Link to the video reflection: https://youtu.be/CraEPirxOpw

James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen

In recent times, it has been easy to become a bit obsessive about washing our hands. Hands is first in the “hands, face, space, fresh air” Government slogan to combat COVID – 19. All things being equal – we all sanitised on entry to church buildings (and lots of others) for practical as well as pragmatic reasons. Primarily, to ensure that we are thoughtful, and mindful of others and we do this even though we may well have washed our hands before we left our houses!

We are not washing our hands because we think it brings us closer to God – or is necessary before we worship. This puts us at odds with the Pharisees who devised layers of religious ritual around washing hands for exactly that purpose of bringing them closer to God in their eyes. Did it work? – Jesus is suggesting quite forcibly here that it didn’t!

Life as a good Pharisee was pretty demanding. One was required to obey both the letter and substance of the Jewish law. A quick gander through the first five books of the Old Testament and the array of some six hundred laws show this was not an easy ask! Pharisees had to know, obey and apply all the traditions practiced too, that had been handed down from one generation to another, giving equal weight to them as to the law as laid down in the books of the Old Testament. Frankly – An awful lot to take into account!

Let’s just think about the Pharisee’s ritual handwashing and what was involved. First fill a special often 2 handled washing cup with enough water for both of our hands. If we are left-handed, begin with our left hand. If we are right-handed, start with our right hand. Pour the water twice on our dominant hand and then twice on our other hand. Make sure the water covers our entire hand up to the wrist with each pour and separate your fingers so the water touches the whole of our hand. Then dry your hands with a towel –whilst saying Blessed are you Lord, our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us regarding the washing of the hands. Then we were supposed to not speak again until we had started eating!!! What startled me the most in all of this was the reality that it was also a prerequisite in the regulations that before they started all of this that hands had to be clean in the first place!

That all that ritual was not practical in the life Jesus and his disciples were living is obvious. It is pretty clear from the interchange between the disciples and the pharisees. For the pharisees all this ritual had become a stumbling block too. It was all about the ritual itself rather than what the ritual was supposed to do (i.e bring them closer to God). They had taken it to the next level, saying not doing the ritual defiled a person, which is a strong word meaning, mar, spoil, or make impure

We need to be careful with rituals we find helpful that they are doing what they say on the tin (and we are not getting caught up or caught out in hypocrisy as the Pharisees were). Jesus firmly calls them out on this. This people honours me with their lips but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines’.

We also in this and many other places need to be mindful of casting judgement, especially as harsh a judgement as was being meted out here! Judgement when it comes, is not ours but God’s perspective that matters.

Thankfully though our first reading which also addresses hypocrisy, gives us some tonic and advice in how to do better in our walk with God. James picks on a number of things to help us: –

Generosity being the first. I have on a number of occasions been overwhelmed by generous hospitality of my hosts, particularly in circumstances where very little is available. I particularly remember a trip to India and being invited to a lavish celebration. The hospitality was superb against a backdrop of very great poverty and relatively having very little indeed. The abundant generosity made me think at the time, and I have often reflected on it. The language James uses is that every generous act comes down from the Father of Lights. That this is God’s work – lighting up our hearts and lives and sharing that light with others – It is a powerful image and an object lesson in how to live graciously and gracefully.

The second thing James encourages us to do is to be quick to listen. Listening is much underrated in today’s world. It is important to attend carefully to what is being said and what is really being said. Listening attentively can make a huge difference in our communications. It can reduce misunderstandings and give us better insights. James equates this with being slow to speak too! We live in a very noisy world right now. We have the right to speak and be heard, but often there is a lot of speaking going on and precious little listening or hearing especially online – where the media encourages us to monologue – meaning just say what we think! What helps us so much more is proper dialogue. A conversation where people speak but also where people listen and really hear what is being said.

A third thing that James exhorts us to Is to be doers of the word – to let what God wants of us to filter out into our actions. Faith is not an academic exercise – and what we need to think, but about how our lives are lived and what our lives actually look like. Do they demonstrate our faith to those around us? The example James uses is an interesting one about looking at ourselves in a mirror. It describes someone who is just hearing but not doing as like someone who looks at themselves in a mirror and then immediately forget what they were like. It as if the individual leaves no impression in the mind. If actions do not accompany words…..

James also makes the point that God will bless the people in their doing. Over and over and over again, I have seen this being the case. My experiences says in serving God, and doing what he wants for us, we gain far more than we give in the first place. God’s economy is about flourishing for us and God’s overflowing generosity. Several times we will remember acts of Jesus where the response was overflowing, like in the feeding of the five thousand with 12 baskets left over or when vastly more high quality wine was made at the wedding in Cana. God doesn’t do things by halves and we shouldn’t either

It is worth us living our lives through generosity, listening carefully and doing what God wants of us. All of that will help us to steer clear of hypocrisy that so beset the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Where Jesus ended our gospel reading was asking us to look at the motivations of our hearts and for purity of intention there. Just to recap – it wasn’t about what’s on the outside that matters or any amount of ritual we might do!! Jesus said it was all about having a heart that was clean. It’s all about what’s on the inside, and particularly it’s what comes out, from the inside, from our hearts that matters. Amen.

The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995

Link to Rev Alison’s video reflection https://youtu.be/jJ9kK3bg7Ys

Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6.56-69

In the name of the God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen

How do we measure strength? Well, that would depend on what kind of strength. Physical strength could be measured by the development of our muscles. Mental strength by our capacity to answer tricky questions correctly or ability to recall information we need when we need it. Spiritual strength could be measured by how long we devote to prayer each week? These things are a bit arbitrary and will not really answer the point where the writer to the Ephesians is starting from in today’s well known reading from the end of this letter.

Our reading started Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.  The important point here is not to  be strong in our own faculties and capacities, but to be strong in the strength of God’s power in us and for us. The writer is talking of God’s power in our lives. In a way Jesus is also talking about it in our gospel reading. God’s power in us and for us inherent in the bread of life that Jesus is offering – the bread that will live for ever or as Peter sums it up that Jesus has the words of eternal life. What Jesus said at this point caused difficulty for some, but it is one of those things said to help us reset the balance and capture what matters. That Jesus had and did come to radically change everything.

Returning to the writer of the Letter to the Ephesians– He uses the militarist image of the armour of God to help us to understand how all the aspects of God’s love for us and particularly God’s strength in us and for us works. The writer begins by defining the battle we face and he defines the Devil and evil forces that conspire against us and the powers that hold sway over us. The wiles of the devil, and the spiritual forces of evil are neither the approach nor the language we use to describe this routinely today. Yet there are persistent lures and delusions all around us – for example the need to look after number one rather than be community minded or the persistent pressure to think of ourselves before others rather than thinking of others before ourselves.

