'Magnificent Humanity' - Weekly Reflection 28th June 2026

Well England managed to beat Panama in the last match of the Group Stages in the World Cup. I thought it was a bit lack lustre apart from a few moments of fizz and sparkle resulting in two goals.

I was listening to an article on the radio during the week that referred to England’s third goalkeeper.  Like everyone in the squad they must train hard and are at every match. Yet the chance they are going to be called upon to defend the goal is virtually nil. They are truly ‘team players.’  

Despite my name, Gordon Banks, I never liked either football or cricket while at school.

I was the one when a ‘Captain’ was chosen and invited to pick his team (it was always his in those days) I was the one left until everyone else had been chosen, begrudgingly accepted onto the team.  I know others also suffered this subtle abuse as well and when I came to playing numerous games with children, youth or even adults, I found a far better way of getting into team of mixed abilities. (Do ask me if you have to organise people into teams about some of the ways I did this)

And the value of people has been a bit of a feature in the week just gone.

On Thursday at the Discussion Group that meets at St Andrew’s Rugby, we were discussing the Pope’s Encyclical on AI.

Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, addresses safeguarding the human person in the era of artificial intelligence, emphasizing dignity, justice, and the common good.

Encyclical Letter of His Holiness Leo XIV Magnifica Humanitas (15 May 2026)

Oscar Wilde said: “What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

That pretty much sums up the current social climate in the West at least. Everything has a value, everything must be graded on what it produces, it must have some output, something tangible must emerge.

Just think for a moment on those who lose their jobs because their work is being outsourced or increasingly been done by AI. They become ‘redundant.’   

That for me is one of the reasons that I am uncomfortable regarding assisted dying.

And Jesus – well today (The Fourth Sunday after Trinity) we were reflecting on John the Baptist and Jesus. (The Birth of John the Baptist was celebrated on the 24^th June). The reading was from Matthew 11:2-11.

The story is of John now in Herod’s prison because he was outspoken about Herod’s irregular marriage, and puzzling over Jesus and whether he was the Messiah or was there another one yet to come.

For John it would seem had the idea that Jesus was to be the one who would bring judgment on the nations, liberate Israel and establish once again the true reign of God through His chosen people.

Jesus, however, was demonstrating the power of love over the love of power.

“The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”  Matthew 11.5

(Quoting mostly from Isaiah 35)

And Jesus was doing this up in the North, away from the city of Jerusalem. He was meeting, mixing and mingling with the outcast, the impoverished, the ‘little people’.

If Jesus was with you when that team was being chosen he would say, don’t worry, you can be on my team because I think you are absolutely wonderful, in fact you are Magnifica Humanitas – a magnificent human.

Last week I also listened to a podcast of a conversation with  Guli Francis Dehqani, Bishop of Chelmsford, ‘Guiding a Church in Time of Crisis.’

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ohipCs7O0nwxZOrPakwTd?si=fb7c3baefbf9413f

She spoke of the need to be open to seekers who come searching out the ancient ways, to see just who this Jesus might be and if he has anything to say about hope, joy and indentity and purpose.  That we should welcome every person who comes looking. However, she was also keen to say that we need to offer good ‘nurture groups’ where we could explain the Scriptures and what it means to apprentice under Jesus and allow God to transform our lives.  

As Max Lucado said in his book, ‘YOU! God's Brand New Idea: Made to Be Amazing.’  “God loves you just as you are but loves you enough not to leave you that way.”

And last night I watched the Netflix film, ‘I Swear.' A film of the true-life story of John Davidson, a Scottish man with severe Tourette syndrome who was the subject of the 1989 television documentary John's Not Mad. It is a film that puts you through the wringer with every emotion possible. It is funny, sad, it makes you angry at the injustice and yet shining through it all is hope and love. Love by just a few people who can see beyond John’s erratic behaviour to the person, a kind gentle soul with Tourette syndrome who cannot control his tic or the use of swear words.

Tourette syndrome was first clearly described as a distinct medical condition in 1885, but there is no single official “recognition date” specific to the UK; instead, it gradually became recognised through medical literature, diagnostic manuals, and clinical services over the 20th century, with full modern diagnostic criteria and wider UK awareness only really consolidating from the 1970s onward. John was part of that story and in 2019 was awarded an MBE for his work in making Tourette's more widely known and accepted. 

In the week ahead you will meet some magnificent humans – and one of those will be facing you in the mirror!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'Shout it from the roof tops' - Weekly Reflection 20th June 2026

 Saturday 20^th June was ‘World Refugee Day.’

