'Is love all you need?'

In July 1967 The Beatles released ‘All You Need is Love’ – and I loved it.  I was 16 years old and into my second year as an Apprentice Jockey indentured to Bruce Hobbs in Newmarket.  

It was going to be another ten years before I came to know the source of real love and the answer to the question that set me off a long journey from Royton (Lancashire) to Newmarket. But that’s another story for another time.

But the question I want to ask is, where the Beatles right, that love is all we need? There was certainly a lot of talk around'love' in the 60’s and ‘the summer of love.’ 

 However, Jonathan Sacks thinks otherwise as he argues in his book ‘Not In God’s Name.’

Taking the foundational stories of Isaac and Ishmael (and Sarah and Hagar), Jacob and Esau, Leah and Rachel, Jospeh (of the many coloured coat fame!) and his brothers.

He lays out the ‘top-level narrative’ that is basically sibling rivalry where the younger seeks to usurp the older.  (I am obviously précising Sack’s more detailed analysis and insights)

Underneath this top-level story is another counterintuitive story.  This counterintuitive story leaves us with an empathy for those who are apparently wronged. We feel for Hagar and Ishmael at the hands of Sarah and the seeming compliance of Abraham.  And what a scum bag is Jacob, (and his mum) plotting and deceiving blind Jacob in giving Esau’s blessing to him instead of his brother.  It is the same with Leah and Rachel, and for Joseph and his brothers. Although you have to dig deeper into the narrative to appreciate all the nuances in the colourful coat saga.

So, if love is not all you need then what is needed?

There are occasions when I go to the supermarket with Jane, my wife. And then, as often happens, particularly if we had a coffee before, I need to ‘pay a visit.’ Then in the crowded supermarket it becomes a game of ‘hunt the wife’.  (I sometime use the phone, but I like the challenge of ‘hunt the wife.')   What I have pondered over (and perhaps this is just me!) is that there are all these people, anyone one of them might be a suitable wife or partner.  But I am looking for a very particular person. The one I have made a vow to love, the one I have entered a covenantal relationship with. I love Jane more than any other woman. My love for her is exclusive.  And in my loving Jane I have ‘forsaken all others’ as it says in the marriage service.

 Sacks argues, love is exclusive!

An extract from the Leah, Rachel and Jacob story, Genesis 29. 30-32

³⁰ Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah. And he worked for Laban another seven years. ³¹ When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. ³² Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben, for she said, ‘It is because the Lord has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now.’

Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah.

Sacks argues that it is justice that we all need as well as love. Justice is universal to everyone, and I can seek that justice is done for everyone, whereas I cannot love everyone in any meaningful sense of that word, except perhaps in a platonic sense.

The Rachel and Leah story shows this very clearly. Having declared his love for Rachel over Leah God brings justice for Leah. ‘When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless. ‘

Hagar is cast out, but God provides for her in the desert when she thought she and her child were going to die.

I find this deep Scriptural wisdom very helpful in seeking to navigate through life.

If we take for example prisoners, or even a single prisoner.

We may be unable to love them, but we can seek for justice for them.

I was chatting this through with someone recently and they said that insight was so helpful. They had a real problem with their mother-in-law finding it impossible to love them and then feeling guilty because as a Christian, surely, we are called to love, and especially those of our household and family.  This wisdom enabled her to be released from that pressure but then to seek that her mother-in-law received justice. In practical terms this means seeking for her mothers-in-law's wellbeing. Ensuring her husband makes time for his mother, etc.

Hate divides, but so does love!

To quote from Sacks, ‘But love is not enough. You cannot build a family, let alone a society on love alone. For that you need justice also. Love is partial, justice is impartial. Love is particular, justice is universal. Love is for this person, but not that, but justice is for all. Much of the moral life is generated by this tension between love and justice. Justice without love is harsh. Love without justice is unfair, or so it will seem to the less loved.’

 I still like the Beatles song but continue to seek the deep wisdom of Scripture as it offers insights into the human condition.  And it is to the Scriptures that I leave the last word.

From Amos 5:24, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream,”

 

 

 

 O Lord The Clouds Are Gathering - Graham Kendrick 

https://youtu.be/Xfv9OI59_7o?si=lGtI7jwv42Tf5Gfz

'Playing a part - or playing apart' - Weekly Reflection 15th September 2024

Have you heard about the Helicopter Church – the one where there is a danger that as soon as you get close enough you will get sucked up into the rotas!