We also see people are searching and looking for meaning – sometimes in all the wrong places. We have much to bring to the party where meaning, purpose and hope is concerned. Yet it can be very difficult to express that. As we participate in Jesus’ story today in our country through our baptism – we are part of God’s story for our world but in this we need to have great courage and persistent determination. We need to keep going – keep sharing and keep working counter-culturally to share the real meaning, hope and purpose that lasts for ever in the love of Jesus Christ

Interestingly, we most commonly address turning away from sin and renouncing evil (and the battle the writer to the Ephesians draws us toward!) in our baptism services. It is at the forefront of the commitment made by parents and godparents on behalf of the children involved. For some this may seem like startling language but I think it helps us to acknowledge there are dark powers and forces we do not completely understand. From time to time we clearly recognise sin and evil for what it is (even though we are often taken in by it too!). It is good when making a positive new start on the spiritual journey to make a stand. Draw a line in the sand – and consciously move forward in the strength of God for ourselves and the new life in Christ being celebrated through baptism.

Having defined the battle the writer moves on to describing the pieces of armour we have from God – through the power of the Holy Spirit. This was an appropriate way of putting it for 1st century Ephesus but in 21^st Century Somerset we are, I confess, less frequently confronted with armour! However, we need all the help God’s spirit can bring us to stand in the strength of God’s power as God intends. So let’s just unpack the armour a little and the spiritual points being made here!

First, the belt of truth around the waist. Earlier in this letter, the writer spoke of the importance of telling the truth, which I talked about a couple of weeks ago. The armour begins with the belt of truth holding us together – pointing to how integrity is so important

This is accompanied in the early foundational pieces with the breastplate of righteousness. Righteousness is living the way God says is best for us. Self-righteousness – is living the way we think is best for us. These are different – righteousness gets too linked with self-righteousness. Behaving as God says is best – means we practice what we preach (and are not found wanting!)

The passage then says as shoes for your feet, put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. Make you ready – is an interesting way to put it! It is not as shoes for your feet proclaim the gospel of peace but what makes you ready to do it – prepared and able with words by all means but also our lives and lifestyle choices. St Francis famously said something like – Proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and if you must use words. Gospel values are so much more than our words

Where next then the shield of faith to deflect the flaming arrows of the evil one the letter says. The going will not always be easy and our faith will carry us ever onwards until we meet our loving God – the other side of the great divide in heaven rather than on earth. Our faith will help and support us if we let God through his Spirit work his way in us, our faith will support us more and more as we grow more Christlike day by day.

The last 2 aspects of the armour of God begin with the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. The word of God is vital nourishment. We should have Bibles well used to support us day by day. There is depth and insight in every page. It can be very difficult sometimes – but taken seriously through our daily prayers and bible study. Our spiritual lives will be enriched and many times we will find ourselves equipped in our daily studies with the resources we need for the day. Scripture can be piercing and hard – but also really to the point and a great tool in our journey.

And then finally in the armour topping it off is the helmet of salvation. Dwelling on how we have been saved and are loved by God and how God – so almighty and all powerful – is concerned with the likes of us. God loves us through all our comings and goings, the good times and the bad. It is not and never has been about being worthy – we are not worthy of this love but God loves us all the same. This helmet of salvation wrapped up in grace is one of great re-assurance and the bedrock of our faith.

This passage doesn’t end there but then with an exhortation to persistent prayer, to keep alert and to be bold. Not just the writer to the Ephesians being bold, but also the Ephesian Christians being bold and us being bold. Along with bible reading, time spent in prayer – for all the things of the day and all the things that surround us and concern us, and all that connects us with God’s love for us and his loving heart.

To finish the passage ends with a prayer for the writer from the heart of the jeopardy of his situation – in chains. To write as he has done of all these things that make us strong in the Lord and to still be bold from prison has to make us think on. Ultimately the important point here is to lean into God’s love for us for the strength we need for each day. Through truth, peace, faith, and salvation nourished through God’s word and our prayers. I end with the words of the Charles Wesley hymn we will sing on Sunday in the churches.

Soldiers of Christ, arise, and put your armour on, strong in the strength which God supplies thro’ his eternal Son.

Strong in the Lord of hosts, and in his mighty power, who in the strength of Jesus trusts is more than conqueror.

Stand then in his great might, with all his strength endued; but take, to arm you for the fight, the panoply of God.

To keep your armour bright, attend with constant care, still walking in your captain’s sight and watching unto prayer.

From strength to strength go on; wrestle and fight and pray; tread all the pow’rs of darkness down, and win the well-fought day.

Then having all things done and all your conflicts past, Ye may overcome, through Christ alone and stand entire at last Amen.

The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995 – CCLI – Song words – Soldiers of Christ arise  reproduced under CCLI 217043 for St Peter and St Paul’s Church Wincanton

Link to the video reflection: https://youtu.be/iI-EuYhFtxc

 Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 1:46-55

In the name of the God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen

This week started with remembering Mary Sumner on 9^th August. Mary was the founder of the Mother’s union – This year that organisation is marking 145 years from the very first meeting in 1876 and her feast day fell on the 100^th anniversary of her death.

From the start Mother’s Union was to unite mothers irrespective of their social status, around bringing up children in the Christian faith. (This ignoring of social status was very radical for the times!!) Family and parental responsibility as role models have been extremely important to this organisation over all those years. There has not been much drift. The Mother’s Union today as a global organisation has 5 aims to:-

• encourage parents in their role to develop the faith of their children.

• maintain a worldwide fellowship of Christians united in prayer, worship and service.

• promote conditions in society favourable to stable family life and the protection of children.

• help those whose family life has met with adversity.

• promote and support married life.

We should take a moment to be thankful for the Mother’s Union in this place. Generations of families that have been supported over the years. We give thanks for our existing group too led by Kath White. It was great to have a social gathering recently for the first time in a long time. Commitment to prayer, service and family life is an important foundation for us.

And then moving to the end of the week, we move to thinking about another Mary – this time we remember the Blessed Virgin Mary. Another person we associate pretty uniquely with family life as the mother of Jesus. Mary was a constant in his earthly life, and who saw it all from his birth through to his death and resurrection. We often get the phrase and she pondered these things in her heart – so we surmise Mary to be a reflective and thoughtful person. It is worth thinking about how she responded to God’s call on her life.

Our readings today began with one from St Paul’s letter to the Galatians. It explained how Mary’s role came to be. There is something very satisfying in understanding the phrase ‘when the fullness of time had come’. This indicates the momentousness of what was happening at this point. Literally changing everything for ever!!!

On Sunday, we will remember these events through our first hymn – A great and mighty wonder. I know it was a bit Christmassy for August! but it made the point well, describing Jesus birth as a great and mighty wonder. (It could have been worse – I nearly picked the carol Once in Royal David’s city – But I struggled with the description of Mary as ‘mild!’). I was much happier with Mary being described as honourable and pure!

Going to her purity reminds us of the absolute jeopardy for Mary in undertaking what God had planned for her. Her “Yes” to God which we think about was without recourse to her own safety and security. Though God fixed this with Joseph so it didn’t happen – had Joseph disowned her Mary could have been stoned to death at worse and been an outcast from her family at best. It cannot have been an easy “Yes” with this in the back of Mary’s mind and yet it was an emphatic “Yes”.

