In his Easter sermon today the Rt Rev Kevin Pearson, Bishop of Argyll & The Isles will speak of the two elements of tears – one expressing pain and grief ; the other expressing new life and hope.

“Tears are a great expression of our shared humanity. In Brussels this week many tears are being shed as people attempt to comes to terms with the horror of anger and hate and the selfishness of those who are determined that the world will be as they think it ought to be.

“Brussels this week is a reminder of that first Holy Week when anger and hate and selfishness and religious certainty combined in the attempt to kill all that is best and true in our humanity, which we see in Jesus Christ.

“Tears are sometimes our only way of expressing our pain and grief when, as in Brussels and in many other places across the world, we find ourselves in the midst of things we do not always understand. Yet, the tears which express our pain and grief in the midst of our crucifixion experience, are the same tears that bring hope.

“Tears consist of two elements – water, the sign of cleansing but more especially, the sign of new life and growth; and salt, the salt of the Passover meal, the salt of affliction, pain, grief, guilt, fear.

“Mary Magdalene in the garden on the first Easter day stood weeping tears of pain and grief. Jesus, called her quietly, gently, but confidently by her name, as love calls each one of us. Suddenly resurrection happened. The very tears of grief and affliction became the tears of joy, new life and hope.

“That the people of Brussels are determined that the life of their city should go on, despite the fact that many walk the streets with tears flowing, is the sign that love and hope bring resurrection even, and especially, in the midst of things we do not always understand. Alleluia!”