World Refugee Day | UNHCR UK

“The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has called on the international community to strengthen support for the nearly 42 million people worldwide who have fled their home countries to escape conflict, violence or persecution.”

Let that sink in for a minute – 42 million!

42 million minutes would take you all the way back to 1946.

In the Gospel set for Sunday 21^st June 2026 (Proper 7 Year A) Matthew 10:24-39 we read the following…

Verse 27, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.”

And what is it that we are to shout from the roof tops?

That the way humans are conducting their affairs is way off kilter from God’s plans and desires, the Kingdom of God, or in Matthew, the Kingdom of Heaven.

And in this Gospel passage Jesus gives a dark warning of what will happen to those who dare to do such a thing.

Dare to shout and ask why are there 42million refugee, with an estimated 2 million being children.

Some of the reasons are obvious, war, famine, natural disasters, economic stagnation, and persecution to name but some of the main factors. Often several factors coming together to create a complexity of issues.

At the time of Jesus farmers would often be working at subsistence level. However, their Roman overlords demand around 30% of their income in tax. Then for the Jews, there were other taxes, including the Temple tax. That could amount to a further 20% of income. And what was this 50% of tax going on? To pay for the occupying Roman army amongst other things and to fund Herod’s Temple building projects and for others, namely the aristocratic Sadducees who lived in the best houses at the top of Jerusalem, to keep them in their lavish lifestyle.

And if you step out of line, they will crush you. That was why Roman’s left the dead bodies of those crucified. It was their ‘Facebook’ message of the day, don’t mess with us.

And Jesus says in Matthew 10.28, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  

Here we have two opposing forces standing against the ways of God and the way for human flourishing for everyone.

In the human context we have the Roman Empire and lying behind that a dark, mysterious force, something referenced as evil, or Satan or as in the passage, Bezelboul, sometimes Bezelbub. This roughly translates as Lord of the Flies or Lord of the Dung Heap.  

Follow the path of the world's empires, says Jesus, and there is a real danger you could become less than human - and lose your soul.

"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" Mark 8.36

It would be a rare thing for a serial killer to live an ordinary and decent life and then suddenly decide to brutalise and torture people to death. It is incremental, step by step, darker and yet darker still into the very depths of hell where your very soul, the essence of your being is overtaken by evil and perpetrating evil.

There is another way of being human and seeking the flourishing of the other, says Jesus. Demonstrated by the way Jesus ‘set the captives free.’ Free from social ostracism, free from diseases and afflictions and even from death.

But this is a costly path to take and just think of the context in which Jesus said, “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10.38

And not only will we find oppositional forces from the ruling authorities we will also have opposition from within the family, our own kith and kin.

I like the way Tom Wright sets out the cost of following Jesus. Firstly, if you were trying to recruit people to a political party, the words Jesus uses here are not likely to gain much traction. But suppose you are being called to a dangerous rescue mission. You are being called to be razor sharped focussed on the task in hand. Everything you have is to be given to this venture.

But then, but then, look at how Jesus talks of our value, much more than a sparrow and even the hairs on your head are numbered and known. A poetic way of saying God loves us and cares for us with an immeasurable love.

And in Matthew 10.39, ^“Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

Find your life in the world’s empires and you will lose the best life God offers. (See Colossians 3.3) Lose yourself in serving the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and you will find life and life in abundance. (John 10.10)

Tom Wright put the cost of following Jesus when referencing St Paul, with a humerous quip, "Wherever St. Paul went, there was a riot. Wherever I go, they serve tea." 

But that does bring a challenge. Perhaps we are not shouting loud enough about the injustices in our world and proclaiming a better way of ordering our affairs, God’s Kindom way!

May this be our prayer....

https://youtu.be/O5_TVy2gHRg?si=3mekW7w2-nLOuvA_

 

 

 

 

'Becoming Messmates' - Reflection 14th June 2026

Today at St Oswald’s we reflected on the Gospel reading for today, Second Sunday after Trinity, Matthew 9:35-10:8.

Our visiting preacher, Revd Tim Cockell drew our attention to chapter 9 and verse 36.

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were harried and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Most English translations use the word ‘compassion’ over ‘pity.’

This is worth reflecting on, because compassion I would argue is a better word to use than pity.

Other words aside from pity and compassion could be sympathy.

Why do I think compassion is a better word?

