Director, Together Liverpool
