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Good morning. I love this time of year. Each day the darkness retreats further against the unstoppable march of Spring. For so long the winter gloom persisted and now, 10 days or so since British Summer Time began, it feels like there is a gathering momentum of life and light and colour.

But the sun that we now see early in our mornings was not absent whilst hid from our sight. And for many weeks there have been signs of spring even on the darkest days. It is often just a case of knowing where to look. I think of the simple snowdrop, brought to these shores by medieval monks and long cherished as a symbol of the resurrection. For when the earth is black and cold, out comes a radiant bell of white defying the forces of winter.

I think too of the prayer of the Venerable Bede. It’s writ large in gold letters above his tomb in Durham cathedral. In it he describes Jesus as the morning star and the reason, for me, is quite beautiful. Bede was far more than a historian and writer; he was scientist too. He knew the night sky. The morning star is the planet Venus which rises in the same part of the sky as the sun but hours before there is any hint of dawn. So, the night may be as black as midnight and yet for those who know what they’re looking at it’s a sure sign of what’s to follow – that dawn will surely come. Christ is our morning star because those who see his resurrection, have the assurance of hope.

Bright Morning Star, as we approach Easter remind us again of your presence with us in the dark seasons of our lives and help us to lift our eyes to the magnificent hope of your resurrection. AMEN