'Put the fear of God into them' - Weekly Reflection 21st December 2025

“We put the fear of God in them.”  A common idiom that means to frighten or scare someone, usually with a sense of gaining their compliance.

There is certainly a lot 'fear' in the birth narrative of Jesus.  Check out Luke 1:11–12 Zechariah visited by Gabriel, Luke 1:29 Mary visited by Gabriel, Luke 2:9 Shepherds visited by an angel. And these recipients of an angelic visitation are following a common pattern, see for example Daniel 8:16 when is Daniel visited by Gabriel. 

To this we can add all the others fears around, from Mary, her parents, and from Joseph, including making a journey to Bethlehem. Even fear from Herod, that another king was born. And look how his fear played out!

But what are we to make of fear itself, there are around forty verses in the Scriptures with the injunction not to fear. At the top of that list must be 1 John 4.18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

Fear and hope were the subject of a discussion group I attend when I am able.  We met last Thursday and continued our exploration Bishop’s Guli’s Advent Book, ‘Listening to the music of the soul.’  Our discussion kept circling back to fear. Despite the many injunctions not to fear, we agreed that ‘fear’ is necessary to enable us to survive and navigate our way through life. Fear and the crippling nature of misplaced fear is way beyond a short weekly reflection, but I do encourage you to give some further thought and consideration to what fear is, its purpose as a powerful motivating factor for good and for ill - Herod's actions for example. 

And check out this BBC podcast on fear and child development - see link below.

A straightforward everyday incident demonstrates the value of fear.  Imagine having no fear of those metal boxes that travel up and down the road, sometimes at very high speeds, and I am talking about vehicles.  Having a fear of being hit by one and seeking to avoid that occurrence makes fear valuable, sensible and we might say necessary for survival.  You can easily add any number of other things to replace the car, big dogs, a nasty person, a ferocious animal.  

However, we can see here that even this perfectly normal and rational fear could become irrational and debilitating. If we developed amaxophobia for example, which is an extreme fear of vehicles, being near them or driving one or being a passenger in one.

At it most basic level fear can be brought down to the level of harm, injury or death. Hence, it is a perfectly natural and normal part of our defence mechanism enabling us to survive.

But if we push that we can begin to see just how crippling it can be at all sorts of levels. We might not have heard of amaxophobia before, but I am certain you will have heard of xenophobia. And that ‘fear’ is driving so much of our politics across the world currently.

And if we drill down even further and take the Scriptures and the story they tell as a guiding principle and source of wisdom we note something that resonates deep within the human experience.  We live in the mind-set of either scarcity, which produces fear, or a mind-set of abundance.

The first story where we see this plays out is with Cain and Abel.

 Genesis 4:3–7

3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour. So, Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

There is a lot in this story, but I would draw your attention to Cain being angry because it would seem that the Lord did not look with favour on his offering. (Which might be related to the tension between farmers and shepherds, something that continues to rumble on through the years. Those who want to settle and farm, and those who want to roam with flocks or with cattle put out to pasture) It would seem from reading the rest of the text that Cain considered that in accepting Abel’s offering, that God had nothing left for himself, Cain.  He had a scarcity mind set. And he looked with a jealous rage against his brother. This rage God describes like a monster crouching at the door, if Cain opened that door then the monster would enter and consume him.

Which sadly, we learn is exactly what Cain did, he didn’t manage to rule over his passion, his fear, his anger – and he rose up killed his brother.

That story has continued to be lived out, individually and corporartely, and across nations.  

The fear that there isn’t enough - food, land, homes, friends, shelter, name what you will. We live in a world crippled by a fear of there not being enough, a mind-set of scarcity.

‘Give us this day our daily bread’ – remember the provision of manna in the desert. Gather only enough for the day. Living in fear and with a mind-set of scarcity we gather not only for today, but also for tomorrow, thus depriving someone else of their daily bread.

In our discussion we began to note that if we lived truly in a community of reciprocal love than that would dissipate a lot of our fears and a scarcity mind-set.  