I remember years ago preaching at HMS Raliegh in Plymouth. One of the comments made by an Officer stuck with me. He said they liked to get new recruits out of their civvies and into uniform as quickly as possible. This helped cement the idea that they now belonged to the Navy, they were on the team, and that came with a raft of expectancies.

And we are back with the dilemma of paid and volunteers I have reflected on before.

On Saturday last I attended a lovely Service at Coventry Cathedral. The core of the Service was the Licensing of Readers and the giving of PTO  (Permission to Officiate) licenses to current Readers to authorise their ongoing ministries – as volunteers!

This year this Service was broadened and an invitation was given to all Churches in the Diocese of Coventry to nominate a ‘lay person’ who had given notable service over the past year.  These people were also called out by name and invited to give themselves afresh to the various ministries to which God had called them. Those ministries were also read out and it was a long list, a very long list, but very exciting and encouraging to note the breadth of ministires being exercised. 

In addition to this we also had some who had taken part in a training course (or courses) run by the Diocese called, Pathways for Lay Ministry. (See below for link)

There was much rejoicing and clapping at the willingness of so many people to give so much, often sacrificially.  

Michael Quoist in his book ‘The Christian Response’ wrote…

‘You are a unique and irreplaceable actor in the drama of human history, and Jesus Christ has need of you to make known his salvific work in this particular place and at this particular moment in history.”

Likening the Church to battleship presents some difficulties. However, it does help us to remember that the Church is not a Cruise Liner on which we can relax and be served and entertained by a hard-working crew.  “O, you know what, I didn’t get anything out of the Service this morning, and those songs, don’t even get me started…”

In a consumer culture we can very quickly become consumer Christians and spend time searching around for the ‘Church Cruise Ship’ that does it the way we like it done.

Now, on a battleship there will be three main groups. Seasoned sailors operating as a team towards a common goal and purpose, there will be recruits who are in various stages of learning the ropes and there will be some in sick bay.

It can be a valuable exercise to reflect on our Church community and ask how many people are in each of those groups.

It can also be interesting to ask, ‘how quickly should we invite people to become involved in the ‘ministry’ of the Faith Community.’ (Invite is a key word here)

On Saturday we heard of ‘ministries’ that engaged with the wider community, care for the elderly, those with dementia, etc. For example, for my own part, I volunteer with Riding for the Disabled, The Farming Community Network, and Prison Fellowship, all of which minister outside of what we might consider ‘Church.’

That needs to be recognized as well, the life and witness of the Church goes well beyond the confines of any building, or at least it ought to if it is being true to its God giving calling.  

Then finally, returning to the quote from Michaelle Quoist above that presents us with a personal challenge.

And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.…

Ephesians 4.11-13

Could it be that if you are not playing your part, you are playing apart.

And here is an idea with Harvest Celebrations coming up. Instead of, or alongside, why not celebrate a ‘Harvest of Gifts’ amongst your Faith Community. I.e. what gifts, skills and talents do your people have? You might invite them to bring something that symbolises their gift, talent or skill and offer it as a gift to God. These ‘gifts’ are offered to God with prayers of blessing and then people are invited to pick up their offering recognising that all things come from God and that their gifts, talents and skills are now to be used for God's plans and purposes. 

(Early in the New Year (Epiphany) is also a good time for such a ‘Service of Gifts.’)

In short it comes down to a simple question I invite you to ask of yourself as you go through the week ahead, ‘just what am I doing for God’s sake?’

 

 If you are interested in Pathways to Lay Ministry follow the lead in this QR Code

 

 

 

 

 

'Did Jesus just call me a dog!' - Homily Tuesday 10th September 2024 St Oswald's Rugby

 

St Oswald’s Rugby Tuesday 10^th September 2024

Mark 7:24-37

The last time I led Tuesday Morning Worship was on the 13th August and we were reflecting on John chapter 6 and Jesus as the bread of life.

And today, although it may not seem so at first, we are back with bread, we are back with the miraculous provision of food that led to Jesus’ pronouncement in John 6, “Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Today we are looking at Mark 7.24-37 – but please take a Bible and open it at Mark 7.

