NINTH STATIONJesus Commissions the DisciplesReadingA reading from the Gospel according to John (20.21-23)Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’In this passage Jesus is giving the gift of the Holy Spirit to the disciples on the day of the resurrection, however it not meant to be a parting gift, just something the remember him by, but an empowerment to be him in the world. St. John in his Gospel assumes that Jesus has already ascended and been glorified by God bypassing the Ascension and as proclaimed in the other gospels and Pentecost as described in the Acts of the Apostles.In this short passage Jesus uses the traditional Jewish greeting “peace be with you”, which John says Jesus had used when he initially came to be with them. However this time he continues with, “as the Father sent me, so I send you”. So we have a greeting and a command, however the command becomes a commission when Jesus breathes on them and says “Receive the Holy Spirit”. To use a contemporary analogy a command might be to go and nurse those sick with the coronavirus and a commission would be and here is the PPE to use.How do we greet each other? Well in the Church we do say “peace be with you” when we share the peace during the Mass, but I doubt if we use that expression at other times. I brought up in Coventry which was a melting pot of people from all over the United Kingdom, refugees from Europe and immigrants from our Commonwealth counties; all drawn by the economic benefits derived from manufacturing industries. I am sure that everybody brought with them their own greetings, but “are you alright?”, shortened to “alright?” seems to be the one that crossed cultures easily. The problem being that it was a question which the enquirer really did not want to hear a negative answer, so that they had to engage in further conversation. The expected answer was “alright” without the question mark. I did not mind this salutation as it was part of my culture but I did get rather annoyed with one young man when I was Vicar of Willenhall who insisted on shouting across the street “alright Vic” - bless him. The marvellous thing about the greeting, “peace be with you”, is that it is a gift, which which is lovely if it is reciprocated, but the gift is retained none the less.Jesus therefore gives his disciples two gifts, firstly his greeting of peace, and secondly his enabling gift of the Holy Spirit, gifts that are then inherited by all believers. In our mixed-up world at the moment we are transfixed by the “R” number. This is the reproductive number of the Covid 19 virus and we are constantly being told that we must get it to be as near to zero as possible. If it is above one the virus will do what viruses want to do, that is to spread and infect as many people as possible. If “R” is below one and hopefully near zero the virus will in time naturally die out and will leave us in peace.Now consider the “E” number – The Evangelization Number. What would have happened if those early disciples had kept the Gospel of the incarnation, the crucifixion and the resurrection to themselves. Well if they had each only told one person, Christianity would have been a minor religious sect in the Middle-East. However, as we know the Spirit that Jesus gave to those disciples gave them such enthusiasm, that the Gospel spread like a disease. Like a disease, the powers of the state and religion tried their hardest to destroy it by any means possible and Christians were made scapegoats for any and all of the worlds problems. The power of the Spirit was such however that those early Christians were prepared to sacrifice everything to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord.Let us hope that when this dreadful Covid 19 had been controlled by getting the “R” number down to near zero and hopefully a vaccine will come to protect us from future outbreaks. Then we as a church can really work on our “E” number and spread the Gospel with the courage and enthusiasm of those first disciples. Remember that you are Christ's disciples now – we have our part to play by staying self-isolated to reduce the “R” number and when we have opportunity to increase the “E” number.Fr. TerrySmile !!!One of the side effects of Covid 19 is that it can put strain on peoples' mental health, which might have been illustrated by President Trump's proclamation about the use of bleach and disinfectant this week.This was sent to me this week, which purports to have come from the pen of Pam Ayres. I have not verified that, but it is funny.At last we have a cure for all!Ailments large and small,Good health is not beyond my reach,If I inject myself with bleach.Radiant, I'll prance along,Every trace of limescale goneWith disinfectant my friend,Like him,I'm clean round the bend.Pam AyresAnd remember do not take anything Donald Trump says too seriously – he might be suffering.
Friday 1st May - The Apostles Philip and JamesOn Jeremy Vine’s BBC Radio 2 weekday programmes well known people from all walks of life are regularly invited to offer their thoughts about ‘What Makes us Human’. Each presents a short reflection about important issues that define the essence of humanity. Every reflection has been insightful and some have helped expand my own thinking and perspectives about what makes us human. For many, our ability to form friendships and to love and care for others is a key issue. Others have emphasised the importance of imagination because imagination can help us reach out beyond our temporal limitations to contemplate and even wrestle with the meaning of life in ways that are deeply personal and spiritual. Well, today we are remembering the apostles Philip and James. We might think of apostles as super-perfect and holy people called by God to live in a state of sanctity but they were people, not unlike us, who experienced doubts and fears and at times questioned their faith and sense of calling. Some of the apostles, according to accounts, were not totally confident in following Jesus because they were fearful about their safety and future and about being persecuted as disciples of Jesus. The apostle Philip was one who did not fully share the confidence and security of faith of of his fellow disciples, according to accounts, but despite his concerns he remained a loyal disciple. He was present at the feeding of the five thousand, preached the gospel in Greece and other countries, and is often represented in religious imagery with his brother Andrew. The apostle James, often referred to as James the Great, was the son of Zebedee and brother of John. James stayed with Jesus throughout his ministry and he was one of Jesus’ closest friends and trusted disciple. He was nevertheless, from some accounts, a somewhat impetuous and hot-tempered disciple (nicknamed ‘son of thunder’) who expressed a level of anger at a Samaritan village for not giving hospitality to Jesus and his disciples. James was one of the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ Transfiguration on the Mount of Olives and his agony in Gethsemane and he was the first of the apostles to be martyred. Life must have been challenging for the apostles as life is and continues to be for many today. Events, hardships, insecurities, fears and doubts about the future can lead us to wrestle with and question our faith but the example of such apostles as Philip and James can help lift us above whatever difficulties and problems disturb us and lessen our ability, willingness and humanness to love and care for one another and live the gospel as people of God. The opposite of faith is not doubt but fear. Love is important because love dispels fear. I think Philip and James knew this and it enabled them, inspired by the Spirit, to trust and believe and get on with the job God called them to do.With love and God bless,The Collect of the day is saidAlmighty Father,whom truly to know is eternal life:teach us to know your Son Jesus Christas the way, the truth, and the life;that we may follow the steps of your holy apostles Philip and James,and walk steadfastly in the way that leads to your glory;through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,who is alive and reigns with you,in the unity of the Holy Spirit,one God, now and for ever.AllAmen.Fr Graham