Let me give you a very real example of what this might look like. Last night (Sunday morning) at around 4.30am Jane woke me as she was in an incredible amount of pain and couldn’t move her leg. She was obviously in pain and fearful, not knowing what was happening.  Thus, I thank God for both fear and pain on this occasion because it spurred us into action rather than trying to ignore the situation, which obviously did need attention. Thankfully I was around, thankfully we have a car and I can drive as NHS 111 advised us to go to Coventry Hospital. But what if Jane lived alone. This is where a ‘community’ would then come into play, someone who could be contacted to offer help. I would dare to suggest, this ‘should’ be the place of the Faith Community, i.e. the Church.  And I have known many occasions when this help has been forthcoming from someone in the community.  Knowing that people from the community (however we see that constituted) are willing to help in times of need, helps to dissipate fear.

Knowing that if I fall on hard times, if I become hungry and homeless, knowing somebody from the community who is living in the mind-set of abundance and not scarcity will share their resources with me, because they trust there is enough, helps to dissipate fear, because love practically expressed begins to chase away the monster crouching at the door.

I might be naïve, but I am convinced that there is absolutely no need for anyone to fight for anything, no need for anyone to go hungry, absolutely no need for anyone to be without shelter.  The ‘problem’ is not a lack of resources, but a lack of distribution because we operate out of fear and a scarcity mind-set.  

Perfect love casts our fear.

As much as we can in our own sphere of influence let us endeavour to be those who embrace an abundance mind-set, to recognise the value of fear to keep us safe, but the danger when it slips over into becoming a phobia.

And in all of this we celebrate heaven invading earth, flooding it with hope and love. Our task is to dig out the mud that has clogged up rivers of love and stopped them flowing. Our task is to speak against those who guard their own wells and not open them freely to others who are in need. 

https://youtu.be/Z4nvVw8z6K8?si=VL7m1AbJ_y_ln7cd

Fear and child developement from BBC Sounds 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002m0c8?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

 

 

'If music be the food of love...' - Weekly Reflection 14th December 2025

"If music be the food of love, play on." These words, penned by the legendary playwright William Shakespeare, (Twelfth Night ACT I SCENE I) capture the essence of the transformative power of music. In a straightforward sense, the quote suggests that music can nourish and sustain our love, like food sustains our physical well-being. It speaks to the profound impact music can have on our emotions and relationships.

And music in various guises has been something I have been bumping into a lot in this past week. Of course, it is the time for music, when there is so much of it around. Whether that is carols sung or heard, or Noddy Holder belting out as he does every Christmass.

And we will have our favourites both sacred and secular, some of which will evoke powerful memories of sometimes extreme emotion, such is the power of music.  ‘This was my dad’s favourite song.’ 

And this is the one time of the year when it is not very hard to get people to come to Church, Carol Services up and down the country are nearly always very well attended.

Let me highlight what music I have been engaging with.

A small study group I belong to have been going through ‘Listening to the Music of the Soul’ the Archbishop of York's Advent Book 2025 by Guli Francis-Dehqani.  Bishop Guli draws on her experience on Desert Island Discs and in each chapter she references a piece of music that she choose for that programme. In this week’s study exploring angels, which are a key feature in the birth narratives, she offers an interesting song by the artist Nick Cave which speaks at a deep almost visceral level.  

‘Into my arms’ – Nick Cave https://youtu.be/LnHoqHscTKE?si=4iBcjYZoTPQzR3zH

Then my second song is from a Facebook post about the French entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. 

https://youtu.be/4551zHeumdc?si=SHsAnkZnWcQTCkXT

Without understanding the words this song spoke deep into my soul as a beautiful melody and I posted this comment. Gordon Banks Now this is what we humans should be doing - not dropping bombs on people...more music, more art, more love and more recognizing that 'I am because we are!'  So far, that comment has received nearly 100 likes and several comments in agreement. In response to one of those comments I replied with a further reflection, ‘indeed - with the Eifel Tower as a backdrop I couldn't help but see it with Hitler - and other dictators we have with us now. Scary times but let the music and the dance play on bringing hope and joy...’

Several other comments also speak about the power of the music sung by young people in such an iconic setting.

