Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ

It certainly feels like we are in times of great change and uncertainty. The use and abuse of power is forefront in the world around us. Politically , there is an ongoing process of change, with new governments in the UK and France, and the seemingly endless lead up to the American elections. Power is being abused in aggressive and militaristic ways. The ongoing conflicts across the globe are testaments to how humanity is so often its worst enemy.

The account of the fate of John the Baptist that we will explore on Sunday is a chance to reconsider the nature of power and how it is enacted-the contrast between transitory earthly power and eternal divine power.

John the Baptist and Jesus have considerable parallels. John is the one who steps aside, but he is essential, the last Old Testament prophet proclaiming the one who will transform everything. Did these cousins knew each other well? Did Jesus come to be baptised by John as a result of that ongoing relationship? At this moment of divine meeting when John baptises Jesus, the parallels start to diverge. Jesus is now the centre of attention.

What of John? We do not hear directly from him again, but we hear of him. He has upset those in power and been imprisoned because of it. We hear of the power of his words, but not the words themselves. In the ultimate fulfilment of those parallel lives, John will be executed by someone in power in a way set to humiliate and devalue on the pretext of vows and demands of others, ultimately killed seemingly as the result of a drunken vow made at a party. The story of John’s execution is either too bizarre and dramatic to give credence to or is utterly plausible because it is so peculiar. Certainly, any vow made by those with power would have to be honoured as this was an essential part of the structure of society at the time. Today to us it feels ludicrous, but we have to be wary of making these judgements via the lenses of modern thought.

Could it be the kernel of truth-i.e. the imprisonment and death of John has been embroidered with this narrative to serve later purposes? It certainly could be. What is telling is that both in this story and that of Jesus, the narrative seeks to draw responsibility for the actions away from the man in power an onto others-the crowd with Jesus, Herodias and her daughter with John. It’s like the critique of power is there but is being defused by keeping the actual men in power blameless.

Whatever the dynamics, the actual power and the perceived power are significant contrasts, and John’s story is a foreshadowing of Jesus’.

Meditating on these reassures us when the actuality of the world around us becomes overwhelming. The real power and authority in this world is one of love and grace that is alongside those who seem to be powerless. God has turned the perceived order of the world on its head.

Services and Notices for week beginning: 14th July 2024

7th Sunday after Trinity

8:00am – Holy Communion – All Saints
10:00am – Holy Communion – St. Mary’s
10:30am – Muddy Church and Junior Church Celebration – All Saints
18.30pm – Generations Summer Party – The Vicarage

The week ahead

Monday 15th July: 10:30am - Tiny Tots - All Saints
Tuesday 16th July: 10:30am – Music for toddlers - St. Mary’s
Wednesday 17th July 9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints
Thursday 18th July: 10:00am – Holy Communion - St. Mary’s
Friday 19th July: 11:00am – Living After Loss – St. Mary’s
Saturday 20th July: 12.00 – 2:00pm - Saturday Lunches - St Mary’s

Sunday 21st July:

10:00am – Sung Service of the Word – St. Mary’s
10:30am – Holy Communion – All Saints

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore.
Amen

Blessings
Revd Kester de Oliveira