Now look at Mark 6 – and you will see the Feeding of the 5,000. Now look at Mark 8 and you will see the Feeding of the 4,000.

This is the framework in which we are to read and make sense of today’s reading from Mark 7.

This all leads up to the pivotal point in Mark’s Gospel, chapter 8:27-29. This is where Peter declares Jesus to be the Christ, the Anointed One, sent from God, long promised and hoped for.  From here the tone of the Gospel begins to move towards the Cross and Jesus’ death.

It is also important to note that the feeding of the 5,000 was in a Jewish context and the feeding of the 4,000 was in a Gentile context.

Now she was a Greek woman of Syrophoenician origin, and she kept asking Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. “First let the children have their fill,” He said. “For it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” …

Do you struggle with this grumpy, dismissive Jesus, being rude to this woman begging him to help her daughter?

You are not alone and there are various ways that people have tried to soften this and to interpret this apparent rebuttal by Jesus.

If this is Jesus a bit tired, frustrated and grumpy – is that such a bad thing! We have other instances of him showing frustration at the lack of his disciples understanding something he was trying to say.

For me however, once put it into the framework of the two feedings it begins to make more sense.

Some have suggested that the women helped Jesus understand that the Gentiles are to be included. That somehow this was a learning curve for Jesus and emphasizes Jesus’ humanity.

Remembering that Mark was possibly Peter’s recollections written by Mark for the largely Gentile Christians in Rome. 

But that won’t do – look back in your Bible to Mark 5 where we find Jesus healing a demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes.

Jesus has done this before – healed a Gentile man of demon possession in Gentile territory.

I am deeply attracted to the idea that Jesus was Jewish Rabbi, and that this is a very Jewish way of seeking to bring more from the woman.

(And let’s not lose sight of that – Jesus is in discourse with a Gentile woman.)

Jesus lays down a bit of a riddle, a saying, that may well have been something that was already being said. It has been suggested that the Gentile community where exploiting the small Jewish community in the region, these Gentile dogs were stealing Jewish bread!

But even outside of Jewish context we are used to a verbal exchange.

One famous one notable exchange was when Sir Wilfred Paling (Lab) violated Parliamentary decorum by shouting at Churchill – “Dirty Dog.” To which Churchill responded, “The Hon. Member should realise what dirty dogs do to palings.” 

Worth noting where Jesus was, Tyre and Sidon, way up on the far northwest. (Modern day Lebanon) Two important cosmopolitan seaports with Phoenician traders conducting trade from around the world. Could Mark by placing this story here, be saying, this Gospel message is going to go out to all the known world. Well beyond its Jewish confines in every respect, geographically, culturally, ethnically.

And here let us go back to the Bible and look at the beginning of Chapter 7 which comes before Jesus’ long trip up to the far northwest coast. (And according to Matthew’s account he went with the disciples)

We have Jesus in heated debate about ritual purity, who’s in and whose out, what’s right and what’s wrong. (And as we read this type of discourse, let’s not make Pharisees out to be a pantomime baddy.) 

Is this Syrophoenician women in or out? Remembering that the Jews had a long and antagonistic animosity for the Syrophoenicians. And Sidon was Jezebel’s hometown!

There is a lot more I would love to explore with you about Mark chapters 6, 7 and 8, but time is against us.

Trying to pull all the various threads together and going back to the journey from the feeding of the 5,000 in a Jewish context, through to the feeding of the 4,000 in a Gentile context, I am left with a question for us to ponder on. Well, several questions, but I will land on just one, but one that also leads onto further questions for reflection.

“Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Question – who is allowed to get this bread from the bakery?

From the answer to that question flows a raft of other questions we might consider, such as…

Is there such a thing as an exclusive bakery and to get this bread you must abide by certain rules, customs and regulation?

Who have we told recently about this bread of life?

Are we sustained daily by this bread of life – ‘give is this our daily bread’

And are we only offering crumbs from the table?

 

Above all we note that there is a widenss in God's mercy...

https://youtu.be/l5LN1ZvwWfs?si=x-RYN8FDVOMaTUhG

 

 

'Mind your mind and manage your language' Weekly Reflection 8th September 2024

Last month on the 24^th August, Sven-Göran Eriksson died. He was the first non-British manager of the England team, who led the Three Lions to the quarterfinals at three major tournaments during his five-year spell in charge between 2001 and 2006.  Amongst other famous names from Sweden you will probably know are Ulrika Johnson, ABBA and Ikea. 

