Sunday 20 November 2022
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'CHRIST THE KING' SUNDAY
SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE ADVENT LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHRISTIAN YEAR "The Lord is King: let the earth rejoice!" This Sunday (20 November) marks the end of the Christian Year. We now progress into Advent, leading on to the celebration of Christmas. In many branches of the Christian Church, this Sunday is celebrated as 'Christ the King' Sunday, when Christ's authority over all things in heaven and on earth is duly acknowledged and proclaimed - the One in whom "God in all his fullness chose to dwell." (Colossians 1: 19) In the period immediately after World War 1, there arose a profound suspicion of authority, while the inter-war years saw a marked increase in the process of secularisation throughout Europe. For many people, the War itself had shaken or destroyed their faith in God and humanity, and in consequence there was antipathy to religion in general, and to Christianity in particular. In the political sphere, dictatorships were on the rise, while even within the Church, much of traditional Christianity - including the authority of Jesus Christ - was being questioned. In that deeply sceptical age, something was needed to bring Christ back into focus. It is said that 'Christ the King' Sunday started in 1925 as a means of restating the ultimate sovereignty of Jesus Christ over all things, and was soon adopted by the other mainstream Christian denominations. One of the lessons of 'Christ the King' Sunday is that we all live under the most just and gentle rule of Jesus Christ - the One who, according to St. Paul, has "the primacy over all creation." (Colossians 1: 15) When we speak of Christ as King, we are not thinking of some oppressive ruler - a capricious tyrant - but as someone who was prepared to die for us, and whom God raised to the highest place in his presence. The Christ whom the disciples followed here has become the risen, ascended and glorified Lord, to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given. And today, he brings us mercy, truth, love and forgiveness in infinite measure - the healing gifts this wounded world so desperately needs. At this time of war in Ukraine, and when the world seems to have lost all logic and commonsense, and also its spiritual moorings, and when many voices loudly clamour for our attention, it is reassuring to know that 'Christ the King' is our ultimate authority here and hereafter, and that his eternal rule is one of light, love and life. A PRAYER FOR THE DAY Holy God, righteous and merciful, on this 'Christ the King' Sunday, we confess that we have failed to live as if Christ ruled over us, as if Christ inspired us, guided and directed us. "Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways; reclothe us in our rightful mind; in purer lives thy service find, in deeper reverence, praise." Create in us a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within us, that we may walk in Christ's way and live by his truth and his love every moment of our day, and every day of our life; for his name's sake. Amen. THE BLESSING Christ the King make us faithful and strong to do his will, and bring us to reign with him in glory. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us, now and always. Amen. |
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Sunday 13 November 2022
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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY:
A PERSONAL VIEW "At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them." Every year, on Remembrance Sunday, we hear these moving words at war memorials, churches, schools, parade grounds and other locations, where those who gave their lives in two world wars, and where those who have lived and died in the service of mankind, are commemorated. They were penned by the English poet, dramatist and art scholar, Robert Laurence Binyon CH, and come from his poem For the Fallen, written in 1914, when Binyon was on a visit to the cliffs on the north Cornwall coast. These lines, the central part of the poem, are called the 'Ode of Remembrance,' and were first published in The Times in September of that year. Today, they have been claimed as a tribute to all the casualties of war, regardless of nation. On Remembrance Sunday, we hear much about the supreme sacrifice having been made for our 'freedom,' and to enable us to live in a world where 'nation shall speak peace unto nation.' We value our freedom greatly, and we continue with our thanksgiving and remembering, for we have no right to forget. The liberties we enjoy today, and so often take for granted, were bought at a price: at the cost of countless lives. We pray that by remembering the conflicts of the past, we may work for a peaceful future - for us, for our children and for our children's children. In the Old Testament, the prophet Micah (4: 1-5) offers a vision of the world as it might be, a vision that throughout the ages and into modern times has captured the human imagination. It has been said of this passage that it is so evocative in its language and such a powerful expression of human hope, that it has become a classic text. There is no certainty as to whether Micah actually wrote these words - the same passage occurs in Isaiah (2: 2-4) in an almost identical form - but the message of the text is clear: instruments of war will no longer be necessary, as nations will live under God's law of love; the terror of violence and battle will become a thing of the past; and in this new world, nations will live together in harmony, each with its own faith, but Israel with a renewed faith in its one true God. In order to create such a world, we must take our 'freedom' seriously, and we must use it responsibly. All too often, 'freedom' degenerates into licence, and an excuse to do as we please, and not to do as we ought. Most of us do use our 'freedom' aright, and are forever grateful to those who laid down their lives to make it possible. There are others who have debased the very concept of 'freedom,' and have turned liberty into licence, and an excuse to do whatever they please. There is nothing new about this. Writing to the Christians at Galacia, St. Paul reminded them that their Christian freedom gained by the death of Jesus Christ was never a permit to act recklessly and irresponsibly, but a gift of grace to behave in a true Christ-like way. The Scottish philosopher David Hume said that "the corruption of the best things gives rise to the worst." The corruption of 'freedom,' so evident today, gives rise to all kinds of misguided practices and perverse values. It is therefore incumbent on us to use the 'freedom' won for us in a way that honours, and never shames, those who paid for it with their lives. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. Would they, however, wish to remember us? PRAYERS FOR REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY God of power and love, bless our country and commonwealth. Give wisdom and strength to the King, govern those who make the laws, guide those who direct our common life, and grant that together we may fulfil our service for the welfare of the whole people and for your praise and glory. Bless our sailors, soldiers, and airmen. Defend them in danger. Give them courage to meet all occasions with discipline and loyalty. So may they serve the cause of justice and peace, to the honour of your name. Bless our friends and those who were our enemies, who suffered or are still suffering from war. Grant that your love may reach out to the wounded, the disabled, the mentally distressed, and those whose faith has been shaken by what they have seen and endured. Comfort all who mourn the death of loved ones, and all who on this day miss the comradeship of friends. Bless your Church throughout the world. By your Holy Spirit draw the scattered flock of Christ into a visible unity, and make your Church a sign of hope to our divided world. Grant that we who bear your Son's name may be instruments of your peace, bringing peace to our homes, our nation, and our world. And now, rejoicing in the communion of saints, we remember those whom you have gathered from the storm of war into the peace of your presence, and give you thanks for those whom we have known, whose memory we treasure. May the example of their devotion inspire us, that we may be taught to live by those who learned to die. And at the last, grant that we, being faithful till death, may receive with them the crown of life that never fades; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. From: Common Order (Church of Scotland), Edinburgh 1994, 417, 418, 419 THE BLESSING God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest; to the Church, the King, the Commonwealth, and all humankind, peace and concord; and to us and all his servants life everlasting. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and always. Amen. |
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Friday 11 November 2022
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REMEMBRANCE DAY:
A SHORT COMMEMORATION God is our refuge and our strength, a timely help in trouble. Those who look to the Lord will win new strength, they will soar as on eagles' wings; they will run and not feel faint, march on and not grow weary. O God, as we mark this day of national remembrance, fill our hearts with true thanksgiving for all your mercies to us; give us grace to honour the fallen, not only with our lips, but in our lives; and grant us peace in our time; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. The Silence. Silence is kept for two minutes. "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them." We will remember them. In memory of those who died, make us better men and women in our day and generation; and in gratitude to God let us live as those who are not their own but who are bought with a price. Amen Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve: to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing that we do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us, this Remembrance Day and always. Amen. |
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Sunday 6 November 2022
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TRINITY 21
ALL SAINTS' TIDE "Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses... let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us...". In the Christian Year, this is All Saints' Tide - All Saints' Day falling each year on the 1st November. When we think of a saint, we may recall a figure in a stained glass window: a man or woman of outstanding spiritual and moral qualities, whose influence and example have gained them a permanent place in Christian devotion. We may also find a saint depicted in a painting, carving, tapestry or some other object of Christian art. In Reformed thinking, all the faithful are saints. It has been said that saints do not belong exclusively to the past, but are real people in the world today. It is claimed that each of us has known many saints or saintly souls - those who first brought us to faith, those who have encouraged us on our way, those who have provided care, compassion and comfort when most needed, and those who in other ways have sustained us on life's journey. The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews (11: 32-12: 2) thinks of all those who have gone before him. He sees them as occupying a grand stadium, making up an 'unseen cloud of witnesses,' for evermore around us. In other words, like a vast audience in a sports stadium, the saints of old and all the faithful servants of Christ are now unseen witnesses to our performance in this life. This means that our own Christian life is not lived alone. Every moment is lived in the gaze of the heroes of the faith, and of ordinary souls of every age and place who are now part of that 'blest communion, fellowship divine.' With such an audience looking down on us, we cannot possibly fail to go on our way with courage, hope and patience. They cheer us and support us until at last we join them in the presence of Jesus Christ. At All Saints' Tide, we remember and give thanks for those who have gone before us in the Faith, and for countless others, known and unknown, who have touched our lives in many ways, and are now in God's eternal presence. Above all, we remember that we live this life in their company, in fellowship with them and under their watchful gaze. And with an audience like this around us, we may run with perseverance the race of life that lies before us, upheld by those saints and heroes of the past who have now completed their journey. A PRAYER FOR ALL SAINTS' TIDE Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son. Give us grace to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those inexpressible joys which you have prepared for those who perfectly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen. From: Common Order (Church of Scotland), Edinburgh 1994, 690-691 A PRAYER FOR THE WEEK Gracious God, faithful and constant across all the ages: as we pass through this earthly life, encourage us through all who have journeyed before us, that we may encourage those who, in time, come after us; and in our own journey of faith, help us to learn from lives lived for you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING God give us grace to follow the saints in faith, hope, and love. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us, now and always. Amen. |
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Sunday 30 October 2022
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TRINITY 20