It was a “Yes” of faith in the face of a profound mystical experience. A young girl in conversation with an angel – was not and is not an every day occurrence. Just to reiterate – What is happening here – God does not want to adopt a human child and have it raised as his own. God wants to come and join the human race as one of his own. God has chosen the role of father in the human process, so there can be no question that the child to be born is both human and divine. This is necessary so we can all be children of God too as was described in our reading from Galatians.

Moving on to our gospel reading next, this passage we attribute to Mary that is well known and profound. The stuff of every day for me in the cycle of evening prayer, as these words form the Magnificat. It is important to remember it is not the reflection of young Mary in the moments around Gabriel’s visit, but some time later when she has had time to think about it and when she encounters her cousin Elizabeth.

It is conjecture on my part but the similarities between Mary’s words and the words of Hannah at the start of the first book of Samuel cannot be overlooked. The circumstances are different but some of the sentiments are similar. Mary’s thoughtfulness and pondering may have taken some of Hannah’s statement into her own words made to her cousin. Whatever, they are words worth pondering

Let’s pick up a few themes within what Mary says as food for thought today.

Firstly Mary speaks from deep thankfulness with a tinge of awe and amazement. She was a very insignificant person in the grand scheme of things, on the margins, not just loved by God but chosen by God in this very special way.

There is also a deep sense of her humility in the face of wonder. She understands her lowliness and yet articulates how generations to come will called her blessed.

Mary has also been thinking about the implications of the coming Messiah. Like many of her day Mary was expecting the Messiah to come in power and strength to overcome all the difficulties of their present! And yet on reflection Mary’s words show her heart had reached a different conclusion.  In a nutshell, she prophesies it as good news for the poor and humble, and bad news for the powerful, proud and wealthy. Indeed Jesus did challenge the powerful of his day be it the Pharisees, Pilate or Herod. Those who were arrogant, abused their power or were  caught out in hypocrisy were also confronted.

Another key concept in all this for Mary was mercy and in particular the mercy of God. Mercy is about compassion, kindness and forgiveness. It is quite the opposite of what drives arrogance or hypocrisy. What Mary particularly draws our attention to is the mercy of God, which goes right back to our forebears, to Abraham and is with us into our future, most importantly forever.

God’s mercy is something we should look for and live for as Mary did, as we live modelling a merciful, compassionate and kind approach in our dealings with each other, each nation and our world. Ultimately the judgement and justice in all this is God’s and God’s mercy will always  be wider and brighter than we can ask or imagine.

Finally as we reflect on Mary’s words we do see her recognising God’s hand in her life, even in the face of great potential jeopardy as I observed earlier. Mary says the Mighty One has done great things for me. God’s work in Mary was specific, significant and special. The same is true of each of us – we may not be as centre stage in the action as she was in her day, yet we each have a unique and special role to play in God’s world. We will do it better too with thankfulness, with humble hearts and seeking God’s mercy

Both our Mary’s today, Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Sumner made a big and lasting difference, were thoughtful and reflective and followed God’s call on their heart and their lives. Let’s end with a prayer to do likewise inspired by Mary’s words of praise and wonder in Luke’s gospel.

O Lord, our hearts praise you, our souls are glad because you are our Saviour, because you have remembered us, your servants; because you have shown mercy to all who honour you. We praise you because of all the great things you have done for us. Help us to follow the calling you have for us as Blessed Mary and Mary Sumner did in their hearts and their lives. Amen

References – https://www.mothersunion.org/our-vision,  New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995, CCLI – Song words – A great and mighty wonder  reproduced under CCLI 217043 for St Peter and St Paul’s Church Wincanton, Prayer adapted © ROOTS for Churches Ltd (www

Links to the video of this reflection: https://youtu.be/P0ROy0HieAQ

Ephesians 4.25-5.2, John 6:35,41-51

In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen

In today’s reading from Ephesians, the writer is providing some sound and practical advice on how to approach living the Christian life. Just to summarise the do nots!

• Do not lie, do not sin and do not let the sun go down on your anger or make room for the Devil

• Do not steal or succumb to evil talk

• Do not grieve the Holy Spirit via bitterness, wrath, anger, wrangling, slander and all malice!

If we were to briefly review this last week in our minds – how have we done against this list? Can we honestly say we haven’t been there at all, not even a little bit….. It is quite a tall order to avoid all of those things and it is quite right to repent of these things if they have come to mind. I deliberately put the confession later in Sunday’s service today – so we can ask for enlightened forgiveness based on these reflections. I am not talking about this because I want us to feel bad about our failings, but to show how open to the Holy Spirit we need to be in our day to day activities. The Holy Spirit’s guidance and power can help us with all of this. For virtually all of these do nots, I am pleased to say the writer of the Ephesians gives us positive and thoughtful advice on how to counter them. There isn’t time to talk about all of them but let’s unpack a few.

Starting then with do not lie!  The writer says ²⁵Putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbours, for we are members of one another. One of the easiest ways to lose confidence in a friend is to find that they have lied to us. This is true even in the circumstances when they have probably done it to protect us or some other compassionate pretext. Lying about something – is not a good strategy. For starters, we have to remember for ever that there is some deception on the topic, not tripping ourselves up later on and we always run the risk of something else revealing the truth. We can wrap this up in the semantics of language – Little white lies – diminishing them or being economical with the truth! But it all boils down to the same thing really and it is just not a good idea! Credibility and integrity are brought into question when lies (no matter how small) are discovered.

Another area of difficulty is what to do in the circumstances where someone is set on pursuing a course of action that is not or clearly will not be good for them. We are not much of a friend if we collude in situations like this, but it can also be very difficult not to agree without clearly saying so especially as remaining silent can be interpreted as agreeing. This is actually quite challenging to handle, but we are not alone in any of this. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us – will help us to cope and it is surprising how inventive it can be in this kind of difficult situation if we have the courage to step out. I have experienced a friend stepping out in faith for me – when it would have been easier not to and remain very grateful to her. How the Spirit gave her the confidence and the words to speak when that was what I most needed.

So from lying, the reading moves on to another difficult area. In our relationships with one another this is the thorny question of our anger management. The writer to the Ephesians says – ²⁶Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷and do not make room for the devil.

For starters it does not say  – do not be angry, which is good news – as it is a natural instinct  (and we know Jesus was angry on occasion – particularly over the money changers in the temple). When we witness injustice and we know something to be wrong, this reassures us this is a natural human response to injustice. What the writer to the Ephesians however counters us with is but do not sin. Anger like many natural instincts can switch very easily – into something much more self-seeking. There is a great difference between getting angry over injustice or prejudice in a situation, than getting angry because we are not getting our own way or things are not turning out to suit us, or its not what we like! or wanted to happen. Anger with self-seeking and self-centred motivations leads us rapidly into sin! Making more of ourselves and our desires than is appropriate. In a way this is captured in what the writer of this letter was getting at when he said – do not make room for the devil.

About the choices we make, we are always on a knife edge with this! I always liked those Tom and Jerry cartoons where Tom or Jerry – had a little devil on one shoulder and a little angel on the other. Encouraging either character to behave badly or well respectively. We do have a choice – even in the most heated moments in how we behave and it will help us to remember this. We need to reflect on what our behaviour (especially when we are angry) says about our love of God!

