An Easter message from the Dean

"The Easter message is one of great hope...love is stronger than death and Jesus' resurrection brings the promise of new life, offered to every single one of us," says the Dean of Norwich, the Very Revd Jane Hedges.

"This week began with those terrible images on our screens of Notre Dame Cathedral on fire, causing shock and dismay not only to the people of Paris and nation of France but to people right across the globe.

A huge task lies ahead for those responsible for the Cathedral as decisions have to be made about its rebuilding and restoration and the raising of funds to carry out this specialised work.

Yet what we have all witnessed in the wake of this disaster is the resilience of the human spirit, our ability to come together when faced with a huge challenge and our capacity to have hope for the future.

The Easter message is one of great hope. Through Holy Week we have tried to walk with Jesus the way of the cross and on Good Friday we entered the depths of despair as we thought about his cruel death. This morning though as we read the accounts of the empty tomb, the message is that his love for the world could not be destroyed – love is stronger than death and his resurrection brings the promise of new life, offered to every single one of us.

So just as Notre Dame Cathedral will rise again from the ashes, Christ is risen and we will rise with him!"