Reflection from Rev Alison Roberts 26 MayJohn 15:26-16:426 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.16 “All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you. (NIV)ReflectionIt’s just six weeks and one day post celebrating Christs astonishing resurrection; most of us have by now totally demolished the chocolate eggs and even in Church life it can be all too easy to look towards the next celebration that’s coming up on the rota. Just this Thursday, the season of Easter moves on, and we’ll be celebrating Ascension Day. Yet regardless of our plans, and commitments, our business or the demands of our busy lives or even church rota’s, we need to affirm Christ; in our words and through our actions. That’s what Jesus is asking us in the gospel reading today, he wants us to be his witnesses, to affirm him and his ministry here on earth. It reminds me of the stupendous prayer written by 16th century Spanish Carmelite nun, Teresa of Avila; best known as a mystic, reformer and writer, she also experienced divine visions. That makes Teresa sound out of reach, as maybe too academic or wordy, yet her prayer is grounded and accessible to those of us who prefer a more ‘Janet and John’ approach to theology. To testify, to affirm our faith by the way we live isn’t easy call in a secular world. but in the reading Christ reassures us that we will be supported by the presence of the Holy Spirit. And through our affirmation, our endeavours to be Christ witnesses we will be entering into that divine dance of receiving and reciprocating Christ’s love. It is St Teresa of Avila’s prayer that always pulls me back when I’m distracted by business. It reconnects me by its simple earthy physical words to the basis of a theology I find both meaningful and overwhelmingly humbling Simply put, we are Christ’s body on earth……Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Christ has no body now on earth but yours. Amen St Theresa of Avila Common Worship: Collects and Post Communions, material from which is included here, is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2000
Monday evenings 6:15pm-8:00pm at Holy Trinity Hall Westward Ho! Supper served with tea & coffee Starting 3rd March! For more information call Rev Jules on 07857 946576
