In this week's video, Bishop Richard considers how we can find hope in this season of Advent when 'there is much in the news that could make us depressed.' He reminds us that 'Jesus never promised his followers an easy life. In fact, he said, “in this world you will have trouble.”' So where does our hope lie, and what actually is Christian hope?Reflecting on recent readings from the book of Revelation, Bishop Richard suggests that 'the goal of this writing is to expose a deeper reality lying beneath the one we see. This is not about changing reality, so much as imbuing events with a deeper significance. It is placing their contemporary history into an eternal perspective.''Advent hope lies in our confidence that God is at work moving history to a good conclusion, even when at times it doesn’t feel or even look like it.'Bishop Richard's weekly video #225There is a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
In this week's video, Bishop Richard encourages those of us working hard in our local parishes to receive some words of encouragement.'From the reading for Advent Sunday last week, we read of the apostle Paul’s affection for the Thessalonian church. "How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?" (1 Thessalonians 3:9).' Bishop Richard suggests that perhaps 'the word we all need to hear amid the preparations for Christmas and general busy-ness of the season are those from Paul to the Thessalonians again ... – to hear those words from the Lord as spoken to us.'Bishop Richard's weekly video #224There is a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.
What a strange time of year this is. Darker, colder, harder. And brimming with mystery and weird hope. Advent serves as a kind of long dawn, leading us towards the disarming light of a vulnerable, sweet, refugee baby who is God with us, kingdom come, Emmanuel. Little Jesus: glorious, outrageous disrupter.In the sometimes troubling and overwhelming personal circumstances of our days and nights, in the pervasively unbalanced state of our world, the magic of this time of year invites us for a moment to suspend business as usual. We raise our heads from normal life and see something beyond the soulless powers and systems we all must operate within. God is here with us. Hope becomes a peaceful, resolute protest.Enjoy the twinkly lights and sparkles in all their loveliness: they symbolise that stubborn, determined Christmas hope, shining out joy in the murky darkness, representing a love that knows no bounds, encompassing us all. The little baby Jesus from your nativity scene is offering every one of us a peace that runs deeper.Peace be with you this Christmas time.With love and prayers,Rev Angie x
In this week's video, Bishop Richard uses backdrop of Hereford Cathedral's corona – a symbolic representation of Jesus' crown of thorns – to explore the paradox of Jesus' character and ministry, and Jesus' favoured description of himself as the 'Son of Man'. He is both 'Christ the King, but at the same time remarkably human.''If Jesus is this extraordinary ‘both and’ character, it is no surprise that his Kingdom is not like the kingdoms of this world. The origin of Jesus' Kingdom 'is not in the will of human beings with their desires for power and control. It is an expression of God’s justice and righteousness which will never end.''The marks of the Kingdom Jesus talks about in the Sermon on the Mount are about character, behaviour and ethics, and perceptive insight into where happiness is really to be found. It paints a picture of a transformed earth of kindness, love, mutual support and contentment. But these things don’t appear in isolation, but when we submit to Christ as King.'Now may you find in Christ, riches and restMay you be blessed in him, and he in youIn Heaven, where to grant you your requestIs always blessing, for your heart is true:True to yourself and true to Christ your King.Breathe through this coronation psalm and viewThe glory of his golden crown, then singThe exaltation, goodness, life and power,The blessing and salvation Christ will bring.But first he wears a darker crown. The hourIs coming and has come. Our Lord comes downInto the heart of all our hurts to wearWith us the sharp corona spina, crownOf thorns, and to descend with us to deathBefore he shares with us the golden crown.Poem by Malcolm GuiteBishop Richard's weekly video #223There is a transcript of this week's video on the diocesan website.