Sir.-He comes riding on a donkey - words which marked the journey of Jesus to Jerusalem in the final week of His life.

A journey which was to take Him through the loneliness of death to the joy of resurrection and life.

A young donkey: to this day these animals are often ridiculed because of their appearance and apparent stupidity. Why, I wonder, did He come to Jerusalem choosing such a creature as that?

He comes not to seek authority, nor the praise of the crowds which gathered around Him. He comes in humble service.

But many of those who welcomed Him, who sang, who sang "Hosanna", on a Good Friday shouted "Crucify Him".

The other side of the coin of authority and power is often for so many that of fear. Fear and ignorance so easily and more destructively incapacitates people more than any physical illness ever can. The fear of others. The fear of being alone. The fear of being found out. The fear of death.

Easter invites us to live in the freedom of faith and hope and love - a kingdom where power and fear are shown to be worthless coinage. But the only way to break the power of that coin is through sacrificial love.

This is God's Easter and free gift to each of us. But as we receive it for ourselves, He also asks that we will share it with others.

As I have reflected over this past year on what makes me proud of Basingstoke, it is above all else those glimpses of unconditional sacrificial love in quiet lives of service of others which lifts my heart the most.

With my prayers and blessing for a joyful and blessed Easter.

-The Bishop of Basingstoke, the Right Reverend Trevor Willmott.