Sixth Station of the Resurrection: The Road to EmmausJesus is the resurrection and the life.All Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.ReadingA reading from the Gospel according to Luke (24.28-35)As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognised him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.Reflection or MeditationThe Church gathered together in many parts of the world today will hear this resurrection story of Jesus Christ once more. They will hear how lives are turned around, when the story of fear and disappointment is shared with a stranger on the road to Emmaus. This is one of my favourite passages in the whole of scripture, it is so rich with meaning, theological insight and I never tire of hearing it.Our story tells us of two people who had been with Jesus, seen and heard him do marvellous, miraculous and wonderful things, surely this was the Messiah, surely this was the Saviour they had longed for?But now he is dead, he had been executed; He didn’t say a word, when we know that his words could unpick your soul and lift you to the highest heavens. Times were now too dangerous, time to move into the shadows and pick up the pieces of their old lives, time to go into lockdown.My reflection today is centred around meeting and sharing your life with;“The stranger on the road.”The resurrection of Jesus asks as many questions as it answers, one thing I am sure of is that we as disciples need to be “On the Road” in order to have our eyes opened; • Opened to the probing questions Jesus poses.• Opened to his disturbing and surprising presence.• Open to hear his voice speaking to you from strangers on the road.As many of you know over these passed weeks in lockdown each weekday we have had a ‘Thought for the Day’ posted on our social media forums and sent out as far and wide to the people we are connected with. I am grateful for the many contributions that I have been sent, as Editor in Chief so to speak I have slightly adapted and added a tweak here and there. I was sent this one earlier this week. I don’t think the author had in mind the story of the road to Emmaus at the time but the resonances of God’s voice in this reflection deserve to be heard, thought about and put into action.The thought of ‘Walking in other people’s Shoes’ is not new, in fact the proverb is as old as the hills we walk upon. The point here is that we don’t ‘walk in others shoes’ our default is to;‘look after ourselves,’ ‘Charity begins at home!’Sometimes we can’t ‘walk in others shoes’ because we are too focussed on our concerns, our sorrows, our pain, our immediate situation.Like the disciples our eyes are open but only on the next step, and that step is a step away from the situation, a footstep on the road West to Emmaus; usually out of town, out of reach, away from any connection with God, or any of his people. The thought in our mind is survival and self preservation. Thats why the Emmaus Road story is so powerful, two people whose lives, hopes and dreams have crashed to the ground, literally running for cover, for the safety of what they know, meet the Risen Lord Jesus, on the road and he changes their lives. Friends, friends, have you met him?Friends, friends, do you know he is walking with you right now, in the midst of all your pain, sorrow, distress and fear?I am greatly comforted by these words of the Apostle Paul to the Roman Christians.Romans 8:38-39 King James Version (KJV)For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. This passage, informs us of enormity of what Jesus did, it brings comfort and hope amidst the worst times in our lives.Our ‘thought for the day’ showed us an insight into what humanity can do when we listen and walk and work together. The Emmaus road story takes us further and restores not only our hope in humanity but shows us a loving saviour, healer and friend, and the length that Jesus will go to, to bring you home.During this time of social isolation, lockdown, when we aren’t connected, our minds and sometimes our actions spill out, go on overdrive. The tension under the surface breakouts. Literally for most of us everything we have worked so hard and built looks like it could crumble. Our lives seem so fragile, we feel our mortality ever present.What have we done with our lives? What have we built?And yet, and yet; a stranger appears in our midst and He has the power to turn our life upside down. My prayer for us all is that we welcome this stranger in whatever guise, shape or form and allow Him to change and transform our life.Perhaps this week you could set an extra place at your table for the stranger, placing some bread and wine there. in doing so who knows what will happen?This week on your walk out into the highways and byways, may you bump into Jesus.May his words soothe your soul and bring you home.May he cause you to walk Eastward to the Son.May you know Him in the sharing of your life, with others, just as our disciples knew Him when he broke bread in their homes.AmenPrayerWe praise you and we bless you, our risen Lord Jesus, King of glory,for you are with us, even when our eyes are closed to your companionship.Walk this day alongside the disconsolate and the despairing, open their eyes to your gentle illumination, and let their hearts burn within them at your invisible presence.To you, Lord Jesus, walking by our side, be honour and glory, now and for ever.All Amen.