CHANGING THE CLOCK In the early hours of this Sunday morning, British Summer Time came to an end, with the clocks set back by one hour This brings with it short days and longer nights as we move closer to winter, a season most certainly to be dominated by concern over rising energy costs and the cost-of-living crisis. Nevertheless, this morning at 2.00 a.m. British Summer Time (BST) ended and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) began. In the Bible, 'time' is an important concept. In the Old Testament, in the Book of Ecclesiastes (3:1) we read that "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven," while the writer goes on to say (3:11) that "He (God) has made everything to suit its time." In the New Testament (Ephesians 5:16), St. Paul tells the Christians at Ephesus to "make the best use of time, because the days are evil." Believers are encouraged to make the most of every moment in God's service, and no one would question this advice. There are many things we can do with time. We can use it, lose it, spend it, waste it - but we can't replay it. We may wish we could set back time by an hour, a day, a month or even years. By so doing, through the gift of hindsight, we could act differently, or consider how events might have turned out had circumstances been different at the time. Unlike the sports programmes on television, where actions are often repeated in slow motion, there is no possibility of replaying time. As the Psalmist (90:4) said: "Yesterday is past." And time is always moving forward. 'If only' is a short phrase in common currency. We use it to express regret, remorse, sorrow and guilt. So many feelings and emotions lie behind these two words, which indicate a desire to turn back the clock of life. Even Jesus might have felt like this when, aware of the death of his friend Lazarus, he arrived at the home three days later, only to receive Mary's stern rebuke: "If only you had come, my brother would not have died." (St. John 11:32) Yesterday is past. And time is always moving forward. Those of us of Christian faith can move forward with confidence, trusting in the grace of God, offered to us in Jesus Christ. By that divine forgiveness, the failures of the past lose their power over us, and set us free to move forward in faith with renewed vigour. As we change the clock, let us continue to "make the best use of time" in God's service. "We must use time wisely and forever realise that the time is always ripe to do right." (Nelson Mandela,1918-2013) Holy God, righteous and merciful, as this new day beckons with its opportunities of pleasing you, we acknowledge our sins and shortcomings and all that is amiss in our lives; for we have so often resisted your will, gone our own ways, and wasted the gift of time you have graciously given to us. Lift us high above our failures; and may your power remake us and shape us into what we ought to be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Almighty and everlasting God, by whose grace we come to this new day: set up your kingdom in our hearts and make us your obedient servants, that we may give our lives to your service and always seek to do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Almighty and ever-living God, God of the morning, God of this new day: give us, we pray, the humility to acknowledge our mistakes; the honesty to recognise our weakness; the courage to seek your strength; and the desire to find our satisfaction in work well done; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. THE BLESSING May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to himself; may the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in his service; may the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls; and may the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with us and abide with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 23 October 2022
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TRINITY 19
A NATION IN TURMOIL When Harold Wilson was Prime Minister in the 1960s, he famously stated that "a week is a long time in politics." By this he meant that much can happen in the short space of a week, and that circumstances can suddenly and radically alter the whole political landscape. In the aftermath of recent events, we could make a minor change to the quote and say that "a day is a long time in politics." In a matter of days, the country has seen the end of the shortest premiership in British history. This turmoil has covered the pages of national newspapers, and has dominated the world's leading broadcasting channels. One headline labelled the outgoing premier as "an embarrassment to the world," and whatever our political sympathies, some of the remarks have been overtly personal. This seems to be the norm in politics today, not only in this country, but in other democracies: the personal has taken over from the political, and exchanging accusations and insults is deemed acceptable. How should we respond to this from a Christian perspective? In his report on Thursday night, Chris Mason, the BBC's political editor, reminded viewers that there is a human dimension to the events of recent days in general, and to the Prime Minister's impending departure in particular. He referred to the certain pain that someone, occupying the highest office in politics, must feel, having to demit office after a few weeks and watch their ambitions end in humiliation and failure. As Christians, this is something we ought to remember: there is a personal dimension to this, and irrespective of our own opinions, we should still remember that there is a human being at the heart of this turmoil. In the great 'hymn of love' at the heart of 1 Corinthians 13, St. Paul describes the enduring qualities of love. In 1 Corinthians 13: 5-6, he says that "Love keeps no score of wrongs, takes no pleasure in the sins of others, but delights in the truth." What the apostle is saying is that love does not store up the memory of any wrong it has received. Further to this, love takes no pleasure in the mistakes that others have made, or in their downfall. If we are truthful, there are times when a malicious pleasure comes to us when we hear something derogatory about someone else, or when personal misfortune strikes a friend or foe. Christian love has no place for the kind of human malice that comes on hearing or seeing something unpleasant afflicting someone else. We have to reject the "serves them right" response. In one of the BBC's Reith Lectures, a former Archbishop of York (John Habgood) referred to our society as "a culture of contempt." He argued that contempt for other people has become normal in public debate. Opponents are demonised and debate not only centres round opinions, but on the personalities who express them. This has downgraded public discourse to a vocal slanging match, and turned many away from discussion and debate. This is an affront to our democracy and gives no credit to our professed Christianity. Whatever we make of the late Archbishop's thinking, it is true to say that nowadays something of "a culture of contempt" has flourished, with a wry delight in the downfall of others -especially public figures - aided and abetted by the media and by the lack of respect for persons that underpins our society. In several parables, Jesus makes it clear that the self-righteous are the furthest from God, and that authentic Christian love has no place for malicious pleasure in another's downfall. A leading psychologist has argued that contempt is the most damaging emotion, because it poisons relationships, invalidates others and can create 'psychological carnage.' For the Christian, contempt is a vice, not a virtue. By the grace of God, let us work and pray to transform any hint of "a culture of contempt" into "a culture of compassion" - a culture where forgiveness, understanding and respect for others flourish in abundance. As Michelle Alexander, the American writer and activist warns us: "As a society, our desire to heap shame and contempt upon those who struggle... says far more about ourselves than it does about them." "Wrongs are often forgiven; but contempt never is. Our pride remembers it forever." (Lord Chesterfield 1694-1773, British statesman and diplomat) A PRAYER FOR THE PRESENT TIME Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is discord, vision. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and that it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Source unknown: Attributed to Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) THE BLESSING The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. AMEN. |
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Sunday 16 October 2022
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TRINITY 18
EXCUSES! EXCUSES! These days it is not difficult to avoid doing something, or going somewhere, by inventing an excuse. In this practice, we are experienced and highly-skilled. Few of us heed the words of George Washington that "It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one." In St. Matthew's Gospel (22: 1-14), Jesus tells a parable about a wedding feast, arranged by a king for his son's wedding. Today, we often send out 'Save the Day' cards well in advance of the marriage ceremony. This was the custom in Jesus's day. The king's servants went round all the guests, giving them details of the celebration. On the day of the marriage, the king sent his servants round the guests once more to summon them to the ceremony. On this occasion, the king was badly let down. The invited guests refused to come. The servants were sent out again to plead with them to accept the king's invitation, but still they refused to come. They snubbed the king's command and some trotted out excuses for failing to accept the wedding invitation. One of them was too busy attending to his property, his farm, while another said he had business to attend to. Their excuses may have seemed perfectly legitimate, but the king expected the invited guests to sit at his dining table. When they refused the royal summons, the king was furious and pronounced punishment on them. The servants were then ordered to go out into the streets and bring anyone they could find to the royal banquet. This parable warns us how easy it is for us today to be so wrapped up in our own concerns that we disregard what God requires of us. We are so taken up by 'the business of time,' that we disregard 'the business of eternity.' As a result, we miss out on things that are of supreme worth and lasting value. By refusing the king's command to attend the wedding feast - the king in the story is God himself - these guests, by proffering all kinds of excuses, may have missed out on something special - perhaps a lifetime opportunity they would always carry in their hearts and minds. Their worldly business was much more important than God's demands. If we decline an invitation from God in Jesus Christ to undertake some task, like these guests, we may well miss out on a unique experience, only to regret it. When the king (God) summons us to serve him, how do we respond? With a well-rehearsed excuse? Or with wholehearted obedience? "There is a world of difference between an excuse and a legitimate reason to explain why something has been done, has not been done, or will not be done." (Howard Ridley, American philosopher) A PRAYER FOR THE DAY God of all grace, without whom we can do nothing as we ought: increase in us today the love of your name, and enable us with all creation, and without excuse, to praise and worship you every moment of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR THE WORLD Almighty God, creator of the world, and of us, your creatures in it: have pity on the world of our day, fragile, and bitterly divided, torn apart by violence and strife, by poverty, want, and disease, and by countless difficulties, outwith our means to resolve. Take this world into your care, and help us live in such a way that our worship is sincere, and that our lives express your purpose of love around us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all. Amen. |
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Sunday 9 October 2022
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TRINITY 17
A WORLD IN CRISIS In these Autumn days, we cannot ignore the truth that we live in a world in crisis. The war in Ukraine rages, while escalating energy costs throughout Europe are impacting on many people, struggling hard to make ends meet. We hear of businesses that may collapse under the strain, and of a health service which is increasingly unable to cope. A cost of living crisis confronts us, and national leaders and politicians are deeply divided over how this depressing situation ought to be addressed. What do we do about this? Is there any tactic we can undertake in the chaos around us? Or must we simply accept things as they are and resign ourselves to inaction? In the New Testament, much is said about the Christian's responsibility to the state, and St. Paul makes it clear that no one in the Church is exempt from obligations to rulers and others in high office. "First of all, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for sovereigns and for all in high office." "Such prayer is right, and approved by God our Saviour." (1 Timothy 2: 1-3) Every Christian has an obligation to pray for those in high office, since the civil powers have been ordained by God for the benefit of his people. The duty to pray for our leaders and representatives is an essential part of the debt we owe to the state, whether it is Christian or pagan, religious or religiously indifferent, and even anti-religious. It still applies where the civil authorities are just or unjust and must be taken seriously. Prayer for those in authority does not mean that we agree with their policies; nor should it imply flattery or subservience to their position in society. To pray for those in authority is to bring before God those on whom the high responsibility of government is laid, in the faith that they will use their office worthily and only for the good of the people committed to their charge. It is more usual these days to look on our leaders and representatives with contempt, but this does not excuse us from our Christian duty to pray for them, in the hope that they may be conscious of their role as ministers of God and agents of Christ's kingly rule. Our world is in crisis. We worship, work and express our Christian faith in an age of crisis. In the chaos of our day, it is incumbent on us to pray "for sovereigns and for all in high office," for, as St. Paul reassures us: "Such prayer is right, and approved by God our Saviour, whose will it is that all should find salvation and come to know the truth." (1 Timothy 2: 1-4) As citizens of a modern democracy, the least we can do is to pray for those who exercise authority over us, knowing that doing so is not an option to be treated casually, but a duty to be taken seriously. The late President John F. Kennedy once famously said: "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." To pray for those in high office, in a world in crisis, is surely a priority and a beginning. O God, whose kingdom stretches forth to all corners of the earth: teach us each new day to pray for our leaders, and those in authority over us; that they may always be mindful that they are your ministers and agents, and servants of Christ's kingly rule; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR ALL IN AUTHORITY Lord of our life and God of our salvation, we ask your blessing on all that is best about us, and your forgiveness for anything that has fallen short of the greatness of the past, the hopes of the present, and the call to higher things in the future. Guide those who direct the affairs of this world/nation/community. Sustain them in their work, support them in their anxieties, and strengthen them in their resolve to seek and pursue the well-being of all the people Give them joy in their service, due pride in their successes, and the approval of a good conscience in all their endeavours. And so work among us by your good and kindly Spirit, that our world/nation/community may be renewed in beauty and order, in happiness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. From: Common Order (Church of Scotland), Edinburgh 1994, 480-481 (adapted) THE BLESSING May the grace of Christ attend us, the love of God surround us, the Holy Spirit keep us, this day and for ever. AMEN. |