Some of us are quite comfortable with getting angry and expressing ourselves. Others are not. I for one – am pretty uncomfortable with it. I would rather wait until I am calm – and deal with it then. Scared about what I might say and the loss of control. Sometimes it means I miss the moment – when an intervention would have been most helpful. I need to trust the Holy Spirit to help more. Another downside of this strategy is it can leave me festering! We know that stuff that as soon as we put our head on the pillow at night keeps us awake. Brinking resentment and unresolved anger – left to be dealt with later can be one of those things! The entirely sensible advice from the writer to the Ephesians is to never let the sun set on your anger. I have to say I can learn from this, and I even regularly quote this bit of the bible in preparation for wedding couples. It is a helpful and useful illustration of how to maintain a loving relationship. Anger is tricky and difficult to manage. It is not wrong in itself, but we do need to check our motivations and make sure we do not harbour resentments – that won’t do us any good at all!

The final do not I want us to think about from this passage Is ²⁹Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. This one is a big challenge – and requires us to start from the spirit of encouragement with one another and not our gripes and moans. This is tricky at the moment as for some the stress of recent times has left us with a very short fuse or at  best rather scratchy to be around.  Again the Holy Spirit can help us in this – if we give it room to stir in our hearts. I find a helpful question when I am tempted to say something that isn’t helpful – is what is the gracious response? What will speak of God’s grace to us – his love that came down to save us that we have neither earned or deserved. And then after thinking of graciousness – is to test what I want to say with the question is that encouraging?

Church communities in particular should foster and model encouragement and building one another up and not be hotbeds of evil talk. We need to be both real and really counter-cultural in this regard and this is not easy!

To finish I ask us to read the verses we have been thinking about again with a short silence in between for our reflections

²⁵Putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbours, for we are members of one another.

Silence

²⁶Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷and do not make room for the devil.

Silence

²⁹Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.

Silence

Help us through the power of the spirit to walk the Christian life inspired and enriched by these verses: Amen

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995

Link to Video Reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxMv3uxdj5Q

Exodus 16:11-15 and John 6:28-35

In the name of the living God, loving Father, precious Son and ever present Holy Spirit Amen

This week there have been some examples of things with the Olympics that we might view as the first fruits of the harvest of sporting endeavours. On Monday morning, I had a coffee first thing that was somewhat overwhelmed by the synchronized diving competition on the television. Along side the seasoned campaigner of Tom Daley was the young and first time Olympian Matty Lee. The contrast between them felt like the first fruits for Matty with his gold medal, and a long awaited harvest of a gold medal for Tom Daley at his fourth Olympics. Somehow Tom Daley has grown up before our eyes as a nation (he was frighteningly young when the media spotlight first turned on him!).

As I was saying earlier the tradition of giving thanks at the start of the wheat harvest is actually a much older one than what is now our traditional harvest thanksgiving at the end of the season. Lammas involved parading and sharing in a special loaf made from flour ground from the first sheaf of wheat harvested. It was as much if not more about recognising bread as important to our daily lives and equating God’s love as essential sustenance for our lives, as it is about remembering Jesus taking bread and breaking it as something we do in Church as communion to remember him.

Jesus experienced a variety of types of bread – leven and unleaven, and bread which was significant in the rituals and festivals – like the unleven bread of the Passover, which he used so graphically at the last supper. In his day if we were poor bread was made of barley (coarse more like wholemeal) and if we were rich of wheat, coarse still due to milling techniques of the day. Making bread was a daily activity of the women folk as it went mouldy easily! This is one of the things our modern preservatives save us from! Most important Jesus diet would have been much less varied than ours and bread was likely to have been an every meal thing – very much the stuff of every day life. Let’s not get distracted by the variety of bread and food stuffs we have today, but concentrate on our need for wholesome sustenance.

The story from our first lesson, reminds us of the time of the Israelites in the Wilderness. It is very early in that experience, when they are first encountering the daily bread of manna. They were about six weeks into their wandering.  The word they used to describe manna is a derivation of the Hebrew for ‘what is it’ as they really didn’t know what it was.  Just before the extract we heard, God gave instructions to Moses about how the people were to collect it, and at the end of our extract Moses is very clear what it is. It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.

What really strikes in this reading is the Israelites vocally complaining about their lot. They had got into that particular groove and had already been vocalising their discontent earlier in chapter 16. This included that they had been better off in slavery in the land of Egypt – which it is a little hard to believe! They had what they needed for life but not necessarily what they wanted, thought they wanted or thought they ought to have. God was providing (and in all likelihood they were being better nourished than they had been before), but somehow the wonder of this got lost in translation. There is a big difference between what we need and what we want let alone getting towards the questions of what ought to be!. Consumerism has never been so dominant, and it doesn’t help us to keep in balance needs from wants. There is a lot to be said for keeping things very simple and at the daily bread level rather than getting caught up in the whirlwind of oughts or wants, and the potential for getting caught out complaining.

One of the many things COVID has resulted in, is not being able to have things exactly how we think they should be and how we might want them to be or how they have always been. We are on a more positive trajectory at the moment, and it is a great joy to sing after such a long drought. Yet we need to stay in the place which is thankful for what can be, and try to resist tempting complaining. None of us know how it is all going to go – let’s be careful about the difference between needs, wants and oughts, and be kind to each other, avoiding the tendencies of the Israelites in the wilderness. There aren’t guarantees in any of this, and we have to cater for a widespread of views and vulnerabilities as well. Let’s stay close to God’s heart of love and loving kindness, and the need to love our neighbours as ourselves.

When Jesus uses bread (as he does) in many sayings, he uses it in a variety of ways for example:-

• Give us this day our daily bread (lord’s prayer – Matthew 6) to refer to everything we need for this day.

• Feeding the five thousand with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes (in all the gospels) takes us a little further and reminds us how he used bread to meet everyone’s needs for that day.

• We shall not live on breadalone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4), reminds us that though bread is needed for daily life, we need the guidance of God’s word to live well

• Jesus saying – I am the bread of life (John 6), which is where our gospel ended shows to live and flourish we need Jesus dwelling in our hearts through the Holy Spirit with us.

Even though we have taken much of this to point to the ritual of sharing bread and wine through communion, I have increasingly begun to realise that Jesus also means that each time we eat he wanted us to remember him. To rest in his presence in our everyday activities, as this was stuff of his every day! A good holy habit for us is to acknowledge Jesus’ presence with us in our every day through the power of the Spirit, when we break bread, or share any kind of sustenance to feed our physical bodies. This helps us to balance our physical needs and with being mindful of ourselves as spiritual beings, relying on God and his love for us.

Interestingly in our gospel passage Jesus is looking back on the account of the manna in the wilderness story. The complaining part is very much glossed over and the people listening to Jesus recognise that the bread of God, which came down from heaven brings us life. Unlike the Israelites who were unhappily complaining within days of manna being their daily sustenance, the crowd who had experienced the feeding of the five thousand, recognised the importance of God’s provision for them. They said to him ‘Sir, give us this bread always’.