Thought for the Day 24th April 2020“There is nothing new under the sun …”We live in a world where we are always looking out for the next new big thing. This is just as true for the church as for any other part of our society. However, there is much that we have, even in the twentieth-first century, which has been seen before.As you know, the church is making the most of modern technology to increase access to services, which is especially important during this Easter period. And yet, long-distance communication has happened before, and without Wi-fi and lap-top. There is nothing new under the sun . . .I was thinking of St Clare of Assisi the other day, a name overshadowed by a more famous holy person from that Italian town. Clare was born in Assisi on 16 July 1194, when the crusades were in full-swing, to the wealthy Fiumi family. It is said that she pursued a regular routine of prayer in her early years but her spiritual life changed in a single moment. She heard St Francis of Assisi preach a sermon at a Lenten service. We do not know if this was similar to attending a Billy Graham meeting, but these words of Francis changed her life for ever. Clare then asked St Francis to help her to live the way of the gospel, which he did. On Sunday 20 March 1212, a Palm Sunday, Clare left her home, much to her father’s annoyance, cut her hair and took the veil and vows. After spending time in a couple of Benedictine communities, she established her own religious family in a building next to San Damiano, located on the flanks of Subasio. This became the Order of the Poor Ladies, now known as the Poor Clares, a community based on the Franciscan way of life.This new order did not live a mendicant lifestyle like the Franciscans, chiefly because it was not considered a suitable one for women. Instead, they devoted themselves to prayer, manual work and complete silence . . . well, most of the time. They also went around barefoot. St Clare died on 11 August 1253. Pope Pius XIII declared her to be the patron saint of television in 1958. Why? When she was ill, Clare was able to hear and see the Mass on a wall in her room. How did this happen, we know not. It was a miracle!Just as St Clare was able to participate in the services via miraculous means, and from a distance, so too are we. Indeed, modern technology is just as mysterious, miraculous and utterly unfathomable! St Clare’s experience encourages us to make the most of what we have been given, whether it be via the internet, or simply by watching ‘Songs of Praise’ on TV, or listening to a recorded evensong on the radio. There is nothing new under the sun . . .Nick Baker
Thought for the Day Wednesday 22nd AprilThere’s Power in the Name!Whilst pottering in the garden a few rambling thoughts came to mind, as they do from time to time, Im trying to put them into some sort of sense, so bear with!Everything in the World and even Universe has a name, from the smallest virus to the largest Nebula. In the garden of Eden, God gave Adam the job of naming everything “So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field.”In John 14:13 Jesus says, ‘You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.’ Powerful stuff, I often ask God to intervene on my behalf and usually something happens, but not like I thought it would!Our baptisms at St Catherine’s and St Peter’s are joyous celebrations and we have been blessed over the years to have a steady supply, it has become a ‘rite of passage' for many, many folk. Some people however choose not to have a religious celebration, but still have Naming Ceremonies, every culture has a way of marking the naming of a child. Father Andrew at every baptism says what a privilege it is to name a child and as is part of our tradition we often hear about the origin of the name of those being baptised. This got me thinking; How do you feel when you cannot remember someone’s name? A little embarrassed, I bet. “Hey you” is not a way of addressing someone. We all need to be able to name something, to give it credence, to give it legitimacy. However, we describe the current situation, Epidemic, Pandemic, Coronavirus or Covid-19 all give legitimacy. In the last 4 weeks I have never mentioned any of the above, in fact typing these words gives me some trouble. Call me silly, stupid, lost, deranged whatever you like, names are powerful things and sometimes, sometimes they can cause fear to arise within you, take the ‘C’ word for instance. So, I refuse to call this “thing” anything, I even baulk slightly whenever I hear it named. To me it is so much easier to deal with as a nameless entity. I know it exists, it is causing untold misery to people, I accept it is changing all our lives forever, but I don’t want that name to have any power over me and mine, give it a try, it’s easier than you think.Being in the choir since Adam was a lad, I have sung many Hymns and anthems, one that springs to mind is; "At the Name of Jesus" a hymn from 1870 with lyrics penned by Caroline Maria Noel. This hymn proclaims the sovereignty of Jesus as the first line says, "At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow.” The Story behind this hymn is that Caroline Maria Noel experienced bouts of intense suffering, and many of these lyrics were the outcome of her times of distress. They are particularly acclimated "for the Sick and Lonely" and were composed first for private meditation than for public use, although many are befitted to the latter audience. It is a rousing hymn and is often the Processional for Ascension Day. Verse 5 is particularly relevant at this time and brings me comfort that there is ‘Power in Jesus name,’ to assuage anything that may seek to have power over me.5.In your hearts enthrone him; there let him subdueall that is not holy, all that is not true.Look to him, your Saviour, in temptations' hour;let his will enfold you in its light and power. A Prayer:Heavenly Father,by the power of your Holy Spirityou give your faithful people new life in the water of baptism.Guide and strengthen us by the same Spirit,that we who are born again may serve you in faith and love,and grow into the full stature of your Son, Jesus Christ,who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spiritnow and for ever. AmenMartin Mellor, Chatting with Fr Andrew.
