St Mary's, Appledore, North Devon

Reflection from Rev Trevor Lloyd

This is the day we remember The Venerable Bede, Monk at Jarrow, Scholar, Historian.

The Gospel is John chapter 21 verses 20-25:

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is going to betray you?’) When Peter saw him, he asked, ‘Lord, what about him?’

Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.’ Because of this, the rumour spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, ‘If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?’

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (NIV)

When I became an archdeacon, my father remembered old men in dark suits if not gaiters, coming to see his father at their house in Wigan and asked ‘What does it make me to be the father of one of these?’ We tend to use the word ‘venerable’ to mean old or antique – a venerable old building for instance. But the origins of the word really mean ‘to be honoured and revered’. I doubt if many archdeacons today would gladly accept either interpretation of their honorific title. Though a bit of respect in tricky situations might not go amiss: my predecessor was threatened with a shotgun from a bedroom window by one of the clergy he was trying to visit. Many of my friends said they had never prayed for archdeacons before I became one. Do you pray for our archdeacon? Verena is certainly not either antique nor expecting to be worshipped. Archdeacons are the often unseen workhorses of the church, attending to its structures and machinery, as well as its finance and buildings, making connections between people and organisations, sharing vision and examples of good practice, trying to ensure that people’s gifts and experience are well used. And we have good reason to pray for ours and to thank God for her.

But Bede wasn’t an archdeacon. He didn’t travel outside of the twin monasteries of Monkwearmouth and Jarrow. He was just a monk, priest, scholar and writer. And he wasn’t old. When he died on this day in the year 735 he was about 65, younger than many in our congregations. But by then he had earned a vast international reputation as a historian, written the ground-breaking five volume history of the English people, written several commentaries on books of the bible and lives of saints like Cuthbert as well as works on the nature of time.

The challenges presented by remembering Bede are reflected in today’s Gospel. Bede knew the work of the Italian scholar who established the BC-AD dating system, which he used in his History The dialogue with Peter (still perhaps concerned to compare himself to others) is a bit similar to discussions about predicting the ending of the world. Jesus says ‘So what? Don’t worry sbout him, get on with the job I’ve given YOU to do’. Bede’s concern for accurate dating emphasises the fact that everything in the world changed when Jesus arrived. He is at the centre of all history, dwarfing any personal concerns about the length of our lives and making the communicating of the gospel message top priority. Telling people about Jesus was Bede’s priority, through his life of prayer, his Bible commentaries, the examples of other people’s lives: that was his motivation, Is it ours? John was concerned for truth and accuracy: ‘This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.’ So many books, so many means of communication. Pray for discernment, for the wisdom we need to communicate in our own culture – and then do it!

We pray for the courage to tell the story of Jesus and our own story;

for Christian writers, communicators and teachers;

for archdeacons and other leaders

God our maker, whose Son Jesus Christ gave to your servant Bede grace to drink in with joy the word that leads us to know you and to love you: in your goodness grant that we also may come at length to you, the source of all wisdom, and stand before your face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, Amen.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England (2000) (including the Psalter as published with Common Worship), material from which is included here, is copyright ©The Archbishops' Council 2000

St Mary's, Appledore, North Devon

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