There is now a general feeling amongst us that we should re-open St Laudus for public worship again and we shall do so on Sunday 6th September, (usual time, 9.30am) when we shall be remembering victims of the virus; sharing what lockdown has meant for us individually and as a community; talking about how we see the future unfolding - and celebrating life and kindness…! Government rules mean social distance and face masks are both compulsory and there will also be plenty of hand sanitizer to go round. Lots of love, too - definitely not compulsory but always of course part of the scene at Mabe Church. This first service back will be different from what we’re used to: it will be non-eucharistic, we’ll be having a one-way system, no touching each other or singing, or refreshments afterwards because of course sadly, the virus is still here and will be certainly for the foreseeable future and probably for good.Almost all aspects of Human life worldwide have been affected: home life, work, education, leisure. Some effects have obviously been devastating – death of loved ones, loss of businesses, income, homes, futures completely changed.Other effects have actually, surprisingly, been positive: communities rallying to help those in need; new connections being made between neighbours, groups, communities; new ways of communicating, doing business, and of course ‘being the church’ in a lockdown situation. Change is one thing we can all expect in various ways and one of the things I ask you to do for when we gather in church on September 6th is to ask yourself in the meantime, some questions:What do you fear most as we emerge into a changed reality?What are your greatest hopes?How has this experience changed your life? How have you changed? Firstly in your day-to-day life, your daily routines, your ways of thinking, the way you relate to people around you? What have you learned about yourself? And other people? How has lockdown affected your prayer life?What has God has been or is now saying to you personally about faith as a result of this crisis?How do you believe God wants us as his body here, to respond to the covid crisis:In relation to the local community?In relation to the future of the Christian faith in this parish?In relation to how we use our church buildings?Anything else that you want to share that will help us face the uncertainty of the future with hope and confidence?
'Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea... while the whole crowd stood on the beach...' and he told them what to us is the well-known story of the sower and the seed in which the seed, representing ‘the word’, is variously:· lost immediately in the blizzard of life’s busy-ness· received positively then laid aside when the pressure of life’s demanding routines takes over· overtaken by all the important distractions of life - or· heard, taken to heart and results in positive outcomes.This story itself is also received in different ways by different people.To some, the first three categories refer to the difficulties they themselves have in receiving the word. This can lead to misplaced feelings of guilt.Others see themselves as being represented by the final (‘good’) category. This can lead to unhelpful feelings of pride or complacency.But Jesus doesn’t intend to induce guilt - and pride was one thing he certainly didn’t want his followers to be swallowed up by.His words are full of understanding and compassion for all of us whose lives are overshadowed by the blizzard of busy-ness, pressure of routine, trying to prioritise demanding decisions, not to mention the existential questions raised by the virus pandemic.Today, ‘going out of the house’ and ‘the whole crowd standing on the beach’ are phrases that have very different resonances in light of the Covid-19 crisis. They too can induce different and powerful emotions - anxiety, panic, anger, condemnation... but Jesus’ message to his original hearers and to us today is the same: the seed, representing ‘the word’ is of course the inclusive unconditional love that is always there for all people in every generation.For those of us who desire to follow Christ, ‘hearing the word and understanding it’ brings with it the invitation to let this love permeate our whole being, growing more and more, bringing healing to our spirits, our attitudes, our relationships, even our minds and bodies. So the work of the sower is accomplished: as we nurture this love in us and it grows in and emanates from us, we ourselves become sowers of the seed - ‘as Christ to the world’.
The word change normally refers to new beginnings. But the mystery of transformation more often happens not when something new begins, but when something old falls apart. The pain of something old falling apart—chaos—invites the soul to listen at a deeper level, and sometimes forces the soul to go to a new place. Most of us would never go to new places in any other way. The mystics use many words to describe this chaos: fire, dark night, death, emptiness, abandonment, trial, the Evil One. Whatever it is, it does not feel good and it does not feel like God.We will normally do anything to keep the old thing from falling apart, yet this is when we need patience and guidance, and the freedom to let go instead of tightening our controls and certitudes. Perhaps Jesus is describing just this phenomenon when he says, “It is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Matthew 7:14). Not accidentally, he mentions this narrow road right after teaching the Golden Rule. He knows how much letting go it takes to “treat others as you would like them to treat you” (Matthew 7:12).While change can force a transformation, spiritual transformation always includes a disconcerting reorientation. It can either help people to find new meaning or it can force people to close down and slowly turn bitter. The difference is determined precisely by the quality of our inner life, our practices, and our spirituality. Change happens, but transformation is always a process of letting go, living in the confusing, shadowy space for a while. Eventually, we are spit up on a new and unexpected shore. You can see why Jonah in the belly of the whale is such an important symbol for many Jews and Christians.In moments of insecurity and crisis, shoulds and oughts don’t really help. They just increase the shame, guilt, pressure, and likelihood of backsliding into unhealthy patterns. It’s the deep yeses that carry us through to the other side. It’s that deeper something we are strongly for—such as equality and dignity for all—that allows us to wait it out. It’s someone in whom we absolutely believe and to whom we commit. In plain language, love wins out over guilt any day.