Then my third piece of music is really a collection as last night (Saturday) some friends took myself and Jane out to Warwick to see Green Matthews, a very talented husband and wife team who play and sing mainly songs of the folk genre accompanied by historical instruments, shawms and the like. The evening was a ‘Midwinter Revels’ and we were wonderfully entertained with story and songs from across the world and from down the ages from the 13th century onwards. 

And we learned that "While shepherds watched their flocks" is a traditional Christmas carol describing the Annunciation to the Shepherds, with words attributed to Irish hymnist, lyricist and England's Poet Laureate Nahum Tate.

 It was the only Christmas hymn authorised to be sung by the Anglican Church; before 1700 only the Psalms of David were permitted to be sung.  The carol is sung to a wide variety of tunes, the two most common ones being Winchester Old in the United Kingdom and a variation on a Handel aria arranged by Lowell Mason in the United States. It is the fact that it was the only one allowed and that gave rise to various tunes throughout the country to try and bring some variety into singing it repeatedly, year on year.

Yet, note that music can also be divisive and used abusively and with a strong political motive.

I have also been listening to several podcasts this week, some political analysts trying to make sense of our crazy world at the moment that appears to be going through convulsions as the tectonic plates of culture shift and morph and move around us.  These are dark and dangerous times, full of uncertainty.

However, when I see 100 people concur with my comment about music making, along with the other comments, when I see stories of people out in all weathers picking up litter. When I hear stories of people paying for someone’s groceries because an elderly person had forgotten their purse, then I am cheered and I am hopeful.

Of course, I am not daft and know that there are some very nasty people around, and some of them are in charge of countries! However, I want to say amid all that is happening around us today let us sing, and dance, let us make and celebrate art in all its form. Let our creative spirit bubble up and be enjoyed.  If we get it right AI can help here, but we need a massive paradigm shift in our thinking. Not everyone will find work as we have traditionally known it, and they should be provided for, and they should be encouraged to be creative in other ways.

In the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewes and in The Magician’s Nephew, songs and singing symbolize the creative force that forges new life out of nothing. When Narnia is founded, Aslan creates life by singing: his wordless, beautiful song summons the stars, the first sunrise, the sprouting of grasses and trees, and even the appearance of animals. While Digory, Polly, the Cabby, and even Strawberry the horse respond with joy to Aslan’s song, others—like frightened Uncle Andrew and the hateful Witch—are repelled by it, suggesting that the attitude of a person’s heart conditions their response to the beauty of creation.  

And should you be in need of a ‘heart transplant’ here is where to go.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  Ezekiel 36.26

And here I am reminded of the Grinch who had his heart warmed and another Christmass song by Wizard, ‘I wish it could be Christmas every day. ‘If Christmass helps to warm people’s hearts and helps them seek love, caring and forgiveness, then I say yes, bring it on, let it be Christmass every day. And the wonder is that it can be.  However, like John the Baptist, whom we are invited to reflect upon on this Third Sunday in Advent, it is down to you and to me to point to Jesus as the one who is able to offer a heart transformation and to enable people to hear the song of creation in all its beauty and wonder.  As we say, ‘O hush the noise, ye men of strife, and hear the angels sing.’

                             https://youtu.be/EfwCm7TsqwE?si=AFkErlRkQ0rANhUG

'Offer rose buds while you may' - Weekly Reflection 7th December 2025

The first ten years of my ministry as a Church Army Officer was in two parishes between 1986 and 1996. The first was at the Church of the Holy Cross, Marsh Farm, Luton. The second parish I served in was St Mary Magdalene in Prudhoe, in Northumberland.

During those ten years I conducted hundreds of funerals of every shape and stripe.

(I went on to take up a post as a Deanery Evangelist, then Diocesan Evangelist in various Dioceses around the country. Hence my ministry was that of an itinerant and thus conducting funerals did not feature very often)

During those first ten years of conducting funerals, I began to see a distinct shift. There was an increased call for something more bespoke. And with the increased development of technology a call for a piece of music or a song that was important to the deceased. This did cause some issues, less so these days, although there may still may be ‘some music’ deemed inappropriate.