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Sunday 2 October 2022
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TRINITY 16
A THOUGHT FOR HARVESTIDE "The land has yielded its harvest. God, our God, has blessed us." Of the Seven Deadly Sins, it has been said that "pride" is by far the worst. By "pride" we are not thinking of a natural pride in our work, in our family and friends, or in something we have made or achieved. By "pride" we mean an attitude of mind that compels us to see ourselves as the "master of all things," convincing us that we can achieve anything if we apply our minds to the task. This way of thinking leads to the arrogant assumption that everything we have is the outcome of our own hard work, and entices us to look snobbishly on those who are not so successful. In the Book of Deuteronomy (8: 7-18), Moses addresses the people of Israel, who are about to enter the "Promised Land." This is a rich and prosperous land that God has given to them, and Moses reminds them, in no uncertain terms, that they have not achieved their worldly wealth entirely by their own efforts. They must not become conceited, or puffed up with pride, in the mistaken conviction that their own efforts have gained them the prosperity which this land offers. They must always remember the Lord their God. Their affluence, their success in life must never cause them to neglect the worship of the God of Israel, and lead them to think that they can get on in life without him. God is their "Good Provider," and it is to him that they owe an infinite debt of gratitude for their success in the land he has given to them. At Harvestide, Moses is reminding us that we are all ultimately dependent on God for everything that we have, and that we cannot claim complete credit for our talents, not even for our ability to work hard to achieve our level of success. Like the ancient Israelites, we must remember the Lord our God, and not, by the sin of misplaced pride, neglect or reject him. Our Harvest produce is a reminder that all things come from God, that "all good gifts around us (whatever they are) are sent from heaven above", and that our frame of mind should not be one of hardened pride, but of profound gratitude to the "Good Provider," whose generosity never falters or fails. "Remember the Lord your God." We ought to do this, not only at Harvestide, but every day of our life. O Lord our God, as we celebrate Harvestide, help us to remember that we have not gained this produce entirely by our own efforts, but that all things come from you, and to you alone we owe thanksgiving and praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Gracious God, as we celebrate Harvestide, we give thanks for keeping your promise that as long as the earth remains seedtime and harvest shall never cease. We give thanks for the order of nature, for the beauty of the earth, and sky, and sea, and for all good things around us that come from you, our good provider; but most of all, for the riches of your grace, beyond number and without price, brought to us in Jesus Christ. Make us truly thankful for these and for all your gifts, and may we show forth our gratitude, not only in prayer, but by the way we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A HARVEST PRAYER Gracious God, as we celebrate Harvestide, we pray for those less fortunate than ourselves: for the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the oppressed; for those overwhelmed by disease or other disaster; for those whose crops have failed,; and for all those who lack the necessities of life; that you may enable us to share from our abundance with those who live in need, and cry for help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING May the grace of Christ attend us, the love of God surround us, the Holy Spirit keep us, at Harvestide and for ever. Amen. |
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Sunday 25 September 2022
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THE PRESBYTERY OF AYR 1581-2022
At the General Assembly in October 1580, a draft plan was put forward to set up Presbyteries throughout Scotland, a plan that was discussed at the next General Assembly in Glasgow, held on the 20th April 1581. At this Assembly, it was resolved to establish Presbyteries in various places, such as Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Perth and Ayr, - in 1581 the new Presbytery of Ayr had 24 parishes, served by 11 ministers and 7 readers. Since then, Ayr Presbytery has functioned as an instrument of Christian mission and Church administration, its records making comments on many significant events, ranging from the Jacobite rebellions to two World Wars. The last ever meeting of Ayr Presbytery will take place on Tuesday, 27th September 2022, at Ayr St. Leonard's Church, when more than 400 years of history will come to a close, as the Presbytery is absorbed into the new Presbytery of South West Scotland. This will cover an area stretching from Skelmorlie to Gretna, and inland to Muirkirk, Moffat and Lockerbie. It is hoped that this much larger Presbytery will continue to glorify God and strengthen Christ's Church in an age of constant challenge and change. It is with profound gratitude that we now remember all those from Kirkmichael and Straiton parishes who have served Ayr Presbytery so faithfully over the years of its existence. The first meeting of the new Presbytery is on Saturday, 1st October 2022 at St. Marnock's Church in Kilmarnock. TRINITY 15 THE GIFT OF EXPERIENCE "There are many truths of which the full meaning cannot be realised until personal experience has brought it home." John Stuart Mill 1806-1873 English Philosopher On Tuesday night - 27th September 2022 - the last meeting of the Presbytery of Ayr will take place, before it is subsumed into the new Presbytery of South West Scotland. One observer has summed up this major amalgamation with characteristic brevity: "Call it an experience!" How do we understand "experience?" As a help? Or a hindrance? In St. Mark's Gospel (8: 1-21), Jesus and his disciples are on a boat, crossing over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. However, they have forgotten to bring bread with them. Jesus is warning them about the Pharisees and King Herod, noting the evil influence that each might have on them. They ought to have been listening, but all they can think and speak about, fearing that they might starve, is the fact they have no food with them. Jesus saw their obsession with this, and reminded them that only a short time before, he had satisfied the hunger of a large crowd (4000) - with enough food to spare. It was as if Jesus, reminding them of this scenario, was pointing out that "experience" hadn't taught them a lesson, and that in their present circumstances, they didn't trust Jesus enough to help them. Do we see "experience" as an educator? Or, like the disciples on that vessel, do we glibly dismiss it as having no relevance? The lessons of "experience" do slip through our minds, and we repeat the mistakes of the past. But there are those "experiences" that have had a positive and lasting effect on us, and we have learned much from them. Sometimes we are like these disciples, and forget that God in Christ, having safely brought us thus far, will continue to sustain and support us. God has given to each of us what a poet once called "the everlasting freshness of experience." This is a gift from which we may learn and grow. And there are times when we should thank God for the lessons "experience" has taught us. "Experience" should be our teacher, our God-given educator. That is what the disciples forgot. That is what we should remember. How, then, do we understand "experience?" As a help? Or a hindrance? Gracious God, in whom we live and move and have our being: grant that through the gift of experience, we may learn the lessons of the past, and put our whole trust only in you, our rock and our redeemer; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR THE WEEK Almighty God, Creator and Lord of all things, as we continue on our earthly journey, teach us to be creative in our lives, and to bring about things worthwhile, for our own good, and for the good of all; and make us creators of goodness every moment of our day, that in a troubled world, we may be bearers of light and grace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to himself; may the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in his service; may the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you and abide with you always. Amen. |
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Sunday 18 September 2022
TRINITY 14
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
1926 - 2022
A LIFE IN SERVICE
At this present time, the country is mourning the loss of a much-loved Queen - the longest reigning monarch in British history - who passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire on Thursday, 8th September 2022, at the grand age of 96 years. The state funeral will take place tomorrow, following a period of national mourning in which people from all walks of life have paid their respects, testifying to the outstanding measure of esteem and affection in which she was held.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was not born to be Queen, but came to the role through unforeseen family circumstances. Throughout the 70 years of her exceptional reign, she became not only a national figure but a world leader - a source of light and fountain of wisdom to millions beyond our shores - a voice of jubilation in times of triumph, and a voice of steadfastness and calm in times of tragedy, trial and testing. In all the massive changes which have taken place since her accession to the throne in 1952, the Queen remained a constant presence and pillar of stability - a rock on which presidents, politicians and countless others would lean for guidance and grace.
A country lady at heart, Queen Elizabeth had a genuine love of rural life and a profound sympathy with its traditions. She had an unwavering love for Scotland: for its institutions, its Church and its people. Though usually pictured in a formal role, she was gifted with a lively sense of fun and humour, and with a well-informed mind, which, we understand, she retained to the end.
Most of all, Queen Elizabeth was a much-loved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, held in much affection by her immediate and wider family. To those who never knew her in a personal way, she was someone whose warm presence gave the impression that she was known to you. She was always there, bringing together people of all classes and creeds, while remaining aloof from the cut-and-thrust of party politics.
Throughout these 70 years, our Queen was sustained by her strong Christian conscience and convictions, and though she reached out and welcomed people of all faiths and none, she never compromised her Christian stance in order to do so.
She also saw herself as a servant-ruler, showing us how a life of public service "is the rent we pay for our room in this life." In Romans 12: 1-2, St. Paul pleads with his readers to offer and present their very selves to God, as a living, consecrated sacrifice, well-pleasing to him. In modern parlance, the apostle is pleading with us to take all the tasks that we have to do every day - the ordinary work of the office, the farm, the field, the factory, the shop, the home, the garden - and make it an offering of worship to God. Real worship is the offering of our everyday life to God, not simply the part that we do in church.
As King Charles III succeeds his beloved mother on the throne, and as we pray God's blessing on him, let us remember the lifelong service given by Her Late Majesty; and let that inspire us to offer and present everything we do for the glory of God - and for the glory of God alone!
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
1926 - 2022
A LIFE IN SERVICE
At this present time, the country is mourning the loss of a much-loved Queen - the longest reigning monarch in British history - who passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire on Thursday, 8th September 2022, at the grand age of 96 years. The state funeral will take place tomorrow, following a period of national mourning in which people from all walks of life have paid their respects, testifying to the outstanding measure of esteem and affection in which she was held.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was not born to be Queen, but came to the role through unforeseen family circumstances. Throughout the 70 years of her exceptional reign, she became not only a national figure but a world leader - a source of light and fountain of wisdom to millions beyond our shores - a voice of jubilation in times of triumph, and a voice of steadfastness and calm in times of tragedy, trial and testing. In all the massive changes which have taken place since her accession to the throne in 1952, the Queen remained a constant presence and pillar of stability - a rock on which presidents, politicians and countless others would lean for guidance and grace.
A country lady at heart, Queen Elizabeth had a genuine love of rural life and a profound sympathy with its traditions. She had an unwavering love for Scotland: for its institutions, its Church and its people. Though usually pictured in a formal role, she was gifted with a lively sense of fun and humour, and with a well-informed mind, which, we understand, she retained to the end.
Most of all, Queen Elizabeth was a much-loved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, held in much affection by her immediate and wider family. To those who never knew her in a personal way, she was someone whose warm presence gave the impression that she was known to you. She was always there, bringing together people of all classes and creeds, while remaining aloof from the cut-and-thrust of party politics.
Throughout these 70 years, our Queen was sustained by her strong Christian conscience and convictions, and though she reached out and welcomed people of all faiths and none, she never compromised her Christian stance in order to do so.
She also saw herself as a servant-ruler, showing us how a life of public service "is the rent we pay for our room in this life." In Romans 12: 1-2, St. Paul pleads with his readers to offer and present their very selves to God, as a living, consecrated sacrifice, well-pleasing to him. In modern parlance, the apostle is pleading with us to take all the tasks that we have to do every day - the ordinary work of the office, the farm, the field, the factory, the shop, the home, the garden - and make it an offering of worship to God. Real worship is the offering of our everyday life to God, not simply the part that we do in church.
As King Charles III succeeds his beloved mother on the throne, and as we pray God's blessing on him, let us remember the lifelong service given by Her Late Majesty; and let that inspire us to offer and present everything we do for the glory of God - and for the glory of God alone!
