I always give thanks to God for you when I remember you in my prayers!
Greetings in the Name of Jesus.
“Then He (Jesus) said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27).
May our Lord increase your faith as He calls you to identify with the wounds by which we are healed.
As we approach the 100th day of lock-down, I am beginning to understand St Paul’s anguish over the Church more and more. How he writes of longing to see them, while incapacitated through incarceration. His passion for God’s people never died, and his love for them increased even though they were separated.
Today my heart is for God’s people as we struggle to understand, to reorder and to rebuild our lives, amidst the confusion of the world. As we go into the new week, we are going to have to be extra vigilant, extra cautious and even more courageous. May the Holy Spirit give you the strength to do what is yours to do, as we the Christians of the world continue to share our hope, our confidence in Christ, with humility and concern for others.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has called us to join the call for a “Ceasefire.” I am amazed that there are still wars going on, and that over and above the challenges of the Worldwide Pandemic, people are facing the horrors of war. It is tragic that Gender Based Violence and Domestic Violence is on the increase.
Instead of a common enemy pulling us all together, we are still polarized. We need to be peacemakers, we need to find peace within ourselves and deal with the racism, xenophobia, gender issues, power struggles, selfishness in our community. It horrifies me that there are corruption cases around the abuse of the money allocated to assist people affected by COVID-19; that people would steal from the most desperate in our society.
This week there was so much fake news and so much dissension that one could not discern fact from fiction.
So how do we respond to all of this? How do we keep our heads when all about us are losing theirs (to use Kipling’s words)?
Firstly, as St Paul reminds us, “Keep your eyes on things above” (Colossians 3:1). This does not mean to ignore what is going on on earth, in fact quite the opposite, it means to focus on the Kingdom of God, and work towards “Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” We need to take our lead from God, not from our circumstances. Therefore, reading of Scripture and deepening our understanding of God’s law is essential. We need to love our neighbour, not because nobody else does, but because God does. We need to reach out to the lost and the lonely, not because we see that they are in need – but because God instructs us to do so. Then we will understand how to apply love. When we actively seek to bring God’s love into the world rather than simply respond, then our discipleship will be proactive. If our actions are just a response to the world’s brokenness we will tire and feel ineffective. But if our actions are doing what God has called us to do, we will no longer use the world’s measures of success and failure.
It is our duty and our joy to serve God, by serving others, loving others, praying for others.
When we act out of obedience to God, our lives are filled with purpose. In the words of a hymn that I remember from my childhood; “that God will grant me, to be brave and strong and true, and to fill the world with love, my whole life through.” I encourage you to measure your life by what you do and not on your circumstances. Judge yourself on your discipline in Christ and with Christ and through Christ and you “will hold your head while others are losing theirs” and you will be a mature Child of God.
Be assured of my prayers!
Chose faith not fear!
Rector.
Commemoration of St Thomas.