An etymological definition of compassion…

"Feeling of sorrow or deep tenderness for one who is suffering or experiencing misfortune," mid-14c., compassioun, literally "a suffering with another," from Old French compassion "sympathy, pity" (12c.)

The word ‘com’ means ‘with’ or ‘alongside.’

Another example is ‘companion’ which literally translates as, ‘bread fellow’ or ‘messmate.’

Thus, in compassion we have ‘alongside passion.’

Again, the word ‘passion’ has shifted a tad, but in its origins it referenced sufferings, something to be endured, a travail. And in the vocabulary of the Church, we reference the Passion of Christ, especially during Passion Week, Palm Sunday to Holy Saturday.

Pity is a good word but for me can leave the one having pity in some sort of control, I have pity on you, I feel sorry for you, and therefore I may deem to do something for you because I pity you.

You can see how quickly the idea of pity begins to put us in the place of privilege. I am going to do something for you.

I have several discussions this week where we have been exploring some of the outcomes of this type of thinking and the need to shift our language and our action.

What might this mean in practical terms?

Well, I may have pity because you find yourself short of food. I have pity on you and so I will set up a food bank so you can come and get some food.

But I remain in control, we quickly move and remain in client provider mode.

This can lead to dependency from the ‘client’ and a certain kind of satisfaction from the ‘provider’ who is doing something good. And they certainly are, but it can remain stuck in that position and lacks any dynamic to enable a change and flourishing of all concerned.

Think of it this way. Human babies are utterly reliant on an older human to nurture and care for them and keep them safe. Initially that human will have to do everything for the baby. However, over time that baby begins to gain independence and agency and engagement.

I heard a story of a new vicar moving into a parish. One of the activities of the Church was to run a food bank. Their set up was the Church members stood behind a hatch and served people coming into the Church Hall for food packages.  He soon put a stop to this. Not stopping the offering of food packages, but the ‘providers’ being behind any kind of counter. He reorganised the initiative so that it became more a type of drop in café with ‘providers’ and ‘clients’ in ‘company’ with each other. Further developments saw this distinction becoming increasingly blurred and those coming for food packages began to get engaged in a variety of ways.

The Church has always acted with compassion; it was the Church that began hospitals and the Church that began schools and advocating for education for all and much more besides.

However, 2 Thessalonians 3 offers some sobering words for those who might simply be taking advantage of the Churches compassion and largesse..

For example, in verses 11-12 we read, ^‘We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies.  Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.’ 

Perhaps we might want to say that there is a journey to be made from compassion to companions.

And companions suggest that there is a journey, and this is a journey, no quick fix, no simple hand-outs but rather a hand up.

If somebody finds themselves in a pit, we don’t simple throw them food and water, we get a ladder, go down into the pit and then help them climb up the ladder.

I have witnessed people stepping up out of pits into the new bright light that is offered through Jesus, practically expressed through the hands and feet of Jesus disciples, and it is a wonder to behold. 

And Jesus is still calling disciples today. And Jesus is still sending out his disciples to proclaim and demonstrate the Kingdom of God come upon earth.

In Matthew 9:37-38 Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

Compassion on this world,

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,

Yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Yours are the eyes with which he looks

compassion on this world.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

‘Without God we cannot, without us God will not.’

https://youtu.be/1yebY31sFvw?si=IH5e-MgUC7Nfi2qu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

'I see you' - Weekly Reflection 7th June 2026

Every morning Monday through to Thursday a small group of people from St Oswald’s meet online for a short time of prayer. This started during Covid and continued as it gives us an opportunity to pray for the Church’s activities and other issues in the nation and across the world. To help guide us in our prayers I have set up a simple PowerPoint slide. One of the items are for those who are in need for prayer because of some illness, sickness and allied issues.

In our ‘people in need’ section we had a lady for whom we have been praying for some wee while. I thought we were in danger of not seeing her there and so one day I dropped her of the list. I was really pleased when one of the regular ‘prayers’ said, you have missed off …..

It is so easy to see something so often that we then begin not to see it or notice it and it fades into the background. When I worked as a bartender in hotels I would encourage all the staff when they came in to work to ‘imagine’ that they hadn’t been there before and to notice things, to see as for the first time.

Yesterday I was on the FCN (www.fcn.org.uk)  stand at the Kenilworth Show (and got very wet!).  Once we had set up the stand I went and stood away and looked at it, to see how it looked. I find myself doing the same in Church. I find myself easily distracted and sometimes irritated when simple things have not been attended to, cloths on the Communion table at a slant, dead or dying flowers, chairs and other things left lying around. (And I must admit to being slightly irritated by people leading a Service looking like they have just come in from doing some gardening or have only just got out of bed – but that might an age thing!)  