Our gospel reading ends with one of Jesus’ “I am” sayings. These sayings often have more to say to us than meets the eye and have deep depths to challenge us. Jesus said – I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Clearly this is much more than physical hunger or thirst but about our dependence on Jesus’s love for us as the sustenance we need for our whole selves, body, mind and spirit. That Jesus’ love is essential for a flourishing life in this world and the next. Many learned theologians equate this saying with one of Jesus earlier sayings – one of the beatitudes from the sermon on the mount – Blessed are those who hunger and search for righteousness for they shall be satisfied (Matthew 5). Let’s keep it simple and faithful to Jesus being what we need to live our lives in the light of his amazing love for us. Let’s make Jesus love for us our daily bread. Amen

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995

Link to Rev Alison’s reflection video: https://youtu.be/vTjxXCMMmpo

2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Matthew 20:20-28

In the name of the living God, loving Father, precious Son and ever present Holy Spirit Amen

There have been a few series of a programme called Pilgrimage on the BBC in recent years.  A selection of celebrities with some faith, lapsed faith or none walking well known historic pilgrimage routes. The first one of these series followed the way of St James – who we remember today, which culminates at the Cathedral of St James – in Santiago de Compostella in Spain (which is thought to house St James’ mortal remains). This series featured amongst others the actor Neil Morrisey, Debbie McGee and Reverend Kate Bottley. The route they used was declared the first European cultural route in October 1987 and is known as the Camino. Back in March 2020 we began a Lent course based on a film about walking this route called the Way. It was also about a very unlikely group of pilgrims, and what they discovered about themselves along the route (just like the Pilgrimage TV show!). Sadly Covid lockdowns stopped us continuing.

Pilgrims have been walking the routes the camino includes (with various starting points France, Spain and Portugal) from the 9^th century onwards. Technically pilgrimage is a devotional practice consisting of a prolonged journey, toward a specific destination of significance. I think it is more about the experiences on the journey as the ultimate destination. It combines the physical, with the spiritual and the emotional alongside simplicity in living. Pilgrimages are a feature of most world faiths not just Christianity.

The reasons for making a specific pilgrimage are many and various including in fulfilment of a vow, for forgiveness for sins, as a thanksgiving for life or as a means of intercession, among other reasons. I think, sometimes, we should view our whole lives as spiritual pilgrimages to help us cut through the complexity to get to the nub of what matters in our lives. – Our walk with God’s heartbeat guiding our next step. We can be so caught up with the cut and thrust of life, so taking things back to first principles can be helpful and help us to follow the path God would have for us.

Lets think about this a bit more by looking at the life of St James and what his spiritual journey or pilgrimage looked like! James often called the great was a Galilean fisherman who with his brother John (the sons of Zebedee) was one of the first disciples to be called by Jesus to follow him. He was there at some of the big moments in Jesus’ earthly life. He witnessed the transfiguration on the high mountain. The night before Jesus’ crucifixion James went to the Garden of Gethsemene and he slept whilst Jesus prayed.

James’s mother was a key figure in his life – and in our gospel reading we heard her asking whether James could sit with his brother at Jesus left and right hand in glory. We will never know how this came to pass exactly, but the level of anger from the other disciples, might well suggest that James and John may have encouraged their mother in making this suggestion! In a rebuff, James heard those words of Jesus calling for a life of service rather than lording over others, alongside moving away from political behaviours and jockeying for position. How much did this influence his spiritual journey (as well as the first-hand things he experienced?) Did this give him the courage and determination to do things he did after Jesus rose from the dead to spread the good news?.

Continuing with the things James experienced in his life pilgrimage, he was present for the resurrection appearances of Christ. He is then thought to have spread the good news to the Iberian peninsula and subsequently (about 14 years later) he was put to death by Herod Agrippa in Jerusalem. Herod hoped in vain that disposing of Christian leaders would stem the flow of those hearing the good news. It didn’t!

All of these experiences, the highs and lows formed James and his walk of discipleship. We can see as our epistle has it – that there were times when James was just as much a treasure in a clay jar as we are. Meaning he was vulnerable and fragile to making poor choices, and taking the power to ourselves, rather than the power coming from God. Clay jars can be very useful but break easily too.  Just as all of our experiences, the highs and the lows form us. There are moments when we try to take God’s power and use it for our own means rather than making clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

God can and does use our weaknesses just as much, if not more than our strengths in our pilgrimage through life. The pilgrims on the way of St James particularly use a scallop shell often hung around their necks as a symbol of their journey. There are a couple of pretty fanciful stories linking St James to these shells. I have reproduced some shells for us to use in a prayer activity later at the end of this reflection, but it would be useful to look at this picture below now.

The shell connects us with our spiritual journey. They may remind us of the beginning of our walk with God. We use a scallop shell (or a silver replica) often in baptising new members of our church family. We are reminded of this as we take these promises on for ourselves if we were baptised as infants at confirmation.

The lines and the connections on the shell may remind us of our walk through this life and its many experiences. These lines radiate throughout the shell showing how these form us and interconnect. The triangular shaped peak of the shell reminds us of the three parts of God’s love for us, that connect with us and the lines and connections of our lives. God as Father, creator, God as son and saviour and God as spirit and guide. Our connection with God and God’s connection with us – radiates through all our experiences. Much as St Paul found in the first reading this morning, so the life of Jesus is made visible in our bodies too.

It is helpful to see this life in terms of spiritual pilgrimage, with our concentration only on the next step we need to take. That overused but actually helpful phrase is to say that life is a journey. Our lives are intertwined with God’s love for us and God’s hand guiding us to our ultimate destination. Safe and loved in his heart of love in this life and the life beyond our earthly existence. It is important to stick with each next step we take (as we would if walking a pilgrimage route of life), rather than getting caught up in where we have been and where we might end up. Staying in the present and most importantly in God’s presence in our uncertain and sifting times – this will give us the strength, courage and purpose we need for today. As well as through the grace of God, God’s eternal loving hope for all our tomorrows. Amen.

You may wish to spend some time with this shell image and write a prayer guided by God’s love for us for your next step in your spiritual pilgrimage in these uncertain times.

References: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/what-is-a-pilgrimage

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09w7lcg (First BBC series of Pilgrimage).

Link to the Reflection Video: –https://youtu.be/la_VJ6bRCDk

Ephesians 2:11-end, Mark 6:30-34, 53-end

We will probably remember the late Member of Parliament – Jo Cox said – “We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than things that divide us.”  We have also probably found this statement to be true also when we have sat down and got to know people who are very different from ourselves. In our extract from the letter to the Ephesians, the thrust of this is all about unity and inclusivity. It is all about everyone belonging to the Christian community, being united in Christ once and for all, irrespective of them being different from each other. Like the Ephesian Christians before us, we will particularly need this unity and sense of inclusive purpose as we negotiate our way forward as stage four  of the road map comes upon us.