Thought for the Day 30th April - Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.During this period of self-isolation, we have been blessed with wonderful sunshine. Just think how awful it would have been if we had been confined during the wet, cold, grey days of last winter.Because I have a dog, I walk her round the Hinckley Road Recreation Ground every day. Many people are now out walking for exercise, we are being very circumspect and moving round each other in semi-circles, but I have met and talked to people that I haven't seen for over 20 years.In normal times they would be rushing out of their house, jumping into their cars and driving off without any personal contact. At present, it is more like the way life used to be, when we walked everywhere.When we moved to Burbage in 1962, there was great rivalry between the surrounding villages, particularly between the football and cricket teams. When I told people in Earl Shilton, that we were going to live in Burbage, I was told that nobody would speak to me because they were a snobbish lot there!How wrong they were!Few of us could afford a car in those days and if we did, our husbands used it to get to work! So we women walked from the Three Pots, up to the village shops. The first time I went there, a lady who I had never met before ran across the road by the War Memorial, looked at my baby in the pram, talked to me and welcomed me to Burbage! I later came to know her, Rita Moore! A truly lovely lady who we all miss greatly.What a difference she made to my life here, just by going out of her way to talk to me and make me feel welcome.It has occurred to me over recent days, that over these years of so called progress, that we have lost a very valuable means of communication with each other because we are always rushing here and there.Could something good come out of this coronavirus pandemic?Jesus walked everywhere. He collected his disciples from people he met and talked to, from all walks of life. People walked with Him and talked with Him.What would have happened if the good Samaritan had been rushing by in his car?How many of the 5,000 people who he managed to feed, would have been there to listen to Him, if they had transport?Would Saul have been walking on the road to Damascus?Hopefully, by the time we can all move about again freely, we shall have learned to talk to each other again. So many people have shown kindness and concern for others. They have shopped for us, phoned us, emailed us and talked to us by whatever means are available. Father Andrew has kept us all linked together as a Church by every means available to him. We have had time to appreciate our gardens and to look around at all the wonderful gifts of nature that God has given to us.So maybe some good can come out of this difficult time?We can only pray for this to happen.Pat Robinson
Seventh Station: Jesus appears to the disciples “Look at my hands and feet: see that it is I myself. Touch me and see: for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” Luke 24:39“From ghoulies and ghosties and long legged beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord deliver us” So says the old Scottish prayer, and so perhaps say a good many of us, for we can easily feel uncomfortable and frightened by talks of spirits and ghosts and other strange things that we do not understand. Then there are the science fiction programmes on television that have sent many a child diving for shelter behind the sofa, or requesting the comfortingly solid presence of an adult. And as we read today, the disciples were not made differently from us. When they saw Jesus appear among them, standing before them, very much alive, and they had seen him die only days before, they were terrified. It must have been very confusing.In our gospel reading they stood gathered around the two disciples from Emmaus who had walked and talked with the risen Christ, who had failed to recognise him in the failing light; but who had known him instantly in the breaking of the bread. But all of them, when he came and stood amongst them, took fright. They thought he was a ghost. The Greeks saw reality in terms of concepts, of universal truths, but to Jews, reality was particular and concrete. And so the resurrection was particular and concrete, not just a concept. Jesus really did come and stand with his disciples, risen from the dead. Thomas famously had need to touch in order to believe, and Christ understood that need. “A ghost” he said,” does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have” and, for final confirmation of his physical reality, he asked for some food. They gave him a piece of fish and watched him eat it.There is humour in Jesus’ words and actions, verses 40-41, “And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. There is an old saying “Seeing is believing”, but for the disciples seeing was not enough, they had to have that physical experience. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” The way Jesus teases them is part of what helps them to accept that it is really him, really alive.Even today amid all the evidence of the coronavirus, there are sceptics who do not believe that it really exists, because it cannot be physically seen or touched.The sense of Christ’s reality, this absolute certainty that he had risen from the dead and was with them again, came before the strengthening and deepening understanding which was the gift of the Holy Spirit. Unless they were sure, how could they preach with conviction? The faith of those who came after them, would be based on that certainty.When Christ is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. It reminds us too of who we are – we are people of God, with all the promises of inheritance that come with that status. As believers we are not just acquaintances, not just friends, but members of God’s universal family. It is an awesome thought to understand that people may see Christ in us, because of our status as people of God, because of our relationship with God. We have our part to play in the ever-extending family of God, in helping people to see that they too can be people of God, they too can find eternal life through Jesus. Let us be encouraged and awed as we contemplate some of the tremendous implications that come from a living faith in Christ.Risen Christ, through that stone, those cloths, that garden, those wounds, that meal, you made real your resurrection. Make real your resurrection in us, and may we live that resurrection now and always. AmenPauline Cummins