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THE BLESSING
God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest; to the Church, the King, the Commonwealth, and all mankind, peace and concord; and to us and all his servants life everlasting. And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us all. AMEN. |
Floral Tributes at Balmoral
Photograph courtesy of Christine Welsh
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Sunday 11 September 2022
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TRINITY 13
AUTUMN THOUGHTS The shorter days, longer nights, falling leaves and changing colours are a sure and certain sign that autumn is approaching - the season sandwiched between summer and winter, and often praised for its stunning beauty. Autumn has been called "a season of transition," a time of change between one part of the year and another. If autumn is "a season of transition," it has been said that the world is passing through a period of transition and turmoil. Everything around us seems so insecure: in Church and nation, and in international affairs. The state of our own country, with the cost of living crisis, escalating energy costs, ongoing industrial unrest, and a war in Ukraine are only some of the emergencies causing many to feel fearful of the future. It was recently said in a news report that "after a summer of chaos, we now face a winter of discontent." And, of course, overshadowing these crises is the death of HM Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral, a lady whose passing is mourned at home and across the world, and whose whole life has been an inspiration to so many. This could also lead to major changes: it certainly reinforces the view that this autumn is "a season of transition." What is the Christian's response to this? In this rapidly-changing world, it is reassuring to know that God remains constant. God does not change. His fundamental nature and character remain the same. Henry Francis Lyte, who wrote Abide With Me, said in verse two that Change and decay in all around I see. We can agree with this. It is easy to see change all around us - much of it positive, but much of it also negative, with the decay of moral, spiritual and social values, and the removal of landmarks and boundaries, once hailed as the linchpins of humanity. The truth is: we live in an ever-changing world, but God does not change. As Malachi puts it in the Old Testament (3:6), "I, the Lord, do not change," while in the New Testament (Hebrews 13:8), Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God's character, is said to be "the same yesterday, today, and for ever." God does not change, even if all else changes. Our need for God does not change. Whatever life brings, we still need the grace, the love, the forgiveness of God granted to us in Jesus Christ. We still need that peace which the world cannot give, and the light that earthly shadows cannot darken. It is deeply ingrained in the modern mind that "man is the master of his own destiny." It is true that mass technology allows us to organise our lives in a sophisticated way, and chart our daily journey with little or no divine assistance. Yet the pandemic has shown that when an aggressive virus breaks out, with mayhem in almost every country, mastery of our own destiny is far from complete. Our need for God has not changed. Indeed, it is greater, for there are now many things over which we have no control. In such circumstances, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble." (Psalm 46) Only he remains a safe and solid anchor for the troubled soul. Throughout her seventy-year reign our Queen was well aware of this. She never kept her Christian convictions private, and was warm and welcoming to people of other faiths, and to those of no faith. She knew her need for God from an early age, and relied on his grace to discharge her duties every day of that reign. Her faith was, in her own words, the rock on which she would lean, and the well from which she would draw. Autumn has almost arrived - "a season of transition and change" - bridging one part of the year with another. At this time of change, and in a world where change is constant, let us remember that God does not change, nor does our need for him. So may we continue to live in his eternal changelessness! A PRAYER FOR THE DAY Gracious God, full of grace and truth, as we come to the season of autumn, a time of transition and change, we confess that we have not put our whole trust in you, nor have we always recognised our constant need for you.... Therefore, grant us your forgiveness and the grace of a new beginning; and in these changing times and seasons may we put our confidence only in you, and in him whom time cannot change, your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. A PRAYER FOR THE NATION Lord God of the nations, as we approach the autumn of the year, bless every effort now being made to make the world a better, and a safer place. Forgive our share in the world's pain; and root out from every heart all that causes needless suffering. Bless our new King, Charles, that he may rule over us with your favour. Bless our new Prime Minister, that we may be led wisely and well, and always according to your gracious will and wisdom. Preserve us as a nation, and as a people, from all that is dishonest and degrading, and grant us your peace in our time; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all. Amen. A special message following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) will be put on to the website shortly. |
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Sunday 4 September 2022
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TRINITY 12
DREAMERS AND DREAMS: THE NEED FOR OUR DAY "Summer suns are glowing over land and sea; happy light is flowing bountiful and free; now the days are shortening, darker nights drawing on - autumn's now approaching, summer's dream has gone." This parody of the first verse of William Walsham Howe's fine hymn reminds us that we have moved from summer into what is, from a meteorological point of view, autumn. A glance at the countryside shows that the first signs of autumn are starting to appear, with the gentle shedding of some leaves from the trees. We can softly say that "summer's dream has gone" for another year. Dreams are important in the Bible. In 1 King 3: 4-15, we find that God comes to King Solomon in a dream. Solomon has just succeeded David, his father, on the throne of Israel. Apart from some moral misdemeanours, David has, generally speaking, been a successful ruler, and Solomon wants to be successful as well. In a dream, Solomon has an encounter with God, and at the start of his reign, he asks God for the gift of wisdom to enable him to rule well. God is delighted with Solomon's request and grants it. In Scripture, dreams are often the means through which people have an encounter with God. Jacob, Abraham, Samuel, Isaiah, Jesus, the disciples and Paul are among those who have a life-changing encounter with God in a dream. We can add Joseph to the list, being informed of Mary's pregnancy in a dream. We think of dreams differently, and rarely, if ever, do we regard them as a means through which God communicates with us. Rather, we ascribe to dreams some psychological significance - perhaps an expression of the unconscious mind. Dreams may indicate stress, anxiety, guilt, regret or some other emotional issue, rather than a means of God's self-disclosure. Whatever the case, this world still needs its dreamers and its dreams. Indeed, almost everything with which we are familiar started as a dream, a vision, an idea in someone's mind. Someone had a dream, and "the dream became flesh." The universe we inhabit, and all the created world within it, started as a dream, an idea in the mind of God. According to the Genesis account of creation, this is also true of mankind and every living creature. God made mankind in his own image and every living creature on the face of the earth. In a word: God had a dream and fulfilled it. All the great social, scientific, economic and cultural progress of the centuries started as a vision - as a dream that morphed into reality. The places in which we worship were once an idea, a dream in someone's mind, brought to life by craftsmen, masons and others, and maintained by succeeding generations. If we think about it carefully, almost everything started as a dream, a vision, an idea rooted in someone's mind. This world still needs its dreamers and its dreams. In 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King gave his famous 'I Have A Dream' speech before a quarter of a million people in Washington, DC, pleading for racial equality, and changing forever the course of American and world history. Nearer home, the Scottish physician and pharmacologist, Sir Alexander Fleming, dreamed of producing an antibiotic substance that would revolutionise medicine. In 1928 the dream became reality, as penicillin, or a form of it, was born. In Biblical times, dreams were important. They were often regarded as a means of encounter with God, through which God sent special messages. We interpret them differently today. But the world still needs its dreamers and its dreams. More Christ-focussed dreamers with Christ-focussed dreams would be a blessing to all of us - especially in this age of insecurity and increasing uncertainty. "Blessed are those who dream dreams; for they shall not be disappointed." (Anonymous) A PRAYER FOR TODAY Most gracious God, you created the world and all that is in it from an idea formed in your mind. Bless this world with dreamers and dreams, that by their visions they may make this place a happier, safer home for all; and in all our creative activity be our inspiration and our guide; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR AUTUMN O God, by whose grace the seasons change and the order of time runs its course: as we quietly move from summer into autumn, guide our thinking, our living and our praying, that we may discern your will, follow your way, and receive your holy blessing at all times; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING May the love of the Father enfold us, the wisdom of the Son enlighten us, the fire of the Spirit inflame us; and may the blessing of God rest upon us and abide with us, now and evermore. Amen. |
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Sunday 28 August 2022
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TRINITY 11
THE MINISTRY OF DISTANCE The summer months are almost, but not quite at an end. Perhaps more than in any other year, we have felt the need to have loved ones around us: people we have been unable to visit or socialise with due to pandemic restrictions. We may have used the glorious days of summer to re-engage with them, and feel more secure in their company, now that restrictions are more or less abolished. There are times in life when we need the closeness of family and friends. In times of anxiety or difficulty, we value the company of those who willingly and cheerfully uplift and support us. John Donne, the English poet, scholar, soldier and Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London (1621-1631) famously stated that "no man is an island" - we all need human contact and are dependent on one another. Jesus was well aware of this human need for closeness. Throughout his ministry, Jesus used closeness as a pastoral tool, getting close to people as a means of helping and healing them, and of restoring their dignity and worth. Jesus got close to Nicodemus who, burdened with questions, came to him secretly by night. We see closeness in the conversation Jesus has with the woman from Samaria, whom he met at the well of Sychar; and we see it in his meeting with Zacchaeus, the hated tax-collector, whom he ordered to come down from a sycamore tree so that he might be a guest in his house. There are also times in life when people do not need closeness but distance. In other words, there are occasions when people need what we call "space," and when the "ministry of closeness" is not appropriate. In St. Luke's Gospel (18: 18-30), there is the story of a rich ruler, unable to meet the demands of discipleship because of his trust in his "great possessions." In this context, the term "ruler" might refer to a local magistrate, public official or civil servant, or even an officer in the Jewish synagogue. What is significant in the various versions of this story is that Jesus respected the man's decision to walk away. Jesus made no effort to try and persuade or cajole him into discipleship, not did he even engage in debate or discussion. Jesus "warmed" to the man, but let him go, wholly respecting his decision.. This man needed "space" to reassess his priorities in the light of what Jesus had told him. The "ministry of distance" was the better option. There are times in our life when we need not closeness but distance. There are times in our life when we need "space." When something unexpectedly comes our way that requires serious thinking, the closeness of other people, however well-intentioned, may become a distraction, rather than a solution. In truth, we all need "space" at one time or another in our lives - times when we need to get away from everything and from everyone, and not feel constrained by the closeness of others. Jesus was well aware of this. In this public ministry, he knew when it was appropriate for the "ministry of closeness" and the "ministry of distance." The question is: do we? O God, by your Spirit of wisdom, give us grace to discern when closeness or distance is the better option, so that we may give others the space they need to reflect, and not distract them by our well-meaning proximity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR THE WEEK O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining and whose love we cannot comprehend: we give thanks that in your loving kindness you have safely brought us to another week. May each new day bring its opportunities of pleasing you and of serving you, and may all that we think and say and do bring blessing to us, to others and to you, our Lord and our God; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. A PRAYER FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD Almighty and eternal God, creator of the world, and of us, your creatures in it: have mercy on our broken and divided world, torn apart by conflict and strife, by poverty, want and disease, and by so many other problems, beyond our understanding to resolve. Take this world into your care and keeping; bring peace to Ukraine and to every place where the love of power corrupts and destroys; and help us to be beacons of hope and bearers of light, even in earth's darkest place; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. THE BLESSING The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us, now and for evermore. Amen. |
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Sunday 21 August 2022
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TRINITY 10