Ephesus like many places in our world today was a melting pot of cultures, and an important military base and port. The gentiles (those of non-Jewish descent) in the Ephesian Churches were probably more numerous than those of Jewish descent. What the writer initially does is spell out that everyone is united and on an equal footing. Don’t let the language of circumcision or uncircumcision put you off. Let me unpack what was being said:-

Before Jesus came the situation was like this. God started to work with the humans he had made. He picked one group and had a deep relationship with them. God promised them a new land and to be with them in all that they did. The basis of the arrangement God had with his chosen people was that if the people loved God and put their love of God first. If they followed the rules he set them on how to live their lives, all would be well. The people had to love God and keep his rules for the bargain to work!! God also hoped the other people he had not chosen would want to join the ones he had. The people he chose were called the Jews (Hebrews or Israelites) depending on where you are in the story. Their mark of identity was circumcision hence the label of them as ‘the circumcision’ in our passage from Ephesians. The other group therefore being the ‘uncircumcision’.

Now this original deal didn’t work very well and for a number of reasons.

• The group who God had not chosen didn’t like or get on well with the ones God hadn’t chosen and vice versa.

• Those God had not chosen did not want to join up and a wall built up between them, which developed into a big barrier.

• There was another problem, the people God had chosen – didn’t like putting God first and following his rules. They kept putting the rule book down and doing what they wanted to do when they wanted to do it…

In view of the problems God sent messengers to his chosen people, the circumcision, often in the guise of prophets, and they listened sometimes and did what God wanted. However, eventually they always seem to end up doing their own thing and forgetting about God. Putting the rule book down and the situation between the two groups of people was getting more and more out of control. The situation escalated frequently and fighting broke out. Sometimes God’s chosen people won and sometimes the other group won!! It was all getting very nasty, cracked and divided, and God wasn’t remotely happy with this!

God wanted to be there for everybody not just a small group and God didn’t want there to be all this hate – because God was always and is always a God of love. So God decided to bring an end to all of this. He sent messengers to say he was going to do something really different and then he did it – he sent his son to be our Saviour Jesus Christ. Now to make this big change, God had to do something spectacular and something that had never been done before. So what happened as we well know, was that Jesus was killed and then he rose again, he came back to life in a new way after 3 days to change things once and for all and forever. By doing that God brought both groups together, so they and we all now have access to God’s love and peace for us. Another way of putting this is Christ broke down the wall of hate by giving his own body. Christ through dying on the cross wanted to bring the Jews (the circumcision) and the gentiles (everyone else – the uncircumcision) together. Through reaching out his arms on the cross he was the bridge of peace for us all bringing everybody into relationship with God – so everyone knew how much God loved them. Jesus did that for the people then and it still works for us today – So we can all know God now, through the power of his Spirit as a direct result of Jesus dying (and rising again). In doing that we should remember that Jesus died to bring us peace and to bring us together all of us in one body. This ensures that you and me and everyone here could know how much God loves us.

In our own way, we need to live and love through this reconciling peace of God and keep it uppermost in our outlook. We live in times of division and much has been hurt and damaged by our recent pandemic times. I don’t think we initially entered into these days in a particularly unified place as a country either – whichever side of the debate we were on in relation to Brexit too.   We have people holding very different views about the pandemic and having lived through very different experiences. At one end of the spectrum are those who are ready to go and get on with it as soon as possible. At the other end is a lot of fearfulness and trepidation, and the impact of a lot of isolation and other difficulties people have had. We have people with all the means they need to live and others well below the breadline. We have people in the full flush of health and those struggling or whose vital treatments have been delayed. We have people who are living with the long-term debilitating impacts of long Covid. We have people who have lost loved ones (often long before what they feel should have been their time). We have people in stressful occupations, or on the front line living with the impact of long-term stress and those without employment and with little prospect of employment. One Sunday supplement magazine article I read several months ago used the analogy that an unprecedented number were living with the impact of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

None of us has been through times like this before, and we will need to do our best to move forward lovingly and kindly in the days ahead of us, keeping at the heart of all our beings and doings the reconciling peace of God. We will need to concentrate on what holds us together (and not to let the things that divide us take over). I do not think this is going to be particularly easy and tensions are bound to surface. For some our pace will be too slow, remembering yet for others our pace will be too fast.

To do this we are going to have to work together and pull together well (and avoid the trap of stone throwing behaviour). For example, some may be more comfortable wearing a mask in the building, others may be happy never to wear one ever again. We will need to respect one another’s choices. In addition – we will be working through all the things that make our churches work. Also we will be doing that with an eye to what will make them grow and grow younger. I don’t know what this will look like exactly, but I know God has a flourishing plan for us all! I need us also to remember that I don’t know at any depth how all the bits used to fit or evolved together over many years before March of 2020. So please help me with this (don’t assume I know because I don’t in all likelihood!). It is also likely that some aspects will need to fit together quite differently. Some fundamental things have also changed and it is likely that more will have to change too. Please help and support where we can and particularly pray.

To use the language and style of this reading, Jesus has proclaimed peace to those who are raring to go, and peace to those who are more cautious. We need to be sharers of that reconciling peace through access to the Holy Spirit, God’s presence with us. We are just as much all members of this household of God, built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone as the Ephesian churches ever were! Let’s be united, concentrate on growing together as a dwelling place for God. Let God’s peace and reconciliation fill us and overflow from us. Amen

Jo Cox quote came from https://wearethecity.com/inspirational-quotes-jo-cox-member-parliament/ New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995

Rev Alison’s video reflection can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu-rYnozkHw

Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29

In the name of the Living God: Loving Father, Risen Son and ever present Holy Spirit, Amen

Today’s readings could not be much more chalk and cheese. In our Gospel we have King Herod thinking Jesus as he began to teach and preach was John the Baptist raised from the dead. We then heard the sorry tale of how Herod had been intimately and entirely involved in the demise of John. It is a story packed with the seedier side of human nature – deceit, manipulation and inappropriate extra marital relations. In all of it, Herod had recognised that John was a ‘righteous and holy man’ and protected John even after arresting him for speaking out against Herod’s lifestyle choices. Yet subsequently, Herod’s hand was then forced after he had made an ‘extravagant’ and open-ended promise as a gift for a dance performance. Herodias, Herod’s wife, took her chance to enact her revenge on John who had spoken out about the inappropriate nature of her relationship with Herod. We also know deep inside Herod knew what he ultimately did was wrong, because it says the King was deeply grieved.

We recognise the sentiment in all of this in all probability, because sometimes we have all found ourselves resorting to devious means to get our own way, and then on a better day working out we should not have done it! I have seen someone preaching about this passage holding a silver salver to be the platter and asking people in their mind’s eye to put their behaviours of this sort on to it, asking God for forgiveness – It was an uncomfortable and humbling moment.

We occasionally use the phrase wanting someone’s head on a platter when they have done us wrong and we want revenge like Herodias did. This is an idiom of speech with direct origins from this story!! By in large revenge is not something that does any of us any good, much better for us to be seeking peace and reconciliation than ill-fated working out how to get even.