But did you know that between 1952 and 1995, there was a Church Fee/Tax paid by everybody in Sweden.  In this system, up until 1995, the Swedish church tax was constructed as an opt-out system. Then it became an ‘opt-in’ tax. Interestingly however,  a 2019 poll shows that 68 percent of people in Sweden continue to opt-in to pay this tax.

 (Many Europeans Happy to Pay Tax to Churches They Don’t Attend - Christianity Today)

Around the year 2002 (or thereabouts, the memory of the exact date is a tad hazy) the Diocese of Truro Youth Department organised an exchange with the Strängnäs Lutheran Diocese in Sweden, one of Truro’s linked dioceses. A group of young people from Cornwall (including our eldest sone, Daniel) went to Sweden.  We then hosted a group of Swedish young people in Cornwall. (I was working as the Diocesan Evangelist with close ties to the Youth & Children’s Department)

One of the aspects that the people in Sweden were concerned about was the lack of funding. As the tax system was now optional would there be a lack of funds for youth work and other aspects of church life. What the church tax fee had done was to enable the Swedish church to employ people, youth workers and the like, plus all sorts of other amenities.   They were keen to know how you could organise the life of the church around volunteers, which in their thinking was the path down which they were heading.

Paid and voluntary workers in a charity is a minefield that can explode and become very messy and finding a way through takes a lot of care, love, patience and understanding. 

On Saturday last I sat with a fellow volunteer of a charity with which I am involved and a paid employee of the charity, who moved from being a volunteer to a paid position.

Without any malice intended he had sent an email, and in the ‘flat way’ text can sometimes be taken, was misconstrued by another volunteer. We met to try and find a way forward and a better understanding. (Which we did)

I am reminded of something Jesus said about bringing an offering before God…

‘“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell. So, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.… Matthew 5.21-24 (Sermon on the Mount)

There is a deep wisdom in this teaching.  But first note the counsel to ‘leave your gift and go and be reconciled.’

A lot of churches have a go at something like this during the ‘Peace’ – which is placed before we come to take Holy Communion. (Anglican speak here, hope others get my drift)

But here Jesus is speaking about being in Jerusalem – and you have brought your offering, perhaps a live animal, the best of your flock, and have travelled down to Jerusalem from Galilee! A round trip to sort things out could be anything up to a week.  This isn’t a simple handshake or even a hug – this is way may serious than that. (Not wanting to downplay anybody's sincerity, but you get the point – well I hope you get Jesus’ point!)  

The second very important thing to note is the progression.  Murder brings judgment, as does anger, calling someone ‘raca’ (empty-headed, worthless) brings a condemnation from the next level court, the Sanhedrin, (High Court we might say) but simply calling someone a fool brings a person into the fires of hell!!!

Why?

Because Jesus is inviting us to check the well- head of our thoughts and our desires.

The charity I mentioned earlier has sought for many years to help those who find themselves in desperate straits. However, over the last few years it has shifted its focus upstream and is working hard with other charities to try and stop people falling into the river in the first place.

Whether you are a paid worker, or a volunteer please heed this wisdom, this counsel. Seek early intervention if there is some ‘difficulty’ between people, volunteers or paid staff or volunteers and volunteers. Above all take care of the well-spring of your desires, because ‘the thought is father to the deed.’

Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity. Romans 12.2  

 

  

 

 

 

   

'Life is more than simply black or white?' - Weekly Reflection 1st September 2024

Last night I was watching the news with all its usual awful stories of tragedy, death and destruction, both here in the UK and across the world.  Then there was a fairly lengthy feature about two musical brothers from Manchester who have decided to make up and get back on stage together.  Of course, I am talking about the Gallagher brothers and Oasis.

Initially I thought here we are, with all the news about the world ‘going to hell in a handcart’ and we have this lengthy feature about the return of Oasis and interviews with fans and those hoping to be fortunate to get tickets, seriously!

Then I checked myself, and considered the pleasure and the joy this would be bringing to people. (And making money for a lot of people – but let’s park that).  And here is the paradox of life.

One of the well-known aspects of the life of Queen Victoria and perhaps the most significant turning point in Queen Victoria's life was the death of Prince Albert in December 1861. His death sent Victoria into a deep depression, and she stayed in seclusion for many years, rarely appearing in public.

