November always suggests to me a cold dark night full of
smoke and the smell of fireworks – yes, its Bonfire season!
For the last few years, I have gone with my family to the
local bonfire in one of our own villages. In the past I have
been to grander affairs at Shugborough and the Show
Ground, but if I am honest, I prefer the smaller ones which tend to be
far less hassle coping with parking and large crowds, and more friendly
and enjoyable. My brother cannot avoid the crowds, as he lives in Lewes,
Sussex and there they have 6 huge Bonfire Societies who parade through
the streets dragging flaming tar barrels and burn effigies of not only Guy
Fawkes but modern targets (I think Donald Trump has been considered!!)
Bonfire night is connected to Christianity but however not in a
comfortable way. It began by Act of Parliament, initiated by James 1st
entitled ‘An Acte for a publique Thanksgiving to Almighty God every
year of the Fifth day of November’ which involved burning the man Guy
Fawkes who tried to blow up King James and the protestant parliament
in a Catholic conspiracy. Lewes has a double whammy as they also
commemorate 17 Protestant martyrs burned in the High Street during the
reign of Catholic Queen Mary.
Such violence between
Protestants and Catholics is
an ugly stain on Christianity
and such violence in the
name of Christianity and
other religions is still going
on.
The Bible on the other
hand, sees bonfires in a far
different light.
Moses is called by God to
start the impossible job of
persuading Pharaoh to set
the Israelites free and
lead them to a new Land filled with Milk and Honey, by attracting his attention
to a burning bush. This was the best sort of bonfire as it was not at all
destructive but burnt without consuming the bush. In this case the bonfire
marked the presence of God. That symbolism is found throughout the bible, cumulating in Jesus, who
John announces in Chapter 1 of his Gospel:
“ In him was life,
and that life was the light of humankind.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.”
In some sunrise services on Easter Day, a bonfire is lit outside the church
and candles take the Light of Christ from that fire into church to symbolise
the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who, through his death and resurrection,
stills lights up our world giving us light, hope and peace. Just like Moses’
burning bush, the darkness never overcomes it, because it never burns out.
As I said in my opening, November is a dark month and during such
months, especially when we watch the news, and see a world full of
unhappiness, conflict and destruction, it is easy to lose sight of the light,
the hope and the peace. But turn to Jesus and use those warm flames
and beautiful fireworks as indeed a Thanksgiving to God, not as a mark of
religious intolerance but as simply the joy of Friendship, Community and
the beauty of those fireworks lighting up the night sky!
With every blessing,