Anyway – as I said at the beginning this passage could not be much more of a contrast with the reading from Ephesians but there is a link. The Ephesians passage has us thinking about praising God across many dimensions of his love for us and rooting the basis of our spiritual blessings firmly in God’s love for us. The link between the two readings connects us to the essence of why Herod knew what he was doing was wrong, because our spiritual journey’s recognise the importance of our quest for holiness through praise and worship of the God who loves us so much. And it was that very thing that Herod recognised in John – he knew John was on the quest for holiness too. More than that he knew John was holy and righteous, and what Herod was doing was not!

When we think about our praising God across the many dimensions of his love for us, it is hard not to dwell on our experiences of the past 16 months or so (and very nearly all the time I have been here). When we have been able to praise God together in worship, we have had to follow quite complicated regulations about the ‘what and how’ of it, much of which has been most unwelcome. It has been very hard to bear the lack of singing, the being together and yet by necessity separate from each other. Inherent in praising God together in worship is heartfelt singing and deeper fellowship in person than we have been able to exercise for most of this time. Like all of us, I am really looking forward to having much greater freedom to worship, and share fellowship. For the first time in a long time, I can see the joy of singing together is finally more than peaking over the very near horizon! Thanks be to God.

As an aside for a moment, as we contemplate the wonder of singing together in praise of God’s glory – what should we start with? I would be very interested in hearing your choices and why you chose them. Though it might be our overarching favourite hymn – that might not contain words that really sum up what our first in church sung praise of God should be after such a long drought of this activity. Please do let me know your thoughts? I am minded to pick (if it is me picking) a good solid hymn of praise – possibly Praise my soul the King of heaven, To God be the glory, or Guide me O thou great Redeemer.

Let’s take a moment now though to dwell on the riches of this extract from the first chapter of Ephesians to remind us why we praise and worship God. There is a lot in this passage, and I am going to draw on just four of many riches to help top up our internal balance about it.

• Firstly: We worship to recognise our blessedness by God and how we are his children through Jesus Christ.

• Secondly: We worship as Jesus is the foundation of how we can stand holy and blameless before God through his love for us. Jesus who was there from the very beginning, who was and is and is to come.

• Thirdly: We worship in God’s glorious grace, freely given to us and as the reading said that is lavished upon us. Not something we earn or deserve, but flowing abundantly from God’s love for us, lavishly as the reading put it.

• Fourthly: We recognise the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives working in us and through us. In this instance Paul uses the language of inheritance, the power that accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, and toward the end of this passage that we are marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit.

The passage also says there are three active responses we need to be busy with for the praise of God’s glory (which is another central facet of why we worship). The verbs St Paul uses for these are hoping, hearing and believing. These things help us to stay connected to God’s love for us and to be wholehearted in our praise.

Firstly, staying hopeful is important to us and living in the hope of God’s love for us beating in our hearts. This is a great comfort in the troubling times we have been living through, and has been a stream of peace and reassurance.  One of the ways to stay in that hopeful place is to be consistent in our prayer and bible reading, which moves us on to keep hearing the words of scripture and letting them work in our hearts, which is St Paul’s second verb. In a little while, I will be embedding the daily Bible readings that have been supplied over all these months in our daily worship resources into our newsletter. When this all started I never imagined we would still be doing this all this time, but the joy of reading the psalm and short reading specified is usually that you will be reading it alongside many Christians across our land on that day and in unity together. God can work in us through the wonder of scripture – even the most familiar passage can have something new to say in us. As well as hoping and hearing the scripture – the third active response we need in praise of God’s glory is to believe and let the Holy Spirit work in us, boldly and freely in our belief!

As we move towards greater freedom in praising God’s glory together in the days and weeks and months ahead – let’s remember that that is what our worship together is about. We worship to give the glory to God. Technically this whole passage is written by St Paul as a very Jewish form of praise. Some of the original recipients of his letter would have recognised this intent as a psalm or hymn of praise. It was intended to be a way of blessing God for all the blessings God has showered on us, to encourage us in the walk of holiness, and draw us to reconciliation and peace.

At the moment, we need this kind of perspective altering vantage point that worship brings, to enrich our hearts and lives, just as much as our Ephesian forebears did. To take the next step forward revelling in God’s creative love, to remember the big picture of Jesus’ saving love for us and to allow the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s will in us through his counsel.

Let us pray: Praise be to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He chose us in love to be holy and blameless. He called us in love to hear the good news of salvation. He blessed us in love and included us in his most marvellous plan. Praise be to God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer – Help us to live with hearts on fire in praise of your glory. Amen.

Prayer adapted © ROOTS for Churches Ltd (www.rootsontheweb.com) 2002-2021. Reproduced with permission.

New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995

Are we too self-sufficient these days?  It is a popular saying that God helps those who help themselves.  To a certain extent I would agree that God gave us brains and abilities and intended us to use them, but there is a danger in thinking that we will accomplish anything of eternal value through our own strength.

Prof Brian Cox often smiles when speaking of the end of the universe, and is often asked why – his answer is that he thinks it is funny.  He particularly thinks it is funny when we create what we like to think is a permanent memorial to a person or happening, when he is aware that ultimately the universe will disperse to the extent that our world will not even leave the faintest echo of what has happened during all the time that it existed.  It makes you feel rather small and insignificant!

And yet God says: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness’.

Confusing passage, and may have been a part of an ongoing conversation with the Corinthians, of which we only have Paul’s half. There is a hint in earlier chapters that the Corinthian church is very excited by some new teaching that has been brought to them by people that Paul refers to as ‘super-apostles’, and Paul is trying to bring them back to the basics of the gospel that he taught them.  He does so by pointing out that if he chose to, he has more to boast about than they, but choses not to rather he speaks of some kind of affliction that he wished to be rid of, but whenever he asked God, he received the same answer.  It is a challenge to each of us when we are asked to do something that our immediate, almost instinctive response is ‘I couldn’t possibly do that’.  God’s grace is sufficient for us, for power is made perfect in our weakness.

In our gospel reading, we find Jesus returning to his home.  No reason is given for this, but the preceding chapter gives an idea of how busy he had been, and my own experience is that adult children often return to the family home when they need a rest.  From what we read, Nazareth does not seem to have provided him with that, as his taking part in the regular worship at the synagogue, and his miracles of healing seem to have stirred up a feeling that he has got above himself – it could be paraphrased as ‘who does he think he is?’.  It is interesting to note that referring to him as the son of Mary rather than of Joseph implies a suggestion that they believe him to be illegitimate.  The reception of the synagogue in Nazareth is sharply contrasted with that in the village in the previous chapter, where Jesus had been previously and where he raised the daughter of Jairus, a synagogue official from serious illness, possibly even death.

And so, after a seemingly not very fruitful return home, Jesus goes out again to the surrounding villages and commences teaching again.  This time, however, he decides that the disciples have heard and seen enough of his teaching for the time, being, and now need to continue their learning by taking his message out themselves.  And so, we read that they are sent out in pairs with fairly strict instructions.  They are to take nothing apart from the basics.  They are to take no supplies, but to rely on the welcome they receive for hospitality.  The instruction not to move to another house probably refers to a common practice amongst travelling preachers at the time of going from house to house – effectively begging.  As Paul was told, ‘God’s grace is sufficient for us, for power is made perfect in our weakness.’  If a place does not welcome them or their message, they are to simply move on making sure they take nothing from that place – not even the dust that their shoes have picked up on the journey.  This shaking off of the dust was a routine act for a Jew as he left gentile territory, but to do it to a fellow Jew shows how seriously the rejection of God’s teaching was to be taken.