She mourned him by wearing black for the remaining forty years of her life.

As did Johnny Cash – and he explained why in his song ‘Man in Black,’ here are a few verses. 

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black Why you never see Bright colours on my back And why does my appearance Seem to have a sombre tone? Well, there's a reason for the things That I have on	I wear the black For the poor and the beaten down Livin' in the hopeless Hungry side of town I wear it for the prisoner Who has long paid for his crime But is there because He's a victim of the times
I wear the black For the poor and the beaten down Livin' in the hopeless Hungry side of town I wear it for the prisoner Who has long paid for his crime But is there because He's a victim of the times	I wear the black For those who've never read Or listened To the words that Jesus said About the road to happiness Through love and charity Why you'd think He's talking Straight to you and me

By contrast Jesus is often portrayed as ‘the man in white’ – though we can be reasonably certain he never wore white.

And Jesus lived at a time when ‘the world was going to hell in a handcart’ – not that he would have used such an expression, but you get the point. Grinding poverty, life lived at subsistence level, Roman occupation, short brutish lives with only the most rudimentary of medical care.  The story of the man beaten up on the journey from Jerusalem to Jericho would have been based on a reality  

Would Jesus have tried to book tickets to see Oasis? Well, what we do read in the Gospel’s is that Jesus liked to party, that he liked to have meals with people, very often the ‘wrong’ sort of people.

‘For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

But we do know he also knew deep sorrow. Reflect for a moment his hearing the news about his cousin John, and the awful tragedy of his death.

Queen Victoria spent the rest of her life in mourning. And I get that. When something so awful has happened to you. Like the awful tragedy of my wife’s great niece, killed by a drug filled and drunken young man, deliberately driving a car onto the pavement and killing her and injuring others.

Will life every hold joy again, is it okay if I smile and even laugh? These are real questions and tough questions to answer.

There are some things that happen in life that we will never ‘get over.’ But we can come to live with the new reality. And slowly in that new reality we can learn pleasure and joy and yes, even laughter, without that gnawing feeling of guilt that we shouldn’t be doing this.  

Following the tragic death of Becca a memorial fund was set up, ‘The Rebecca Steer Memorial Fund.’  This Fund’ awards grants to young people in the village of Llanymynech to help with their further education.  We went to the first of these ‘Award Ceremonies’ about a year following Becca’s death. And it was such a delight to see Becca’s mum smiling and finding enjoyment amidst the awful pain that she continues to live with.

Life is not black and white but presents itself in all kinds of colours as encapsulated in this prayer...

O Saviour Christ, in whose way of love lays the secret of all life, and the hope of all people, we pray for quiet courage to match this hour. We did not choose to be born or to live in such an age; but let its problems challenge us, its discoveries exhilarate us, its injustices anger us, it possibilities inspire us, and its vigour renew us. Pour out upon us a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit; make us bold and courageous in sharing faith in both word and deed for your Kingdom’s sake we ask. Amen

I have no plans to try and see Oasis, but I do enjoy a nice meal out with friends and a glass of beer, especially a nice craft beer. I am not much of a ‘party animal’ – but that’s just me. I have known loss and learned to live with the ‘new reality.’  I am also with Johhny Cash and the injustices around the world anger me.  Particularly when it comes to the Prison Estate. We are about 1,000 from full capacity according to the latest figures. And there is a call to build more prisons. I want to say that an 'ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure' – why are we not investing more in early lives through education, support and help?  Warnings and alternative paths going towards the cliff edge is surely better than a fleet of ambulances below picking up the bodies. 

In an article in the Church Times, Jon Kuhrt asks if the Church has lost it way in many of the social programmes that it runs. (Are we manning the abulances) and quotes Dom Helder Camara, “When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” 

I have been saying for a while that Foodbanks are a disgrace – we simply shouldn’t need them except for cases of emergency and a crisis.

Jon argues in much the same way – why are these social programmes necessary and who are they really serving and are they actually helping or disempowering people? 

See Grace, Truth, Common Good - Together For The Common Good)

And Johnny Cash’s song may be great – but I think this one is better...

'Have You Heard God's Voice'

https://youtu.be/JzJr9T5JYRU?si=UOAVDUNFOJWGsQkD