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED Tales of the Unexpected was a series of stand-alone dramas drawn from the short stories of Roald Dahl, and broadcast on British television from 1979-1988. Each episode told a particular story, often with an unexpected twist ending. The story in Ecclesiastes 9:14-16 is a tale of the unexpected. We are told that a small town or city was under the threat of siege from a powerful king and its destruction imminent. From among the citizens, there came a poor wise man; and this man, by his wisdom, delivered the city from destruction. What we have here is someone who, by their 'savvy', perhaps through some shrewd advice, saved the town or city from its enemies, only to be forgotten later by ungrateful people. What a tale of the unexpected! The small town or city did not owe its survival to a political figure, or to a military strategist, or to an expert in logistics. It owed its rescue to a poor little wise man: a man of little or no importance in the eyes of the civic and military authorities, and a man of limited means. The most unlikely person appeared at the most unlikely moment to save the town. He is someone about whom we might have asked, 'Who does he think he is?' What we have is a classic tale of the unexpected. Great achievements have often come from the least likely of people at the most unlikely of moments. John Logie Baird, son of the minister of St. Bride's Church, Helensburgh, waded through waves of ill-health to share in the invention of mechanical television. Louisa Jordan, a young nurse from Maryhill, Glasgow, served as a medic in WW1 and succumbed to typhus in 1915 at the age of 36 years. She is still hailed a hero in Serbia for her medical care, while her humble Glasgow origins were recognised in the naming of the Louisa Jordan Hospital during the pandemic. For the last two years and more, researchers worldwide have been busy collaborating in the search for vaccines for COVID-19 and its variants. The initial vaccine came to us quickly -designed by scientists over a weekend; and it came in months, rather than years. Beyond doubt, another tale of the unexpected - for the vaccine was available for our protection long before its anticipated time. Each of us has experienced a tale of the unexpected at some point in our lives. Perhaps it took the form of an unforeseen event. Or it might have been an instance of someone coming to our support - the least likely of persons at the least likely of times. This should not surprise us. The salvation of the world was wrought by Jesus of Nazareth, son of Joseph, a carpenter, and Mary, a young country woman. "Is this not Joseph, the carpenter's son?" - some said sneeringly of Jesus in his public ministry. "What good can come out of Nazareth" - others said snobbishly. On the Cross, the least likely of persons reconciled the human race to God, and paved the way to eternal life. All this from a carpenter or craftsman's son. An incredible tale of the unexpected. A poor, little wise man, saved a city from ruin and went away unacknowledged. Never decry a tale of the unexpected. History is replete with them. The world was redeemed by one of them. Indeed, we must always live in expectation of them. "To expect the unexpected shows a thoroughly modern intellect." (Oscar Wilde) A PRAYER FOR THE DAY Almighty and merciful God, you are more ready to hear than we to pray, and you give more than either we desire or deserve. Pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy. Forgive us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and give us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, save through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. From: Common Order (Church of Scotland), Edinburgh 1994, 459-460 THE BLESSING God the Holy Trinity make us strong in faith, and hope, and love; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 14 August 2022
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TRINITY 9
WITH ALL OUR MIND Very soon, the summer holidays come to an end for our school children in South Ayrshire. A week tomorrow, the schools reopen, following a summer of sunshine, with some of the hottest days on record. Society encourages education and learning and now regards them as a lifelong process. In St. Luke's Gospel (10: 27), Jesus was approached by a lawyer, who wanted to know what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him that he must love God, not only with all his heart, mind and soul, but also "with all his mind." Jesus is saying to us today that we must think carefully and critically about our faith, and how we apply it in a scientific age. To examine what we believe in this way is not an insult to God, but part of the way in which we express our love for him. Historians tell us that the Christian faith spread rapidly through Asia and into Europe because, among other things, the first Christians could ably out-argue their opponents, and clothe their Christianity in a cloak of credibility. Could this be said of us in modern times? Their thinking confounded their critics. These days people are apt to think that the passion and sincerity with which they hold their beliefs is all that matters, and are much more important than content. It is argued that as long as we take something honestly and strongly, that is what ultimately matters. But this is to dismiss content, and creates a "creedless Christianity," which has failed so frequently in the past. It is essential that we love God "with all our mind," and make Christianity meaningful. Nowadays, many people take their beliefs, their ethics, their moral choices, and their entire understanding of reality from the television, the newspaper, or some other source. We live in a world in which information abounds, with recognised experts on almost every subject. The internet has made it easier and quicker to gain access to information, but the daunting question remains: what is true, and what is "fake news?" The need for thorough scrutiny has never been more urgent. In times like these, we need to apply our minds and think about matters that affect us at a critical level. This applies as much to our Christian faith, as it does to everything else. In a scientific-focused world, where faith in science and human progress has largely displaced faith in God as found in Jesus Christ, we must love God "with all our mind," and make a case for the convictions we hold so dear. This requires serious brainwork on our part. God has no interest in lazy thinking. He has given us the faculties to think carefully and critically. As G.K. Chesterton said: "Once people stop believing in God, the problem is not that they will believe nothing; rather, the problem is that they will believe anything." The enquiring mind plays a pivotal part in making our faith intelligible in a modern age, as well as enriching our devotion to Almighty God. A PRAYER FOR EDUCATION AND LEARNING God of truth, the only wise God, you have commanded us to love you with all our mind. So bless the work of schools and colleges and universities, that in them, the truth may be never be denied, betrayed, concealed, but be honoured, followed, and obeyed. Guide teachers and students in their endeavours to seek and serve the truth: may their learning never cut them off from the community, but lead them towards enlarged and selfless service. Grant that learning may flourish among us, as a means both of enriching our lives and of drawing us nearer to you from whom all truth proceeds; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. From: Common Order (Church of Scotland), Edinburgh, 483 THE BLESSING May the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, rest upon us, and remain with us, now and for evermore. Amen. |
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Sunday 7 August 2022
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TRINITY 8
SECOND THOUGHTS: A CHANGE OF MIND "Second thoughts can open up a vision of a brighter landscape beyond." (Anonymous) Every now and again, we hear about people having "second thoughts." When they admit to this, they often do so with a feeling of guilt. In our society, having "second thoughts" is seen more of a weakness than a virtue - something to be apologetic, even ashamed about. Is having "second thoughts" a sensible policy? Or does it reveal weakness of will, with an inability to make an abiding decision? This is a familiar experience, causing us to modify our thinking and act differently. In St. Luke's Gospel (19: 1-10), we have the well-known story of Zacchaeus. Being small in stature, Zacchaeus chose to climb a sycamore tree to get a better view of Jesus when he visited Jericho, enabling him to see above and beyond the crowd. Zacchaeus was a tax-collector, gathering in revenue for the Roman government. The profession was rife with corruption and this man was 'very rich.' We may assume that he had profited from his clients and not been scrupulous in his accounting. When Jesus saw him, he ordered Zacchaeus to come down the tree at once, and caused a stir of disapproval when he invited himself to the tax-collector's house. Zacchaeus then made a vow to give away half of his possessions to charity, and also promised to repay four times over anyone he had defrauded. Here is a pilferer turned philanthropist, giving away wealth, rather than gaining it by dishonest means - a clear case of someone having "second thoughts." In light of this, we must ask if having "second thoughts" is a problem for us. After all, it has been said that "someone who has never had second thoughts, has never had first thoughts." Bishop Hugh Montefiore reminds us: "There is nothing wrong with second thoughts: they may well be better than first thoughts," while J.M. Barrie remarked: "I have always thought that the man whose second thoughts are good is worth watching." Even back in classical times, Euripides (Greek tragedy) writes: "In human life second thoughts are somehow wiser." Scientists, astronomers, philosophers and other great thinkers who form the intellectual elite have all had to alter their arguments and conclusions, if the data changed and called for such revision. We have done likewise. Having "second thoughts" is not a cause for embarrassment or shame. The story of Zacchaeus, where a man of vice becomes a man of virtue, shows us how "second thoughts" can be life-changing. If and when having "second thoughts" troubles us, let us be reassured that we are in good Biblical company, and that our "second thoughts" are often much better than our first. To change our opinion can be necessary, and lead to more responsible action on our part. "To reconsider something is to cast off blindness and see nearer the truth." (Anonymous) Grant, O God, that when we have second thoughts and our opinions change, your Holy Spirit may lead us to more mature decisions, and to more responsible achievement; for Jesus Christ our Lord's sake. Amen. A PRAYER FOR THE DAY Almighty and everlasting God, whose ways are just and true and perfect, and by whose grace we celebrate this day: may your Holy Spirit bless us in all its duties and demands, and enable us to fulfil our tasks in ways that are pleasing to you. May we always hallow this day as your precious gift to us, set apart for prayer and praise; and by the power of your Holy Spirit help us to give you glory in all things; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all. Amen. |
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Sunday 31 July 2022
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TRINITY 7
HOSPITALITY: BURDEN OR BLESSING? The summer months are often 'the wedding season,' and a marriage service is still a significant event in a community, followed by a lavish reception or simple celebration. In St. John's Gospel (2:1-11), we find Jesus at a marriage feast in Cana of Galilee, a village near Nazareth. The disciples are also present, and his mother Mary is in the company. The proceedings seem to be running smoothly until disaster strikes. The wine runs out. For this to happen in Jesus's day was no mere misfortune, but a crisis of major proportions. This is not because the people were wine addicts (drunkenness was a disgrace), but because wine signified social acceptance and genuine hospitality. This would mean humiliation for everyone, an embarrassment only overcome when Jesus rescued the situation by turning water into a massive volume of wine. In the culture of that time, the provision of hospitality was a sacred duty. The ancient Greeks and Romans were bound by the Sacred Law of Hospitality to offer bread, water, lodging and protection to any traveller who came to their door. The stranger was recognised not as a nuisance but as a welcome guest, and was permitted to stay as long as they liked. Indeed, the Greeks saw the stranger as sent by God, the host rejoicing that "Heaven had sent him guests." Hospitality is a constant and consistent theme in the Bible. In the Old Testament, God commanded the Israelites to remember that they once lived in oppression in exile in Egypt, and that this experience must motivate them to provide hospitality to foreigners, and to welcome the stranger as a fellow human being. In the New Testament (St. Matthew 24:34-46), Jesus laid down the general principle that serving one another is akin to serving him. In 1 Peter 4:9, Christians are urged to "be hospitable to one another without grumbling," which further indicates that the giving of hospitality should be a blessing, and not a burden. In a well-known book, The Crucified God, a German theologian speaks of 'the hospitable God,' who revealed his divine benevolence in Creation, but most supremely in Jesus Christ - a benevolence his people are called to put into effect. Our hospitality is God's hospitality. Few would regard the provision of hospitality today as a sacred duty in the way that the ancients understood it. Yet Christ calls us to create communities of radical grace and extravagant welcome, embracing the stranger with kindness and generosity, and treating them as a friend made in the image of God. By taking Ukrainians into their homes, many have sought to provide hospitality to those who have fled the desecration of their own beloved country. In giving hospitality, we are in fact ministers of God's benevolence. In essence, we reveal (or deny) God's hospitality to those who seek it. How do we regard hospitality? Do we offer it graciously or grudgingly? Is it a burden or a blessing? As the hospitality sector recovers from pandemic pressures, this must merit our careful consideration. "Do not neglect to show hospitality; by doing this, some have entertained angels unawares." (Hebrews 13: 2) A PRAYER FOR THOSE IN NEED OF HOSPITALITY AND KINDNESS Almighty God and Father of all, in whose world we live and move and have our being: we remember with true compassion those excluded from human hospitality: the homeless, the refugee, the poverty-stricken, the elderly and housebound, the lonely, and others for whom this day brings social isolation. We pray for those who are unable to enjoy company, who seek human kindness and the gift of friendship and embrace; and we pray for others who are isolated at this time, through suffering, sorrow and sickness.... In your infinite mercy, pour out your Spirit of healing on every heart seeking hospitality and kindness, and be to each a strong consolation, and an ever-present help; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 24 July 2022
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TRINITY 6
SOMETHING BROKEN During the week, the country has sweltered under extreme heat, with temperatures hitherto unknown, and causing much disruption and destruction in their wake. In Scotland, the highest temperature was recorded in the Scottish Borders, as people struggled under a blazing sun to keep cool. The climate is clearly broken, and urgent measures must be taken to manage the damage and mend it. In the Les Vauxbelets Valley, Saint Andrew, Guernsey (Channel Islands), there stands the Little Chapel, originally created by one Brother Deotat, who wanted to make in miniature the grotto and basilica at Lourdes. The present building is the third version, and has been described as "probably the biggest tourist attraction in Guernsey." The walls of the Little Chapel are decorated with seashells and pebbles, but also with pieces of broken glass, china and pottery, cemented on to the surface. Viewed from a distance, the mosaic, in terms of colour and design, makes a pleasing whole, but seen close-up the effect of this is stunning. Here is an outstanding example of how something broken and seemingly useless can in fact be made useful and invested with a new purpose. In our day, when recycling is encouraged on a large-scale, we will find apparently useless material being re-used and given a new purpose. In a sense there is nothing new about this. For instance, a long stretch of the M8 between Paisley and Glasgow once formed part of the runway at Renfrew Airport, the domestic airport serving the city of Glasgow until its closure in 1966. The well-preserved medieval Lanercost Priory, near Carlisle, in Cumbria, was largely built of stonework taken from the nearby Hadrian's Wall, while in modern times, steel tubes recovered from the oil and gas industry have been re-used on major construction projects. Something broken and seemingly useless can in truth be made useful and invested with a new purpose. Is this not true of the human race? In St. John's Gospel (3: 16) we are told that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that everyone who has faith in him may not perish but have eternal life." In other words, God loved the world in such a way that he sent his son Jesus Christ to reshape and redeem a fallen humanity - to give broken human beings a new dignity and purpose. On the Cross, God in Christ embraced the world and its brokenness, and offered healing and wholeness to all who had faith in him. Something broken can be made useful. That is true of many things. That is at the very heart of the Christian Gospel! "On the Cross God took the brokenness of humanity and gave it a new dignity and worth." (Anonymous) A PRAYER FOR THE DAY Most gracious God, our heavenly Father, in whose love is our healing and wholeness: we give thanks that you loved the world so much that you sent your only Son to be our Saviour, to heal us, to help us, and to redeem us from our broken state. Therefore, we humbly pray: take our sins, and turn them into virtue; take our doubts, and turn them into faith; take our failures and turn them into success; take our broken lives, and turn them into fit and effective instruments of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. THE BLESSING God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep us, this day, and for ever. AMEN. |