Anyway, before I begin to move into moan mode I have been reflecting on seeing but not seeing.  This was one of things we discussed at a Bible Study group I belong to.

Last Thursday we were exploring the Gospel set for today, 1^st Sunday after Trinity. Matthew 9:9-13 the calling of Matthew and Matthew 9:18-26 the synagogue ruler and his daughter and the woman with an issue of blood.  

A question to begin with, ‘how many times had Jesus passed by Matthew’s tax booth? Probably set by the side of the road on a busy intersection, so that Matthew could exact taxes from travellers?

However, on this occasion, when Matthew is called from his life as tax collector into following Jesus, both see each other, maybe as for the first time.

The story in Matthew’s Gospel is very economical in the words used to tell the story, and we are left to use our imagination and complete the picture.

I have a picture of Matthew, head down, busy with his calculations, and maybe a tad bored and irritated by the task in-hand that had made him despised in the community.  Always ready for abuse or trouble and always with a few ‘heavies’ in his pay, hanging around his booth, just in case.

Then his name being spoken, taking a moment to register that someone was calling him by name. And then, slowly looking up and seeing Jesus. Most likely someone he heard about and maybe even heard preaching and teaching. But any rabbi worthy of the name wouldn’t have anything but opprobrium to pour out to a tax collector. But then the ‘seeing.’  ‘Jesus saw a man called Matthew sitting at his tax booth.’

 Jesus saw a man with a name – and invited him into a whole new way of seeing and living.

The next story picks up Jairus daughter and the woman suffering from ongoing haemorrhaging. (Both stories are given fuller treatment by Mark, (5:21-43) and Luke (8:40-56)

Again, we have a picture of ‘seeing’ – we see Jairus, a synagogue ruler, but not acting like a dignified synagogue ruler, but we see him as a desperate father, who has cast aside all of that as he reaches out to Jesus for help.

And the women, in the fuller accounts of Mark and Luke, the women is brought out of the shadows and into the light. This wasn’t Jesus wanting to cause her any more embarrassment, but he is wanting people to notice her, to see her, not as an unclean woman whom they should shun and avoid, but now healed and able to be restored back into the community.  

As for Jairus, we do know his daughter was restored to the family, brought back into the community, but we are left to conjecture what ongoing impact this had Jairus and his position as a synagogue leader. (And a Synagogue Leader would have had a legal and leadership role in the community, not simple someone who led a ‘congregation.’)   

 In our group discussion we began to think of the people we see but don’t see.

What about the person on the check-out at the supermarket. Or the barista serving your coffee, or maybe even the person cleaning the public toilets. I am sure you could add to this list, and in so doing ask yourself, am I seeing this person as a person, someone with a name, someone with a history, someone who loves, laughs, has fears and concerns.  

I wonder if the illness that had befallen Jairus’ daughter had come upon her quickly, prompting Jairus to action. I wonder if Matthew went into work that day, setting up his booth and thinking mainly of the dinner gathering with others ‘like him’ later that day. I wonder if the lady with the issue of blood had got up and thought, another day just like all others, to be shunned and shamed as I have been for twelve years.

But then Jesus - but then Jesus – but then Jesus sees and these people see Jesus and everything changes.

And this is an ongoing story. It is too long a story to tell but in brief I was on a Spotlight Zoom Session last week, part of the Welcome Directory (The Welcome Directory) information sharing as they seek to equip faith communities to welcome released prisoners into their faith community. On this occasion we were exploring addictions, mainly drugs and alcohol. We had a lady on the call who had the most harrowing story of being gang raped and then getting deeper into a drug habit to blot out the pain and shame.  To feed her drug habit she would sleep with men and became involved in petty crime. It was the love and care of Christians who ‘saw’ her and reached out in a practical way that made the change. She was drawn back into the community, a Christian community. She saw Jesus and chose to follow him. Seeing her now you would never guess at this background. She is healthy, has a home and children and very much involved in helping others.  

Who are you going to see in the week ahead?

Are we ready to pray, ‘Lord, help me as I step out into this day, to be ready to be interrupted as Jesus was on the way to Jairus’ home, to offer a word of encouragement and hope, and an offer of a new life that reestablishes people back into the community.’

And remember it was one man, Matthew, it was one little girl, Jairus’ daughter, and it was one woman.

Who might be the ’one’ God will ask you to ‘see’ this week?