This is a line from my favourite Easter hymn, ‘The strife is o’er, the battle done’, which was also sung at the Requiem Mass for our son Chris 6 ½ years ago.

Leaving our ghost town of Conwy and driving through the wasteland of Llandudno to forage for supplies recently, I began reflecting on C. S. Lewis’ description of hell in his novel ‘The Great Divorce’. He imagines it to be a desolate place of unrelieved loneliness, despair and loss of connection where people move ever further from each other. Sadly, it also seems a good description of these strange, isolating times we are living through because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of us are savouring the slower, quieter pace of life, the chance to read and garden and walk and connect (at a safe distance) with neighbours who now have time to chat. But for many it’s a time of fear, worry, loneliness, boredom, grief and pain.

My husband Bob has had excruciating post-shingles nerve pain for several months. We have felt supported and surrounded by the prayers, love, messages and good wishes of friends and family around the world – as well as the kind, expert care of doctors, nurses, aides, cleaners and pharmacists during and after three weeks in hospital. Nevertheless, it has been a really tiring and challenging time for us both.

What put all this into perspective, as I thought about C. S. Lewis and hell, was also remembering Jesus being forsaken by God, dying in our place, descending to hell and rising from the dead. All this to rescue us all from eternal pain, loneliness, separation and despair. The troubles of our lives pale in comparison with such a great Salvation!!  Or as Saint Paul puts it:-

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”

2 Corinthians 4: 17 New King James Version © Thomas Nelson

“Dydy’n trafferthion presennol ni’n ddim byd o bwys, a fyddan nhw ddim yn para’n hir. Ond maen nhw’n arwain i fendithion tragwyddol yn y pen draw – ysblander sydd y tu hwnt i bob mesur!”

2 Corinthiaid 4: 17 Beibl.net

And as is sung in the Orthodox Service for Holy Saturday:-

‘Going down to death, O Life immortal, thou hast slain hell with the dazzling light of thy divinity. And when thou hast raised up the dead from their dwelling place beneath the earth, all the powers of heaven cried aloud: “Giver of Life, O Christ our God, glory to thee.”’

‘Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgement, but has passed from death to life.
Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”’

‘Meddai Iesu, “Yn wir, yn wir, rwy’n dweud wrthych fod y sawl sy’n gwrando ar fy ngair i, ac yn credu’r hwn a’m hanfonodd i, yn meddu ar fywyd tragwyddol. Nid yw’n dod dan gondemniad; i’r gwrthwyneb, y mae wedi croesi o farwolaeth i fywyd.
Yn wir, yn wir, rwy’n dweud wrthych fod amser yn dod, yn wir y mae yma eisoes, pan fydd y meirw yn clywed llais Mab Duw, a’r rhai sy’n clywed yn cael bywyd.”‘

Prayer
Grant to all who suffer the knowledge of where true healing is to be found.
Heal the hurt and broken bodies, give peace to the troubled minds,
restore hope to the grieved and anxious spirits.
Lead all human sorrow through the pain of the dying Christ
to the joy of his Resurrection. Amen.

Gweddi
Dyro i bawb sydd yn dioddef wybod lle y ceir gwir iachâd.
Gwella gyrff clwyfedig a drylliedig, dyro dangnefedd i feddyliau cythryblus,
adfer obaith i eneidiau trallodus a gofidus.
Trwy boen y Crist a fu farw arwain bob galar dynol
i lawenydd ei Atgyfodiad. Amen.

Click here for previous daily reflections from our Ministry Team.