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Sunday 17 July 2022
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TRINITY 5
THE MANTLE OF INDIFFERENCE At this moment, a contest is taking place to determine who will become our next Prime Minister. There are those watching this with intense scrutiny, while others have admitted they are not following events closely, but regard themselves as interested spectators. According to the media, there is a third category, namely those "who couldn't-care-less," indicating a profound sense of indifference. Is indifference a responsible attitude towards anything? The late Rev. Dr. Denis Duncan has written that "indifference" is a dangerous and infectious disease which, left untreated, can quickly develop into something worse, and is now endemic in every area of life. Elie Wiesel, the Romanian-born American writer, said that: "The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference," pointing to the danger of an attitude so fashionable today. In the Book of Lamentations (1:1-12), we hear that Jerusalem is doomed, and the reader is invited into the world of this frightened city, speaking as a person about "my sorrow", "my suffering" and "my distress." The story makes a plea for others to recognise its fate: "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?" Behind this question lies a fear that there will be those who will be indifferent to the city's pending disaster - they will have an "air of apathy," with little or no genuine interest in the city's looming fate. There are those who wear "the mantle of indifference" today, and express their apathy in many ways. For instance, apathy shows itself in the acceptance of, or in a casual attitude to wrong-doing. The deterioration of standards in society, the insensitivity to grace and goodness, and the rejection of values once deemed necessary for our wellbeing, also testify to the apathy that has infected so much of our culture. The closure of many places of worship, so beloved by previous generations, further highlights the indifference that has helped erase Christianity from public life. As Elie Wiesel has also said: "The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference." In 1795 Edmund Burke (British statesman and writer) said that "There is nothing so fatal to religion than indifference." In our secular times, it is argued that Christianity has to wrestle more with indifference, than open hostility. Someone hostile to the faith reveals an uncompromising honesty, and an unambiguous frame of mind. You know exactly where they stand, with no sitting on the fence. In the Book of Revelation (3:14-22), judgment is passed on the church at Laodicea, a city now located in modern Turkey. A wealthy, industrial and prosperous city, the Christians there have wavered in their commitment, and are neither hot nor cold, but only "lukewarm" in their faith. They have donned "the mantle of indifference," and, deceived by material success, are blind to their spiritual poverty. Indifference and apathy are dangerous and highly contagious. They breed a casual, carefree, couldn't-care-less attitude of mind that allows all kinds of things to happen. May God give us grace to cast off "the mantle of indifference", so that we stand for something, lest in our apathy we fall for anything. "The greatest danger to our future is apathy." (Jane Goodall) A PRAYER FOR OURSELVES "Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?" We acknowledge, O God, in your presence, the mantle of indifference that so easily takes hold of us and stains our Christian discipleship: our indifference to your word, our indifference to your will, our indifference to your promises, our indifference to your presence.... We acknowledge, O God, the sin of apathy, making us lukewarm in our devotion, half-hearted in our service, uncertain in our commitment, insincere in our dealings with others and in our dealings with you.... Set us free from our past unconcern, and help us by your renewing grace to stand firm for what is right, and to know, and love and serve you better; to the glory of your name. Amen. THE BLESSING May God, who is the ground of hope, fill us with all joy and peace as we lead the life of faith, until, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we overflow with hope. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 10 July 2022
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TRINITY 4
CHRIST IN THE STORM A THOUGHT FOR SEA SUNDAY The second Sunday of July is designated Sea Sunday, when we honour those who go out to sea in ships, and for whose devotion to duty we express our admiration and appreciation. A fact of life today is that we tend to put faith in self, rather than faith in Jesus Christ. When 'adverse winds' arise, or when we face 'stormy waters', we are only too ready to trust our own judgment to navigate our way through them. No call for divine action is thought to be necessary, as we are quite capable of handling the situation ourselves. It has been said, however, that "self-confidence is a seductive route to self-deception." That was the mistake the disciples' made. They put too much faith in self, and far too little in Jesus Christ. When the storm arose on the Sea of Galilee, they started to panic, fearing they would lose their lives in one of the fierce and sudden squalls for which this stretch of water was notorious. The situation was worsened by Jesus sleeping in the boat, when, in their minds, he ought to have been doing something about it. Jesus rebuked their lack of faith. "Why are you such cowards?", he asked. "What little faith you have!" The point of the story is perfectly clear. In their hour of greatest need, when the disciples feared their very lives were in peril, Jesus came to them. When the wind was contrary, and all seemed lost, Jesus was there to help, even if those around him had shown such lack of trust. In recent times, we have faced 'adverse winds' of enormous proportions. Never in our lifetime have we experienced such upheaval, that will leave a long-lasting medical, psychological, social and economic legacy. Throughout it all, we have not struggled alone. In the tempest, the same Jesus Christ has come, with his hand outstretched to save. Not only that, Jesus comes again and again, his clear voice bidding us to take heart and to trust in him alone. In an age that puts so much faith in self, we must remember that, in the 'storms' and 'adverse winds' that life brings us, "we have an anchor that keeps the soul, steadfast and sure while the billows roll." That anchor is Jesus Christ. "Those who go down to the sea in ships, who do business on great waters, they see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." A PRAYER FOR THE VOYAGE OF LIFE Almighty and everlasting God, our refuge and strength in every time of need or trouble, and our companion on the voyage of life, ever faithful, ever sure: grant that in every circumstance we face, whether calm and peaceful, or whether rough, we may put our faith, our trust in you alone; for you are the protector of all who trust in you, both in this life, and in the world to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING Go in peace. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep us, this day and for ever. Amen. |
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Sunday 3 July 2022
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TRINITY 3
THE MUSICAL CHURCH The absence of congregational singing during the pandemic was a profound source of regret to many. Through music and singing, we can express a range of emotions that cannot be effectively achieved by the spoken word. From the beginning, music has been an integral part of Christian worship, and a means of giving praise to God. For example, in the Old Testament, the writer of Psalm 150, the last Psalm, urges every voice in heaven and on earth, and every musical instrument human ingenuity has devised, to swell the praise of the living God. In the New Testament, in Colossians 3: 16, St. Paul issues this instruction to the Christians at Colossae: "With psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, sing from the heart in gratitude to God." We can conclude that from the very beginning, the Christian Church was a musical Church, something it inherited from Jewish worship. It is hardly surprising that throughout the centuries, the Church has accumulated a vast treasure-store of music: from moving orchestral works to simple songs and melodies. Even those who would not ordinarily describe themselves as Christian have found their emotions stirred by the singing of a hymn, or some other piece of Church music. In churches today, the organ is probably the instrument we are most familiar with. In Jewish and early Christian worship, there was an amazing range of instruments used, as Psalm 150 clearly indicates: the harp, the lyre, the flute and stringed instruments, cymbals, drums and tambourines, to name but a few. It has been said, however, that the finest instrument we possess is "the human voice." This may come as a surprise or shock to those who say they cannot sing, and claim that this only applies to the musically-gifted. Nevertheless, it has been stated that "the human voice" is the finest of instruments, and that God will even hear our "inarticulate groans" and use them for his glory. The truth of the matter is that music has always been at the heart of Jewish and Christian worship, and no doubt will always remain so. Furthermore, in many places in the Church of Scotland, apart from reciting the Lord's Prayer and perhaps some other limited responses, the singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs is the only corporate contribution the congregation makes to the service. The early Christian Church was unquestionably a musical Church. Given the significance of singing in our worship, let us use the instrument that God has given to each of us - "the human voice" - to praise the living God, in public (when it is appropriate) and in private (whenever we choose). "Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here." Almighty and eternal God, you speak to us in the call of duty and in the still, small voice of calm. As we quietly seek your presence, come to us in the fullness of your love, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and granting us those things for which we are not worthy to ask, save through the merits of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. A PRAYER FOR OURSELVES Loving God of the seasons, as spring now turns to summer, open our eyes to the beauty around us, and make us truly thankful for the different seasons of the year, each fulfilling our hope and our need. So may our children and those who succeed us benefit from the beauty of the natural world, a world that you have created for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING May the grace of God attend us, the love of God surround us, the Holy Spirit keep us, this day and for ever. Amen. |
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Sunday 26 June 2022
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TRINITY 2
THE PURSUIT OF A GOAL It is said that the happiest days of our life are those we spend at school, and as the summer holidays begin, some of those at our primary schools will move on to secondary education. Others will be finishing school and facing a challenging future. Those completing their education will have their goals in mind. The pursuit of a goal applies to each of us. Indeed, it has been said that "if you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time." In Philippians 3: 10-21, St. Paul speaks of his goal, his own lifelong ambition. There, he says that "forgetting what is behind, and reaching out to what lies ahead, I press towards the finishing line, to win the heavenly prize to which God has called me in Christ Jesus." To grasp the goal for which God in Christ has grasped him, the apostle must "press on" regardless until he has attained it. To have a goal, an ambition, a sense of purpose in life is nothing less than responsible Christian living. If we fail to have our goals, "we crawl on the floor while we have wings to fly." In a word: we waste both our time and our talents. In the Christian life, we are not meant to rest on our laurels, but to "press on" with what God has called us to do in Christ Jesus. The hard part may not be identifying the goal or ambition, or even "pressing on" towards its attainment. It may be getting started. In the 1700s a French socialite, Madame du Deffand, said: "The distance is nothing; it is only the first step that is difficult." Making a start. Is that a problem for us? Or, like St. Paul, do we "press on" relentlessly, until we reach the goal laid down for us, and come to live eternally with God? "Those who are without a goal in life shall never prosper." (Anonymous) A PRAYER FOR THE DAY Holy God, faithful and unchanging, as we celebrate your mystery and majesty, we confess that in the journey of life we have followed the wrong goals, and have been careless or complacent in pursuing the goals laid down for us in your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.... In your infinite mercy, forgive what we have been and done: forgive what we have not done: forgive what we meant to do but never finished; and as we pursue the goals laid down for us in Christ Jesus, make us committed to the task, that we may attain to them with conscientious endeavour, to the glory of your name. Amen. THE BLESSING God the Holy Trinity make us strong in faith and love, defend us on every side, and guide us in truth and peace; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 19 June 2022
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TRINITY 1
GOD'S TRUSTEES Under Scottish charity law, annual accounts must be submitted with a report, prepared and approved by the charity's trustees. This report should highlight the activities of the charity in the relevant financial year, and outline the main points relating to the charity's financial transactions. To be a charity trustee demands personal integrity and is not to be taken lightly or carelessly. In Christian thought, each of us is a trustee. In the first verse of Psalm 24, we are told that "To the Lord belong the earth and everything in it, the world and all its inhabitants." God is the creator of all things, and has been described as 'The Great Proprietor.' The ultimate ownership of everything belongs to God, for all things in heaven and on earth come from him. As many prayers put it, God is "the source of all life and light and love." If we take this Biblical theme seriously, we are called to the faithful trusteeship of all that God has provided us with. Responsible guardianship is not an option, but a sacred obligation laid on each of us. We are called to be responsible trustees of our time, our talents and our treasure (money). We are called to be responsible trustees of God's creation and of everything in his worldwide estate. We are called to manage his gifts in a way that honours him, and not in any thoughtless fashion, knowing that one day God will call us to account. This begs the question: what kind of trustees are we? If someone wrote a report on our guardianship of God's gifts would it meet with his approval? Or would we be found wanting? This is surely worthy of consideration, not only today, but every day. "We are, of course, only the trustees of what we possess and of what God provides." (Anonymous) Eternal God and Father, the source of all life and light, whose love extends to all creatures, all people, and to all things: as we rejoice in your countless gifts to us, may we use them wisely in this world, both for our own benefit and for the blessing of others, knowing that all things in heaven and on earth ultimately belong to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O God, from whom all blessings come to us, freely, and in their abundance: make us faithful trustees of everything you give to us, and grant that our guardianship will always be pleasing to you, our good provider: through Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING God the Holy Trinity make us strong in faith, and hope, and love. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 12 June 2022