The other aspect that increased in popularity was the eulogy. I can rarely recall any family member themselves offering a eulogy in the earlier part of my ministry  The role of saying something about the deceased was the role of the Minister with information drawn from the family.  And on that I heard of a great use of A1 technology recently.  One priest said that on visiting the family to arrange a funeral she asks if she may record the conversation on her phone. The phone is placed on the table or somewhere where it can pick up that conversation. This leaves her to be able to listen well without having to worry about note taking. Later, she can take that recording and ask AI to highlight key words or phrases, like the word, generous’ was used several times. Personally, I really like this idea.

The idea of someone else giving a eulogy has increased, and now it is not unusual to have several by different people. As wonderful and as important as they are they can be a nightmare for those conducting a funeral. Because once someone has the microphone you have no control. And we may not like to be reminded, but there are times constraints that need to be adhered to.  I remember during my training with Church Army spending a working day with an Undertaker. Every funeral had to appear as it was the only one they were conducting that day, and that is right and proper, so it should. However, the reality was sometimes a fast drive down the motorway, a quick brush and clean of the hearse, before rounding the corner and sedately arriving for the next one.  (There is another reflection if you wanted to wander off for a moment. How good are we at giving our full attention to the person or the situation in front of us. Or do we find ourselves hopping on one foot to the other, trying to bring this conversation to an end!)

I attended a funeral last Thursday, hence this 'reflection.'  It was the funeral of a lovely man from St Oswald’s, who was two years younger than me! The tributes and the eulogies were beautiful, speaking of true gentleman who had married the love of his life, had a gorgeous family and had a deep faith practically expressed. On the day before he died, which was very sudden and unexpected, he was clearing up leaves outside the Church.

Hearing these wonderful tributes I did wonder if he had heard them before.  I did wonder if we ought not to have a eulogy before someone’s funeral.  As a friend of mine remarks, ‘send me flowers when I can sniff, not when I’m stiff.’

And this time of year, as we approach Christmass it is if we get a deep sense of how things should be. How we should be kinder to each other. The ‘Christmass Truce’ in the trenches in 1914, gives an indication, that we know instinctively that we should not be killing other humans.

Maybe we should take an opportunity to say some of those words we might say at someone’s funeral before the funeral!

And here is another, perhaps somewhat sobering thought, but one worth considering. What legacy would you like to leave behind. What would you like people to be saying about you at your funeral by way of a eulogy. What would you like your epitaph to be?

The one thing I can tell you for certain with a good number of funerals that I conducted, is that the person died whilst in the midst of life. I know this from personal experience. As a six-year-old my father was killed in a road traffic accident aged 34. He ‘thought’ he was going to be greeting his wife (our mum) after she had been in hospital when he returned from a quick trip on his motorbike to see his own mum.   I can tell you of a man who was being ‘encouraged’ to retire from his business. He eventually did and arranged a special cruise for him and his wife. He never got to go on that cruise.  This type of thing happens every day. 

And as we make our preperations for Christmass it is good to remember those for whom Christmass will bring a sharp pain because of the loss of a loved one. There are an increasing number of very helpful resource available to help Churches offer a ‘Blue Christmass Service.’   Or, as one Church I knew in Sussex, they had a Christmass tree at the back of the Church and people were invited to write on a silver star the name of a loved one they were missing. This was all done very quietly, as the weeks went by the tree carrying its precious memories grew with stars and names. It had no other decorations. It brought into the midst of the celebrations all those whom we carry in our hearts but no longer see.

I visited my stepfather shortly before he died when he was in the hospital. Now, our family wasn’t of the huggy kissy type. Emotions were not to be put on public display. A part of our culture not too many years ago. As I prepared to leave for what I knew would probably be the last time I would see him, I hugged him and told him that I loved him. He smiled and said, ‘do you,’ looking rather pleasingly perplexed. Yes, I replied, I do love you. Those were my last words to him.

‘…Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.’  Romans 12.17-18

And if you are travelling along a dark and difficult path right now, allow this song to minister to your soul and lean upon Jesus, he's in the boat, and if he is in the boat, it won't go down no matter what storm is breaking about your head.!

https://youtu.be/DJdd5OXZNZE?si=5Ggv-_Fe2jMCTmup