ANYONE who watches a certain TV quiz programme knows the specialized meaning of a “Pointless” answer: if you asked 100 people to name items in a certain category, it’s an answer that none of them would give. If you’re ever on the show and you are asked to name a book of the Bible, then I’ve got a hot tip for you: I think Baruch would be a winning answer. He was the scribe of Jeremiah, and his name means ‘blessed’. (And if you think that all Bibles are the same, then I should warn you that they are not, and Baruch is not in all of them – it is deuterocanonical if you want to investigate further…)

He’s on my mind because a reading from Baruch comes up in the main Easter Vigil service in Catholic churches every year – alongside many much-better-known and familiar readings from more famous books of the Bible.

Baruch focuses on God’s relationship with his people, and it has been described as “a book of hope which reveals the transformative power of trusting in God with sincere repentance”.

This is part of its message:

Learn where there is prudence, where there is strength, where there is wisdom, so that you may also know where may be found length of days, and life, where there is light for the eyes, and peace.

Isn’t that lovely? Isn’t it what we would all wish for one another?

The Easter services at all our churches are full of beautiful scripture readings and music - it is the biggest festival of the year for Christians, and a time to celebrate, and also to take stock and to look back on the history of the church.

The Easter Vigil at St Peter’s in Winchester on the Saturday night lasted more than two and a half hours – yes it’s a commitment, but it is a joyful and impressive one, a service that starts with a dark empty church, then the lighting of a fire outside, used to light the Paschal candle. Then the congregation processes into the church, carrying candles, and the light spreads through the church. Next comes a series of readings, starting with Genesis and the creation of the world, and going on through history, including Baruch, right through to the Resurrection of Christ – interspersed with the singing of psalms. We celebrate the risen Lord.

During the service, there was an adult baptism – in many ways just like the baptism of a baby, though obviously the participant was making his own decisions and responses out loud! But much of it is the same, including the most marvellous phrase, one that always hits home and applies to anyone of any age who becomes a Christian: that the newly baptised person will “walk always as a child of the light”.

There are many bad things going on in the world, and we can become fearful and sad about what the future holds. But Easter gives us a chance to renew our selves and our lives, look forwards and upwards, and hope for the light. We are all children of the light, and we should try to remember that, when we are particularly in need of help.

Moira Redmond