Reactions

Reactions

Yesterday was a strange day. Our anniversary. The day began with John opening his present  – a sundial. It took half an hour to figure out how to put it together and then when he finally took it out into the garden the sun had gone in. Later I discovered it outside the summerhouse pointing defiantly to 3 when it was in fact 9 am. This is going to be an on-going process.

We set off for a favourite garden near York , only to find it was closed so we had lunch in Ripon before going to Fountains Abbey. In Ripon I wandered into a charity shop and there among a pile of discarded china was a beautiful carved cross. About a foot high and with the words of the Lord’s Prayer carved into it. It now resides on our mantel piece, but what was it doing in the shop?  The person who donated it obviously had little regard for it – or perhaps little for what it represents. Too many people push Christ and his sacrifice aside.

At the abbey I was able to go into the  church , and despite all the people, say a quiet prayer.

I thought back to when I became a Christian. A friend read John 3 v 16 and then asked me to read it – but to put my name in there  - so I read ‘For God so loved Margaret that he gave his only Son so that she might have eternal life. Such an action demanded a reaction on my part and I have been living with that ever since – my reaction to God’s act of love.  

The people who push Christ out – they are perhaps frightened because they don’t want to make such a commitment. It would mean changes  - putting Christ first, doing what he wants with their lives.   

John’s present to me was a wonderful study Bible. Not perhaps a devotional one as there are just too many references, illustrations, comments  - distractions perhaps. That was my first thought. Then in bed last night I flicked through it. I began with Genesis. The footnote begins – The Bible makes no apologies or explanations for the presence of God. He is there. I looked up several familiar passages, then , time almost up, I just let the pages flick and some words jumped out ‘You are a priest forever.’ from Hebrews 7 v 17 . I know it refers to Christ , and of course I don’t for one minute wish to take on what is his. But nevertheless the Lord really spoke to me through these words.

Saddened yet with hope

Saddened yet with hope.

There were several  pieces of news that specially concerned me this week. One was the news of the Pope’s recent visit to Germany. He met with victims of the priest’s scandal and was apparently quite moved by what they had to say. On the same visit he was also  told  that women priests should be considered as a possibility, and not just because of the scandall.

I read that after reading a letter from a young lady. She expressed eloquently how from her earliest awareness she had wanted to become a priest.  As soon as she was able she began to serve at the altar with enthusiasm. Now she finds out that in a neighbouring parish females have been banned from this task, one they have done faithfully and well for a number of years. The explanation given for this ban is that if boys act as servers they are more likely to consider the priesthood.  But does the fact that boys can make this choice preclude girls from serving?  There was a comedy show on this week in which a girl expressed the wish to become a Catholic simply in order to get into the same school as her friend. After researching the matter further she came to the conclusion ‘I could never be pope’ and so decided not to go ahead. It was a comedy show, yet like so much comedy actually had a kernel of truth. Women have no official voice in the church when it comes to decision making – decisions that are about them as often as not. If you think this is not true just think about papal elections.

The young lady server has bravely offered a challenge to the priest who issued the ban. She challenges him to take the thing to its extreme – to stop confirming girls, to stop baptising them. After all we are all equal in baptism – that is the theory. Baptism  by definition  is the means of ‘Enabling participation in the sacraments, the priesthood of all believers, and the growth in grace.’ Let us practise it in all its fullness.

Confusion

I am confused. I read words of Paul in 2nd Timothy:  

1 v 6-8  I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. ⁸ So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord.

 And then  verses 13  and 14

 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴ Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Is this in the same spirit as 1 Tim 2 v 12 ‘I do not permit any woman to teach or to have authority over a man ; she must be silent.’

And what about ‘One Lord, one faith , one baptism’ Ephesians 4 v 5  or of course Galatians 3 v 28 ‘Neither Jew  nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female.’

It isn’t just the feminist s who think that the passage in 1 Tim is an insertion, probably at the end of the 2nd century – theologians and linguists seem very sure of this.  But I don’t need their assertions. It is the Spirit who tells me the truth. So no confusion after all.

A Hard Day

A Hard Day

Yesterday was wonderful. I attended a meeting in the hospital basement chapel where we intercede for the patients piled high in the wards above us. I had an image of the chapel as a boiler house with power flowing out to reach each person within its walls.

Usually the meeting has a fairly fixed format and lasts just over an hour. Last night we did pray for patients as always, but suddenly we were praying and supporting each other in Christian love.

My second loving event of the week. On Saturday my daughter got married. A t least half of those who attended   have no place as yet for God in their lives, yet they were able to see Christ’s love in this service.  At the request of the happy pair I gave the blessing - too often a formality, but everyone joined in and I was almost floating with joy.

Then today I received a big knock back that I wasn’t expecting and I let it get to me. I was upset, angry even. I felt let down and betrayed. Why do we let , I let , things like this happen. I cannot help the events that took place, but I can help my reactions. Phil 2 v 5  is a very real instruction , a reaction to what Christ has done on our behalf  ‘ Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.’