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TRINITY SUNDAY
On Trinity Sunday, the Christian Church marks, not an event or an individual, but a doctrine or teaching, acknowledging the God we worship as Father, as Son, and as Holy Spirit. We are not thinking here of three separate 'gods', but of the one God, who makes himself known to us in this threefold way. This word 'Trinity' is not found in Scripture. It is said, however, that the threefold nature of God is implicit in some Old Testament texts, and explicit in New Testament passages, as in St. Paul's blessing: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13: 14) The Trinity is the foundation of much of our worship. Many well-known hymns refer to God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, while blessings and benedictions follow a Trinitarian pattern. Christian baptism is administered "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit", and when couples are joined together in Christian marriage, the same formula is used. Indeed, the Church of Scotland's constitution clearly states that the Kirk is Trinitarian in its creed, and much of what is familiar in our worship reflects this. One observer has noted that the Trinity suggests a "committee of three out to save the world." This witty way of expressing it may a helpful summary of a difficult idea! At a more profound level, the Trinity preserves the 'mystery' of God. It reminds us that we can never understand the nature or the character of God in a complete and thorough way. What we have here is a 'model' of God, but not the complete picture. His ways are not our ways, nor are his thoughts our thoughts. If we could fully understand God, as many would wish, then God would cease to be God and become a mere creature, shorn of his divine majesty and glory. The BBC has been in the news recently, but for the wrong reasons. John Reith, later Lord Reith of Stonehaven, founded the BBC, and for its first sixteen years directed it. A son of the Manse, John Reith's father was a distinguished minister of the Free Church of Scotland, and it has been said that John Reith ran the BBC like a Sunday School in Stornoway! In other words, he was strict, authoritarian and staunchly Presbyterian. One biographer of John Reith says that it is not possible to write a complete account of his life. He is so complex a figure, with varying moods and temperaments, that a detailed story of his life, with its many self-contradictions, is not a feasible project. We can only know John Reith in part. This is also true of God. On this side of eternity, we can only understand God in part, until at last our knowledge is perfect and complete. Meantime, we can think of the Trinity as the 'mystery' that preserves God's holiness, while allowing us to experience him in a threefold way: as Father, as Son, and as Holy Spirit. That said, however, Colin Morris's notion of the Holy Trinity as a "committee of three to save the world", is appealing, and a much easier way of understanding a difficult doctrine! "Holy, holy, holy is God, our sovereign Lord, who was, and is, and is to come." Blessing and honour, thanksgiving and praise, more than we can utter, more than we can conceive, be to your glorious name, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, by all angels, all people, all creation, for ever and ever. Amen. A PRAYER FOR TRINITY SUNDAY Lord God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: we confess the self-centeredness that marks too much of our living; the partial obedience, the qualified love, the failure to reach full Christian maturity. We acknowledge these failings, and much else; and seek the grace to be moulded, according to pattern of life laid down for us in Jesus Christ our Saviour.... God the Father, pity us; God the Son, forgive us; God the Spirit, renew us; and lead us now and always in your way; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING God the Holy Trinity make us strong in faith, and hope, and love. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 5 June 2022
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PENTECOST
THE SPIRIT OF INFLUENCE In the Christian Year today is Pentecost or Whit Sunday. The word Pentecost means 'fiftieth,' as this festival fell on the fiftieth day after that other great gathering - the Passover. The Festival of Pentecost is thought to have taken place around the beginning of June, when travel conditions were ideal, and it brought a huge international crowd to Jerusalem. This would explain the list of all the different countries referred to in Acts 2: 1-13. We do not know exactly what happened at Pentecost. The disciples were all together in one place when, without warning, they experienced the power of God's Spirit in a way they had never done so before. The Spirit flooded their lives, and they were never the same again. The Spirit gave the disciples one thing: influence. Filled with the Spirit, their influence was profound, taking the Christian faith into Asia and across the ancient world. The Spirit that came upon them at Pentecost gave the disciples of Jesus a profound and lasting influence. This is also the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen, and events across the country have been organised to mark this historic occasion for which there is no precedent. This is the first in our history: no monarch has reigned for seventy years. Perhaps it can be summed up in one word: influence. Her seventy year reign has been one of profound and lasting influence for good, at home and abroad. As a woman of deep Christian conscience and conviction, she would no doubt attribute this to the working of the Holy Spirit in her long life, bringing an influence for good to different countries, cultures, and communities, and to young and old alike. The ancient power of the monarch may have gone, but the influence is still there. And the Queen has always used this influence to outstanding effect. On this Day of Pentecost, when we recall the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples and the early Christian Church, let us also give thanks for that Spirit's place in the life of the Queen, and for the lasting 'influence for good' she has brought to countless people in the last seventy years. A former Professor of mine often said: "It is much more important to have influence, than it is to have power." The disciples of Jesus, and the early Christians on their missionary journeys, and the Queen in her seventy year reign have shown this can be true. And today, this is a lesson for all of us: influence is often much more important (and effective) than power! A PRAYER FOR THE DAY O God, as we remember today the coming of your Spirit on the disciples, and on the early Church, so may that same Spirit come afresh on us: to fill us with life anew, and to grant us the gift of influence for good in a world that knows you not, or loves you little; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN God of power and love, bless our country and commonwealth. Give wisdom and strength to the Queen, govern those who make the laws, guide those who direct our common life, and grant that together we may fulfil our service for the welfare of the whole people and for your praise and glory. Amen. From: Common Order (Church of Scotland\), Edinburgh 1994, 417 THE BLESSING God grant to the living, grace; to the departed, rest; to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth, and all mankind, peace and concord; and to us and all God's servants, life everlasting. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
Straiton Beacon
Photograph by Angela Jane Seymour
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Sunday 29 May 2022
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EASTER 7
THE LORD IS KING The Sunday after Ascension Day. The Ascension of Jesus Christ is celebrated on Ascension Day -the sixth Thursday after Easter Day. In the Bible, this is vividly described by St. Luke (Acts 1: 1-11), and it marks both the end of Easter and the 'resurrection appearances.' Indeed, the event we know as the Ascension signifies our Lord's departure from his disciples, and his 'ascending' into heaven to the glory of the Father. By virtue of the Ascension, Jesus is now understood to be seated at the right hand of God. This image is found in various places in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of St. Paul, and also in The Apostles' Creed, where it is said of Jesus that he "sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty." This is picture-language, thought to derive from the custom of eastern kings to have their chief minister - "their right hand man" - standing or sitting to the right of them. Strictly speaking, the rules of modern etiquette would place the guest of honour at a formal dinner to the right side of the host. Jesus therefore has the first place, or the place of honour before God. The Ascension is a profound mystery, and something that words cannot adequately describe. Therefore, it is best illustrated in the Biblical text by picture-language or images. One of the lessons of the Ascension is that we now have a friend in heaven, who is our advocate and representative, and who, in God's presence, continues to pray with us and for us. Though Jesus is now "with honour and glory crowned," and occupies the highest place before God, he has not forgotten or abandoned us. As Professor William Barclay puts it: "He is still mighty and powerful to help, and in his exalted royalty, he has not forgotten his own." He is no longer bound by the limits of time and space, and may touch our lives at any time and in any place. On this Sunday after Ascension Day, let this be a comfort and a blessing. For though we pass through many dark valleys, whether a pandemic or some other crisis, international, national or personal, we have a precious friend in God's presence, who, as our great high priest, continues to uphold his people and to plead their case. This is surely something for which to rejoice and give thanks! "Christ has entered into heaven itself, to appear now before God on our behalf." Gracious God, you raised your Son our Saviour Christ to heaven's highest place, that he might reign supreme over all things: we confess that we have failed to live as we ought, under Christ's most just and gentle rule; that we have broken his commandments, disobeyed his word, rejected his truth, ignored his voice, and chosen to follow our own path, rather than the way of life revealed to us in Jesus Christ. For the sake of your dear Son, eternal God, forgive us; renew us and restore us; and may our lives as well as our lips acknowledge Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, to the glory of your name. Amen. PRAYERS FOR THIS WEEK May Christ the King rule the peoples of this world, that all may live in harmony and peace.... May Christ the King rule the hearts of those who lead us, that they may govern wisely and well.... May Christ the King rule the Church in its mission to mankind, turning minds towards the Gospel.... May Christ the King rule in the lives of those in need, that they may find wholeness and true gain.... May Christ the King rule those working for a better world, that their efforts may be fulfilled.... This we ask for his name's sake. Amen. THE BLESSING May Christ the King make us faithful and strong to do his will, and bring us to reign with him in glory. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 22 May 2022
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EASTER 6
TO BE CHOSEN There are things in life we do not choose, but are chosen for us. We may have an occupation we never intended to have, but we were chosen or 'headhunted' for it. A singer or instrumentalist may not have performed in London's Royal Albert Hall by choice, but were carefully chosen for this special occasion. This is the message of St. John's Gospel (15: 9-17), where Jesus makes it clear that his disciples have not chosen him. He has chosen them. Similarly, we did not choose God. It was God who, in his mercy and grace, chose us. From this passage, we discover that we are chosen for many reasons, and we will consider three of them: We are chosen for joy. No matter how hard the Christian life, and no matter how much it involves 'blood, toil, tears and sweat' (Churchill), the Christian way ought to be a joyful one. A dull and depressing Christian is a contradiction in terms. Christians are meant to be people of joy who undertake God's business cheerfully. A former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Donald Coggan, stresses this in his little book, The Heart of the Christian Faith, stating that Christianity is a faith that throbs with joy at its core. God in Christ has redeemed us and renewed humanity - something that should make us joyful, radiant people - cheerful ambassadors for what we believe. We are chosen to love. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are sent out into the world to be advertisements for our faith. This means that we are called to love one another, always seeking one another's good through acts of kindness and compassion. Sometimes we live as if we are called to compete, to quarrel and to cause as much havoc as possible. The Christian lives by one rule - the rule of love. By doing so, we reflect the very nature of God himself. We are chosen to love our neighbours, which, at its most extreme, means laying down our life for them. Jesus fulfilled the great commandment he gave to us. We are chosen to be friends. We are chosen to be friends - friends of God, and friends of Jesus Christ. Jesus says that his disciples are no longer slaves or servants but friends: God's friends, Christ's friends. This means that we have a close, intimate contact with God never before thought possible. No longer do we need to gaze at God from a distance, or catch a glimpse of him, as we might do a monarch passing by on some state occasion. Through Jesus Christ we are God's friends and Christ's friends, so that neither is a stranger to us. As we come to The Sixth Sunday of Easter, we may remind ourselves that we are people, chosen and precious in God's sight, and called to do God's work cheerfully, to love another earnestly, and to be a faithful friend of Jesus Christ, who is no longer a stranger, but our companion on the way. In life, there are times when we choose - there are also times when we are chosen! Gracious God, as we come to each new day, with its opportunities of pleasing you, remind us of how you have chosen us, and of how we must be people of joy, people who love, and people committed to be your friends; through him who has given us access into your living presence, your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. A PRAYER FOR THE WEEK Gracious God, source of all life and love, we ask your blessing on our world, our nation, our community, and especially on ourselves, with so many anxious and fearful of the future, and where so many innocent souls still suffer.... Enfold us and surround us with your presence; and may your saving power be at work among us and among your people everywhere; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, make us perfect in every good work to do his will; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 15 May 2022
