The lectionary readings for April 2022 are full of rich themes, with Easter falling in the middle of the month. This means for preachers that we can explore the growing tensions in the last days of Jesus’ earthly life – the gospel readings share the anointing at Bethany and the Palm Sunday entry, the Last Supper, arrest and trial, with the crucifixion on Good Friday (15 April). Then, of course, there are the resurrection appearances to Mary Magdalene and to the disciples (with and without Thomas).

It is easy as a preacher to get caught up in the details of the stories, maybe questioning their historical validity. This is useful for theologians, and could be touched on in the pulpit but it is probably not helpful to focus solely on them.

It is also tempting to research and proclaim the various atonement theories (about what the cross and resurrection did or did not achieve). All this would put faith into perspective, but a congregation’s question would still remain: How does all this affect our daily lives? Here are some ideas.

Suffering: Jesus had to bear suffering – physical (the cross), emotional (betrayal, and mockery) and spiritual (the sense of abandonment by God). Can we discern how this links with our own suffering? Members of our congregations may have disabilities, issues with gender, health, unemployment, racism, etc. Does Jesus’ suffering affect how we understand our suffering?

Forgiveness: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). How does Jesus’ ability to forgive what was done to him impact on how we should forgive others and/or recognise that God can and does forgive us?

Victory: Death is not the end, evil does not have the last word. How can we convey this to our congregations in a world which appears to pronounce that death is the end, that evil does prosper?

New Life: What in Te Haahi needs to believe that new life is possible? What in our lives could do with the hope that the promise of new life brings?

What we as preachers need to wrestle with is how to ground the powerful stories of 2,000 years ago into everyday experience. If we can help those who listen to see how these stories and themes become not merely interesting but life-changing for them and their churches then not only will they be helped but God’s reign advanced.

On a personal note I retired at the end of January, and with it a kind of death to my working life of over 40 years. Resurrection for me must help me see that this death brings new life, different opportunities and fresh hope. As I prepare for presidency of Te Haahi, it is not a matter of complete reinvention of who I am but a transformation into a new way of being me. I will be the same but different - a caterpillar parish presbyter will become a beautiful butterfly president. Or something like that. What that means we will all have to wait and see!