Dear all,
This month we are celebrating the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe, following the devastating years of the Second World War. A number of events take place across the UK to mark this date, including a display of the 30,000 ceramic poppies, which were made in 2014 to remember 100 years since Britain’s involvement in the First World War. While a century-long distance from the events of the Great War was no doubt a remarkable milestone to celebrate, that year, it also became clear how fragile peace was. 2014 was the year which saw the Russian annexation of the Crimean peninsula in Ukraine, which in turn paved the way for Russian military action in the east of Ukraine and then a full-scale invasion in 2022.
This year, as we express our joy over the end of WWII and our gratitude to those who brought peace to this land and to Europe all those years ago, we are aware of Europe’s growing fear of the possibility of a new war, in addition to concerns over other ongoing conflicts elsewhere and global economic challenges.
The war in Ukraine has cast its shadow on all of us in different ways. It certainly marked a ‘before’ and ‘after’ for all Ukrainians, many of whom are now our neighbours here, in this parish. For me personally, everything since 24th February 2022 feels like it is one unending horrible dream. But because of this, in these last three years, perhaps more than before, I have found that the message of Easter seems brighter and almost more tangible. On the day of the Resurrection, the light of Christ shone with miraculous brightness into that darkness that must have felt overwhelming, unbearable and eternal. The helplessness of the disciples after Jesus’ death, the disappointment of those hoping that he was a powerful king who would bring about a new political order, the shock of all who loved him and followed him must have been all-consuming and completely devoid of hope. And yet, amidst this darkness, a light shone, and those who saw it followed. This is the light we too are called to follow, the light that brings victory over all evil. We have seen how it shone to end the darkness of war, and we still remember it every year. Death itself has been defeated by this light, and we can and must have faith that it will shine again, not only in Ukraine but around the world.
Ana