On Wednesday the PCC heard a report on the most recent meeting of Deanery Synod, and a report that we looked at called ‘Discerning Ministries’.  I have a copy of it with me as I think that we shall be hearing more about it during the year.  The underlying thinking behind it is that we are spreading our clergy to thinly, and being human, they will only stretch so far before they snap.  At the same time we may be frustrating gifted and talented lay people by not using them as they believe God wishes to use them.  Under the heading ‘What is Church?’, it says this:

Our model of church has sometimes been based on having a vicar and expecting then to do or lead on most things – including the things that don’t need to be done by a priest.  The days of ‘one vicar one parish’ are increasingly gone and the current way in which multi-parish benefices are configured often puts a strain on everyone – clergy and laity.  This was apparent before Covid 19, and is even clearer now with additional financial pressures and many people feeling weary.  The role of the clergy as spiritual leaders is still central, but the desire is to release them from the unreasonably broad burdens that many are carrying, alongside releasing the varied gifts of the laity so that together we can find a more joyful and sustainable model.’

Link to the video reflection: https://youtu.be/Jjkr3QK5f8g
Acts 12:1-11, Matt 16:13-19

In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit- Amen

The feast of St Peter and St Paul has been kept together like this since the very earliest days of the church. This date is chosen as it is regarded as the anniversary of their martyrdom in Rome in or around AD64. They are both very important in the development of Christianity but in markedly different ways.

Our readings today –really only major on Peter so I am going to pay most attention to him. We know Peter’s story – how he was one of the 12 disciples. He gets a lot of attention often for putting his foot in it (and getting things mixed up). He gets special mention frequently – partly because he recognised who Jesus was – and said so as we heard in our gospel reading. Jesus names him as the rock on which Jesus was to build the church, but to be honest he was quite an unlikely rock. And that is one of the things I like most about him that he is such a good example of how God can transform and use us. Peter went from impetuous and head strong fisherman to inspired speaker and wise leader. The last time he is referenced in the story of the early church in Acts chapter 15. He is speaking wisely at the council of Jerusalem – where Paul is also present. He is saying things he would never have imagined he would say or believe. His wisdom is based on God’s work in his life and the Holy Spirit dwelling in him.

Things like the amazing events of our first reading where Peter is in a pretty tight spot. It is not looking good – Peter knows it and his fellow early Christians know it. King Herod has found out that killing disciples makes him popular with the Jewish people. He has had Peter arrested with increasing his popularity in mind. So the Jewish people also thought Peter’s days were numbered and Herod placed him under armed guard. The size of the guard is staggering! Four squads to successfully imprison one apostle does sound a bit excessive, but clearly Herod wanted there to be no mistakes. Perhaps, he had heard about how the apostles had been liberated from the temple jail before by angels (in Acts 5) and wanted not to take any chances. He had not taken into account the power of God in his plans, but only the limits of human power – which are not enough and never have been enough to limit God. No matter how many guards we may happen to employ!

When we tune in with the detail of it in the story – it all gets more and more amazing. We have Peter sleeping in between 2 soldiers with more at the door! and others at other guard stations. We can also wonder at Peter’s amazing ability to sleep in these circumstances and when in such mortal peril as he was. Peter is not just a bit asleep either but fast asleep. As an angel of the Lord appearing with accompanying light show is not enough to wake him. The angel has to tap him on the side to achieve that.

We can put some of Peter’s ensuing confusion at what is happening down to coming out of a deep restful sleep suddenly. Being woken in these circumstances can be disorientating. Peter is left with confusion about whether it’s a dream or vision, rather than real life. As he is instructed to get up and get dressed and get going, strange things start to happen from the beginning. He is miraculously freed from his shackles. He gets past all the guards unchallenged. Not just the ones he is sleeping beside or the ones at the door, or the first or second guard points.

The outer iron gate leading into the city, which was no doubt locked and bolted at night opens for them of its own accord. This was important as Greek folk lore of the day gave high regard to self opening doors (giving what happened validity). It is only when all this had happened and the angels leave him that Peter came to himself. Peter realised what had happened as he said ‘Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.’ Peter is amazed to have escaped Herod and the expectations of the Jews.

We don’t get today the farcical scene that follows this. When the slave at the early Christians’ house he goes to for shelter, leaves him standing outside as she is so amazed Peter is there. Likewise no one inside the house believes her when she says he is there. Chains, numerous guards, and locked doors are all no barrier to the will of God here and his plan for Peter at this point. Everyone is confounded and surprised – not least Peter himself at the outcome. The aftermath of this incident ends badly for both the soldiers – as Herod has them questioned and put to death. Herod himself also comes to a nasty end a couple of verses later in this chapter of Acts. Shortly after this at a public gathering, Herod will not give the glory to God, and an angel of the Lord strikes him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Two thousand years on we cannot explain the ‘how’ of this story. Yet we can admire the faith of Peter. That even in this insidious position he remained faithful and positive. He didn’t succumb to anxiety or hopelessness. We can admire his obedience (even if he was half-asleep). He did what was asked of him. He didn’t ask questions. He didn’t need to have every action explained to him. He didn’t prevaricate or dither about what was necessary.
If we take a breath and now turn our attention briefly to Paul. Paul’s story is equally dramatic. He was actively persecuting Christians (holding the coats whilst Stephen was stoned for example!), when he experienced a profound life-changing vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus. He then had to overcome his own reputation and history with the followers of Jesus. Over the years he did much to help shape the understanding of the Christian faith as we hold it today through his letters and teaching.

Paul spread the word and nurtured the new Christian communities across the Mediterranean. He was well educated and well able to manage the communication challenges of his day. It is often St Paul that we have explaining things to different audiences and with different understandings and approaches and winning the day for Jesus. It was a costly path of the discipleship for him too – he underwent many hardships and beatings for his faith, but like Peter in the story of his miraculous escape he relied on God and recognised the source of his strength too. In the second letter of Timothy 4:17 – The writer says ‘But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed’.

Both the story of Peter and the story of Paul is first and foremost about reliance on God and letting his will be done in us and through us. Relying on God’s strength (to do what God wants of us no matter how unlikely or far fetched it may seem). A friend who had a life changing experience and was deeply blessed by God shared with a me a quote from Henri Nouwen’s about how Peter and Paul approached their different challenges. It is sometimes called bread for the journey – it says this:
”We seldom realize fully that we are sent to fulfill God-given tasks. We act as if we were simply dropped down in creation and have to decide to entertain ourselves until we die. But we were sent into the world by God, just as Jesus was. Once we start living our lives with that conviction, we will soon know what we were sent to do.”
Let’s use the example of Peter and Paul to inspire our faith journey and the next steps we need to take.
AMEN

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The New Revised Standard Version (Anglicized Edition), copyright 1989, 1995