Brisbane churches reflect on love, power

Queensland church leaders and worshippers at Easter Sunday services have reflected on the nature of hope as it relates to the tragedies of terrorism, domestic violence and sexual abuse.

The Brussels attacks featured in both Catholic and Anglican masses throughout the day, with clergy drawing parallels between the violence they believe Jesus suffered in being crucified and the illegitimate use of violence from terrorists.

The Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, Mark Coleridge, said the strong attendance at his mid-morning service at the Cathedral of St Stephen reflected that Easter was not just a "narrowly-religious" occasion.

"Easter always strikes a chord deep in people's hearts," he said.

"Really Easter is all about hope.

"The one thing human beings can't survive without is hope."

Worshippers at the cathedral said prayers specifically for the victims of the Brussels attacks.

"Jesus was the victim of violence, so all the victims of violence were gathered up in what we did there this morning," he added.

"I would hope people would go away with a strong, deeper and more enduring sense of hope."

Several blocks away at St John's Cathedral in Brisbane, Anglican Archbishop Dr Phillip Aspinall also drew comparisons between the story of the resurrection and modern-day conflicts.

"It was the corrupt use of violence and the illegitimate use of force that put Jesus on the cross, and yet that wasn't the last word," he said.

"The joy of Easter is that the resurrection vindicates a life of love and life of peace over and above the worst that the world can do.

"When we're tempted to strike out in anger or to retaliate violently to violence, Easter says to us there's a much better way."

Dr Aspinall also reflected on the prominence of domestic violence in Australia and child abuse in both the church and indigenous communities.

He said many people turned to faith when looking for ways to cope, but they could also turn against the church when it did the wrong thing.

"My theme this Easter is really the power of love trumping the love of power."