Vicar's Message for March

Dear Friends

As I write this, there is a familiar pattern in the Church Year, Christmas and Candlemass are over, Lent is beginning, and our Gospel reading in the Lectionary is John 1:1-14. Verse 4 says - ‘In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of all people.’ Those of you who regularly attend church may remember this read out at Christmas time in darkened churches, alongside nativity scenes lit by the flickering of candles, with the wonderful aroma of pine needles from the tree. It is a complex but wonderful passage that speaks about the creation of the world and the mystery of God being revealed in the person of Jesus - the eternal ‘Word made flesh’, of light shining in the darkness.

This set passage, within the church's rhythm of readings, is part of a journey through the scriptures and through all of life’s varied terrain, on a three-year cycle. But this reading from John is repeated, it is deemed so important that it appears again, beyond Christmas. Having this reading at this time of year causes us to reflect on it afresh, it has a different resonance.

As winter gives way to spring, here in Cornwall the light around us is different, the days are growing longer. There are so many signs in the natural world of new life springing up, snowdrops, and primroses, camellia and hellebores, daffodils and fresh buds on trees, birdsong increasing and lambs playing in the fields. Creation itself is demonstrating the potential and reality of new life coming out of darkness. Where gardens and fields, hedgerows and woodlands seemed dead and dormant, there was actually a deeper thing at work which is now beginning to emerge in all its beauty, complexity and variety. In the darkness, unseen and under the ground, all had seemed still but life was happening, soon to spring up into full view and glorious colour, above the ground.

The apostle John invites us to notice and reflect upon this new life as it points us to the God of all life. John goes on to state that this source of life has been revealed in the person of his Son Jesus.

If we want to know what God looks like, and sounds like, and behaves like, we get glimpses of this through the natural world around us but supremely through the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Time magazine once described Jesus as "The most persistent symbol of purity, selflessness and love in the history of Western man.”

There is a lovely Poem that describes Him in a different way:

Jesus had no servants; yet they called Him Master.

He had no degree; yet they called Him Teacher.

He had no medicines; yet they called Him Healer.

He had no army; yet kings feared Him.

He won no military battles; yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime; yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb; yet He lives today.

As you read this, and as springtime unfolds around us, let us contemplate the new life we see, and the life in God beyond and behind it and ask Him to help us likewise to be renewed. May we seek to follow in the example of Jesus the true life and light bringer, empowered by his Spirit, and welcome fresh shoots of growth in ourselves.

Winter is over, the Light is here!

Fr. Michael

The Reverend Michael Molano, Assistant Curate of Par, Charlestown and Treverybyn