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EASTER 5
TO ABIDE IN CHRIST With the marvels of modern technology, keeping in touch with other people these days should, in theory at least, be much easier than it was in previous generations. We can now send and receive signals from space, and even from other planets - completely unthinkable to our forebears. During this pandemic, when face-to-face meetings have not been possible, new means of communication have flourished, especially the use of Zoom or video links, for professional as well as personal purposes. In St. John's Gospel (15: 1-8 ) much is said about 'abiding in Christ.' This sounds like a reference to some profound mystical experience, open only to the privileged few, when in fact it refers to something that anyone can do, if they set their hearts and minds to it. At its simplest, 'abiding in Christ' means keeping in touch with the risen Lord and Saviour, referred to in the Biblical passage as 'the true vine.' Just as branches are unable to bear ripe fruit if they become detached from the vine, the source of their energy and vitality, so Christian disciples are unable to 'bear fruit' if they become detached from Jesus Christ. When the joy of Easter begins to fade, it is easy to wrap up Jesus once more in the pages of the Bible, and think of him as a figure of history. To do so is to misunderstand the meaning of the resurrection. The resurrection affirms that Jesus Christ is not someone who belongs to the past, but is a living and a powerful force in the present. As such, Christians are called to keep in contact with him - the way, the truth and the life - so that they live or 'abide' in Christ, and he in them. This might mean a brief prayer in the morning, before the busyness of the day begins. It might mean a period of silence, on a hillside or at the seashore, in which to listen for the still, small voice in the calm around us. It could simply mean the quiet reading of a psalm or hymn, or other act of devotion, before the day unfolds. Indeed, it has been said that "before we do our daily duties, we ought to do our daily devotions." If we take this seriously, what we do in a day becomes an offering of love, as well as of duty. Are we keeping in touch with Jesus Christ? Are we in close contact with him, and in a way that will allow us to know him and to obey him much better? Are we making ourselves accessible to him? Or have we let communication lapse, and (as we often do with friends) reduced contact with the Lord and Saviour of the universe? If so, we have disengaged ourselves from 'the true vine,' and from the Christ who came to bring us life, and bring it in all its fullness. As we come to The Fifth Sunday of Easter, we may remind ourselves of the need to 'abide in Christ,' so that Christ abides in us; and that by keeping in contact with him, we may bring glory to God, and reveal a Christ-like character to everyone around us. Only when we keep in contact with Christ, the true vine, can we be effective and obedient disciples. Let us resolve to do this each day, and experience his love which is new every morning. As a modern spiritual writer has noted: "We can go into the throne room of Jesus Christ at any time. The door is always open." This is an invitation we ought to accept each day. Most gracious God, as we recall how your Son, our Saviour Christ, is the true vine, help us by your Spirit to keep in contact with him, so that we may abide in him, and he in us, now and all the days of our life; in whose name we pray. Amen. PRAYERS FOR THIS WEEK Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, your unworthy servants, give you most humble and hearty thanks for all your goodness and loving kindness to us and to all people. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; who died on the Cross and was raised by your power to bring salvation to the world.... As we continue to celebrate Eastertide, may Christ's risen presence come to this world, to heal its brokenness, to purge it of hate and division, and to restore its dignity and natural beauty.... As we continue to celebrate Eastertide, may Christ's risen presence come to the Church, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may honour our Saviour with their lives, as well as with their lips.... As we continue to celebrate Eastertide, may Christ's risen presence come to our country, that his life may be the inspiration of our leaders, and that he may encourage us in our civic duties, in accordance with his will and wisdom.... As we continue to celebrate Eastertide, may Christ's risen presence come to those who are sick, to those who suffer pain or loneliness or grief of heart, and to those whom we quietly name in our hearts; that his love may embrace them, his power sustain them, and his peace possess them, now and always.... As we continue to celebrate Eastertide, we remember, and give thanks, O God, for those gone before us in the faith, who see Christ face to face.... May his risen presence bring us, with your people of every age, to the joy of your heavenly presence; where, with you, Father, and the Holy Spirit, he is alive and reigns, now and for evermore. Amen. THE BLESSING The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, make us perfect in every good work to do his will; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 8 May 2022
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EASTER 4
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD The Fourth Sunday of Easter is commonly called Good Shepherd Sunday. The image of God as a shepherd is deeply embedded in Scripture. In the Old Testament, this is most clearly expressed in Psalm 23: "The Lord is my Shepherd" - which has been described as the world's most familiar and favourite Psalm. According to the late Professor G.A.F. Knight, "It is the favourite of Jew, Eastern Orthodox, Western Protestant, and wistful agnostic alike." God is pictured as the true Shepherd of his people, who leads them safely through the green pastures, and beside the still waters of this life, and finally into his eternal presence. The image of God as a shepherd is a comfort to us. One of the problems of modern living is fear and insecurity. In former times, society was much more settled and stable, but with the massive social, economic and cultural changes of the last two centuries, and in more recent times, there has come about a general feeling of insecurity. In their book called Scared to Death, Christopher Booker and Richard North argue that we live in an age of scares: health scares, money scares, food scares, climate scares, and so on. From a very tender age (childhood) fear is instilled into us, leading in later life to feelings of insecurity. Further to this is the fact that nothing seems safe nowadays. We don't necessarily have the same job for life. Businesses, once household names, have disappeared. Economies go up and down in cycles and are often unpredictable. War and conflict remain a fact of life, while churches, schools, banks, post offices, factories, shops and other familiar facilities have closed, causing further insecurity and unease. In these uncertain times, the image of God as a shepherd is a comfort to us. It points to a God who is our ever-vigilant guardian and guide, a God who will go to outstanding lengths to protect his people. It pictures a God who will lead us through the light and shade of life, and finally bring us to his eternal presence. We are never out of God's sight or beyond his loving care. The shepherd may be disappearing from the Scottish countryside. But the image of God as a shepherd should be a source of strength and inspiration. In a fast-changing world, with its fears and feelings of insecurity, it portrays a heavenly Father who is eternally watchful, vigilant and protective of his people. When we feel afraid and insecure, let us rejoice that "The Lord is my Shepherd" - and find in him the lasting security and peace that only his sheep know! "This image is so strong, so powerful, that it gives us confidence in a crisis and enables us to rise above the storm clouds of everyday life." (Anonymous) A PRAYER FOR TODAY Almighty and most merciful Father, we confess that we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have broken your holy laws. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and done those things which we ought not to have done. Pardon and deliver us from our sins. Confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us at last to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK O God, our Shepherd and Saviour, you first gave life to the world and in Jesus Christ your Son have brought us new life in him. May this Eastertide be for us a time of thanksgiving, a season of celebration and an inspiration to live each day in the strength of the risen Christ; in whose name we pray. Amen. THE BLESSING The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, make us perfect in every good work to do his will; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 1 May 2022
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EASTER 3
STRANGER ON THE SHORE First released in 1961, Stranger on the Shore by Acker Bilk, a haunting, clarinet-led melody by the 'master of the clarinet,' was the UK's best selling single in 1962. The melody evokes an image of a magnificent sunset, with someone standing alone on a beach, gazing at the sheer beauty of it, and awestruck by the glorious colours lighting up the sky. In St. John's Gospel (21: 1-14), we have a story about "a stranger on the shore." After the death and resurrection of Jesus, some of his disciples returned to their previous occupation as fishermen. One night, while out fishing on a boat on the Sea of Tiberias, the trip was a total failure: they caught nothing. When morning came, "a stranger on the shore" told them to cast their net to the right-hand side (starboard) of their vessel, and they would reap a rich catch. The disciples did as he had told them, and the outcome far exceeded their expectations. The net was full of fish of all shapes and sizes, and they couldn't haul it in. Simon Peter had to drag the loaded net from the boat to the shore, no doubt a slow, exhausting process. The "stranger on the shore" turned out to be Jesus. When they came ashore, the disciples saw a charcoal fire, with fish laid on it, and some bread. While they were having breakfast, they made their great discovery - "they knew it was the Lord." No longer was the stranger's identity a mystery, but the risen Christ in person. One of the points John is making in this story is that Jesus often comes to us, disguised as a stranger. His presence isn't always immediately obvious, but just as the risen Christ appeared to his disciples as "the stranger on the shore," so he may well come to us today as the stranger in the street, the stranger in the hospital, the stranger on the bus or train: even the stranger in the Church. In our lives, we meet many people whom we regard as "strangers." They may cross our path in some way, but we may never see them again. In so doing, we may have encountered the spirit of Jesus without realising it. We may have been in the presence of Jesus and in the company of Jesus, totally oblivious to the fact that the "stranger" in our midst could be the risen Christ of Easter. In his Gospel, John would have us believe that Jesus often comes to us, disguised as a stranger, just as he appeared to his disciples a third time as "the stranger on the shore." It is little wonder that it has been said that Jesus Christ today is often seen in a stranger's face and through a stranger's eyes. Is this something we would ever notice? O Lord our God, as your dear Son, our Saviour Christ, came to his disciples at Tiberias, disguised as a stranger on the seashore, so teach us to see his face in every stranger we meet; and to absorb their Christ-like virtues into our hearts and into our lives; for his name's sake. Amen. A PRAYER FOR EASTERTIDE Lord our God, as we celebrate with joy the resurrection of Jesus our Saviour, help us to make the Easter faith a deeper reality in our lives; that we may know something more of the peace he bequeathed to his disciples, and lay hold of the victory he won for us over sin and death, rejoicing in the hope of the life immortal which is ours in him, our Redeemer and our Lord. Amen. From: Frank Colquhoun, Contemporary Parish Prayers, London 1975, 56 THE BLESSING The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, make us perfect in every good work to do his will; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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Sunday 24 April 2022
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EASTER 2
THOMAS THE TWIN If Judas Iscariot will always be remembered as the disciple who betrayed Jesus, Thomas the Twin will always be branded the one who refused to believe that Jesus had been raised from the dead, until Jesus's wounds had been revealed to him. His story is a well-known one. Later on that day on which Jesus had been raised, Thomas wasn't with the disciples when they gathered behind locked doors, fearing that the Jewish authorities would now come after them with a vengeance. A week later, Thomas was with the disciples when they met again, and when Jesus came and stood among them, giving them his blessing: "Peace be with you!" At this point, Jesus invited Thomas to touch his wounds and see the marks of the crucifixion for himself. We are uncertain as to whether Thomas did exactly as Jesus had directed, but what we do know is that Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" -words of uninhibited adoration, acknowledging the figure before him as the Jesus he had known. It may be said in Thomas's defence that he had one outstanding virtue. He absolutely refused to say that he understood something when clearly he did not. There is "an uncompromising honesty" about him, in that Thomas would never suppress his doubts to please the majority, pretending that they did not exist. He was not a person to accept a story at face value, least of all the sensational claim that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead. In this respect, we can admire his integrity. We live in an age where information bombards us on a daily basis. We are fed so much data on so many subjects that it is difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. We could easily absorb everything we see, read and hear, without giving any thought to its plausibility, by suspending sound judgment and accepting the whole at face value. How much of our daily diet of data and other information is true? It has been said that Thomas represents "the awkward squad" among the disciples, with his questioning and hesitation to accept what he did not fully understand - the Resurrection being something he felt too good to be true. In an age of mass information and misinformation, we ought to see Thomas as one who inspires us to question what has not been thought out, and to reach our conclusions only after rigorous scrutiny. By means of such scrutiny, doubts are often transformed into certainties. A PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK Most gracious God, in this world of so much information, give us grace to discern what is true and what is false, and by the power of your Holy Spirit, help us to look at our doubts, cautiously and carefully, that as we review them, we may find our minds enlightened, and be led into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A PRAYER IN MOMENTS OF DOUBT Risen Master, help us, like your apostle Thomas, to be honest enough to admit our doubts and not to affect a faith we do not possess; and enable us, like him, so to experience your living presence and power that our doubts may be dissolved and we may inherit the blessing promised to those who have not seen you and yet trust in you, our Lord and our God. Amen. From: Frank Colquhoun, Contemporary Parish Prayers, London 1975, 83 THE BLESSING The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, make us perfect in every good work to do his will; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, and remain with us always. Amen. |
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