Rev’d Caroline - [email protected], 01285 712467
Rev’d Vicky - 07356 234248 – [email protected] (currently on maternity leave)
Readings for Sunday: Jeremiah 15.15-21; Romans 12.9-end; Matthew 16.21-end
As many of us were, I’m sure, this week I was saddened by the news that Dolly Parton had died. Perhaps it wasn’t too much of a surprise, per se. She had been ill for a while with cancer, after all. But there is a very particular feeling around iconic people in the world, that for some reason you think they’ll keep going forever, and then one day, suddenly, they do not. In the aftermath of the sad news, however, there has been the most glorious outpouring of stories and reminiscences about who she was, and the things she had done, which have certainly warmed my heart. Everyone from the rapper Eminem to the Royal Family have taken time to share a word about a woman who lived out her Christian faith so strongly and well.
What has shocked me, although perhaps I shouldn’t be shocked, given the way the world works, have been the odd social media posts and ‘hot takes’ deciding to take this moment to try to attack Dolly and her legacy. People criticising her for not doing enough, for supporting and loving the wrong people, for encouraging the wrong activities. What a strange and wrong-headed thing to do! Here is someone who transparently did all she could to live out Christ’s love in the world, and yet all that is not enough for these keyboard warriors!
But then I took a moment with our readings for this Sunday, and was reminded of a vitally important word from the Lord. First, that none of us is perfect, and our very best and fullest efforts will end up being insufficient and imperfect. Even Jeremiah felt defeated and unheard, and returned to the Lord in frustration and pain. Even Peter, who moments ago had been praised by Jesus for recognising the amazing truth that he was the Messiah, could immediately misunderstand Jesus, and end up needing to be rebuked. He moved from “you are the rock on which I will build my church” to “get behind me Satan!” in the space of about twenty minutes! But of course, that wasn’t the end of the story. If we make mistakes, Jesus is always ready to pick us up and set us on the path again, just as he did with Peter.
It will always be possible to pick holes in what we try to build and do, because we are human. Our challenge is to accept that, and to keep going anyway. To hear God’s word that we are to be people of perseverance, accepting our limitations, and striving all the same. People may criticise us, pull us down, deliberately ignore us… but the work is worth doing and the words are worth sharing, nevertheless. We deny ourselves, our egos, our desires, and instead take up our cross day by day.
This week I hope we will be uplifted and encouraged by the stories of the lives of people of faith, the wonderful Dolly Parton among them, and be diligent in prayer as we ask for God’s same strength and perseverance to be in our lives, as we seek to follow him.
Rev’d Caroline
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