In his Easter message, the Acting Bishop of Carlisle reflects on how God is always at work even when we may feel alone.

The Rt Rev Rob Saner-Haigh, who was filmed at Keswick St John’s church, draws on the quiet of Holy Saturday as being a time when Jesus’ followers would have felt defeated following his crucifixion.

But Bishop Rob continues: “On that Saturday, there appears to be no happy ending, no rescue, no victory. But then, early on the Sunday, Mary, then Peter and John, then others, discover that the tomb is empty. Jesus is Alive! All that he promised, all that he said would happen, has come true. Hope is reborn. Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered!”

In his Easter message, Bishop Rob goes on to touch on the despair people can feel when they feel challenged but don’t feel answered by God.

Bishop Rob reflects: “Even where there is silence, even when it seems that God himself cannot overcome things, Easter reminds us that God is always at work. The love of God cannot be overcome. The promises of God are always reliable. It doesn’t matter who we are, where we have come from, what we have done or even what situation we are in, these promises, this invitation is for us.

“Even when we might think that God is silent or absent, He is still here with us, and death, and pain, and sadness, do not have the last word because of who Jesus is and what He has done.”

To view Bishop Rob’s Easter 2025 message visit the Diocese of Carlisle’s YouTube channel.

Notes to editors

A full transcript of Bishop Rob’s Easter message for 2025 is attached below.

“One of the things that I reflect on in the approach to Easter is that Good Friday seems like an utter defeat and then there is silence. It is not only Jesus who dies on that cross, but all the hopes that his followers had that he was the one who would save the world. Hope seems to die on that cross. And then there is silence. On that Saturday, there appears to be no happy ending, no rescue, no victory.

But then, early on the Sunday, Mary, then Peter and John, then others, discover that the tomb is empty. Jesus is Alive! All that he promised, all that he said would happen, has come true. Hope is reborn. Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered!

We can look at life and feel that hope has drained. We can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the things we experience and see around us. It can feel that God is no longer with us. It can seem that there is total silence, and that our hope is in vain. But, even where there is silence, even when it seems that God himself cannot overcome things, Easter reminds us that God is always at work. The love of God cannot be overcome. The promises of God are always reliable. It doesn’t matter who we are, where we have come from, what we have done or even what situation we are in, these promises, this invitation is for us. Even when we might think that God is silent or absent, He is still here with us, and death, and pain, and sadness, do not have the last word because of who Jesus is and what He has done.

Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed. Alleluia. Happy Easter!”

ENDS

For further information contact Dave Roberts, Diocesan Head of Communications, on 07469 153658 or at communications@carlislediocese.org.uk.