Fourth Station of the Resurrection:The Angel appears to the Women(Matthew 28: 5-8)It is well known that I have an overactive imagination. Whether it be dreaming about flying to a distant planet, or even unearthing an archaeological treasure house like Tutankhamun’s tomb, I have pictured myself doing lots of strange and wonderful things. And imagination is not a bad thing. Indeed, even St Ignatius of Loyola stressed the importance of dreaming as part of spiritual meditation and discipline. For example, to picture yourself walking along the shore of Galilee with your Lord can be a powerful and prayerful experience.Many years ago I paid a visit to the Holy Land. I did the usual things, you know, climb the mount of the Beatitudes (more like a small hill rather than a mountain!), bathe in the Dead Sea, and even visit the church at Cana. Alas, there was no free wine on offer. The ‘highlight’ of the tour, so to speak, was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where you can pray at the spot where the cross stood, and see the split in the rock which resulted from the subsequent earthquake. Fr Terry mentioned this on Sunday. If you ignore the cacophony of the various Christian denominations trying to ‘out sing’ each other in various parts of the church, you can see the stone on which the body of Christ lay in the tomb. (In fact, part of the stone that was rolled away can still be seen – a sad portion of its former self.) When I went to that slab of stone, you are not so much greeted by an angel, but normally by other pilgrims, or even a bearded priest trying to keep some sort of order, rearranging the crash-barrier to manage the que. Regardless of the reality, I could not but help imagine what the scene would have been like for those women who came to the tomb on that first Easter Day. When we read the few verses prior to today’s gospel reading, we learn there was an earthquake, and an angel came from above and rolled the stone away.If you have ever seen the film The Greatest Story ever Told, which stars Max von Sydow as Jesus Christ, you will remember that the famous singer Pat Boone played the angel, dressed in white from head to foot looking, well, angelic. I can’t say that a vision of Pat Boone appeared in my mind as I was standing in that church in Jerusalem, but I tried to imagine what those women were feeling when they saw what had happened and heard him speak. Perhaps fear? Possibly surprise?Who were these women? Matthew tells us that they were Mary Magdalene and ‘the other Mary’, presumably the mother of James, Joseph and sons of Zebedee, and Matthew tells us that these two had witnessed the crucifixion itself. And the angel connects the Jesus of the resurrection with the Jesus who suffered an awful death on the wooden cross, the death they had just witnessed. The angel says ‘I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified’. There was no getting away from that fact.But let us have a closer look at the words spoken by the angel. In this passage we see that the angel references both pain and joy. The angel is clearly aware of the pain that is being experienced by those women: they had seen his death, they now saw an empty tomb. Where was the body of the one they had followed faithfully? But there is the joy and comfort, too. As the angel tells them, ‘Do not be afraid . . . ‘ and later ‘ he is not here; for he has been raised . . . ‘Even on that first Easter day, people experienced both pain and joy. Just as Jesus came to know what it was like to be human, so the angel also addressed those concerns and feelings that humans have. In our earthly lives, and especially today, we all have an understanding of pain and joy. Even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, when the statistics go ever upward and the discomfort of lockdown continues to bite, there is joy. There is the joy of communities coming together, albeit through strange and peculiar means, and greater co-operation between nations around the globe; there are wonderful feats of fund-raising and fund-giving. The women left the tomb in fear, no surprise there, but with great joy. It is a reminder that even in the midst of pain and fear, there is great joy, and for Christians the joy of resurrection hope. Don’t be afraid to run and share that news with others, keeping of course a respectful two metre gap.Nick Baker
