A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – Easter Sunday 12^th April 2020

*This is the first day of God’s new week.
The darkness has gone, and the sun is shining
And a HAPPY and BLESSED Easter to Everyone.

John 20:1-16  (NRSV)

The Resurrection of Jesus

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to their homes.

As I write these thoughts, I’m sitting outside in our garden in the middle of the Moulsham Lodge Housing Estate. From my seat on the patio I have a view of the most magnificent blossom on a tree in the corner of our garden, the sun is shining and it’s almost as if time has stood still.

I wonder if time seemed to stand still for the disciples as they return home from seeing the empty tomb…

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; ¹² and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,^[b] “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).

I wonder too, if time stood still for Mary as she stood weeping at the tomb.

A slight aside – and it maybe just a romantic thought on my part – but isn’t it fascinating that Jesus starts His life on earth with a woman called Mary and the first person he sees following His death and resurrection to ‘New Life’ is a woman called Mary……

In any event, very soon time would quickly start again for Mary and the disciples. The readings above speak for themselves and don’t need repeating in different words by me. The key is, Jesus had risen!

Some people will point out that Jesus was not the first – Jesus after all raised Lazarus from the dead – but that wasn’t the same. Lazarus was brought back to his old life and would die again. Jesus on the other hand was resurrected to a New Life and is with us still.

The subtitle of these thoughts ‘This is the first day of God’s new week. The darkness has gone, and the sun is shining’ is a quote from Tom Wright. God created the heavens and the earth. Following that first Sabbath, after Jesus’ death, the first Sunday became the ‘moment of new creation’, ‘the first day of God’s new week.’*

On Friday we thought about the unprecedented times we’re in and the sacrifice of those who are on the front line, keeping us safe and well. About how we might respond to both their sacrifice – and to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

We thought too about how these times are a wakeup call and that right now we have the opportunity to be part of a ‘New Reality’. This could be the moment when the world becomes part of a New Creation started on that first Easter Sunday over 2000 year ago. It’s up to us to help make the sacrifice of 2000 years, and the sacrifices being made today, really mean something and not, as I hinted Friday, be consigned a chapter in the history books. We must respond, to both.

We could be forgiven for thinking that the darkness is still here – and that is painfully true for many – but the seeds of New creation are there if we care to look for them. They are, of course, visible in the blossoms on the trees, the blooming of the flowers, bird song and the sunshine. But they’re also visible in the love, kindness and compassion that is being shown by people in these difficult times, not just to people they know, but to complete strangers as well.

I hope and pray that as you look around you today you’ll be able to find evidence of New Life, that you’ll feel hope, that you’ll draw strength and joy from what you see. Yes we still face difficult times – but there is a future – with trust in God and with His help, that future will be bright and beautiful.

God Bless everyone on this special day.

*(Wright 2002 p.143)

Wright, T. (2002) John for Everyone Part 2. New York, SPCK.

For many years now we have concluded our Easter Sunday worship with the wonderful Hymn ‘Thine be The Glory’ so before we have a final prayer here are the words, which we can all sing out loud, or in our hearts and look forward to the day when we sing them together again.

Thine be the Glory

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son,
Endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won;
Angels in bright raiment rolled the stone away,
Kept the folded grave-clothes where thy body lay.

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won!

Lo, Jesus meets us risen from the tomb;
Lovingly he greets us, scatters fear and gloom;
Let the Church with gladness hymns of triumph sing,
For her Lord now liveth, death hath lost its sting.

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won!

No more we doubt thee, glorious Prince of life;
Life is naught without thee: Aid us in our strife;
Make us more than conquerors through thy deathless love;
Bring us safe through Jordan to thy home above:

Thine be the glory, risen, conquering Son;
Endless is the victory thou o’er death hast won!

A Final Prayer

Heavenly Father
We thank you and Praise you
For all that happened on that first Easter weekend
All that it still means to the world today.
Help us to respond and become
Part of your New Creation
We pray for those who are struggling
To see the new life around them.
Those blinded by fear, loneliness, pain, loss.
Illness, or any other suffering.
May their eyes be opened to a new hope,
A new hope in You.
Bless again we pray all those who are
Sacrificing so much in our world today.
And finally Lord, give us all
Hope, strength, courage and patience
Until we can be together again with
All our loved ones – family and friends.
In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen.

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – Good Friday 10^th April 2020

Here we are, Good Friday. The day we remember the events surrounding Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. This is when we reflect on how Jesus was first betrayed, then arrested, deserted by His friends, one of His best friends denies he even knows him, he’s falsely accused, mocked, blindfolded, beaten, tried for crimes he didn’t commit and finally crucified and buried! All this just a short time after He was being hailed ‘Son of David’, ‘Messiah’, ‘King’. How quickly things can change.

This is the time we remember why Jesus went to the cross. He did it for us, he paid the price for all our wrongs, for things he was completely innocent of, to offer forgiveness and bring us to a closer relationship with God.

As we look back at what happened, from the moment of His arrest to the moment he died, we see how Jesus’ remained the healer, the carer, the one who gave forgiveness.

His followers found themselves in a ‘New Reality’, but it wasn’t over yet, And nothing would be the same again!

It’s right we reflect on these things today, we must, and I’m sure many of you will have your own thoughts. But today of all days I think we can reflect further, and I’m confident that God in the person of Jesus will understand and be with us as we do.

So here we are, Good Friday 10^th April 2020. The world is in a ‘New Reality’, but it’s not over yet, and nothing will be the same. Or will it?

As we think about the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Perhaps today we should think too about the sacrifices being made here and now, today. We’re living in what have been described as unprecedented times. Many have said to me, ‘This is a wakeup call.’ We’re seeing a mobilisation of people going above and beyond the call of duty. In all the trauma, throughout the world, there are people whose lives have become dedicated to serving other people’s needs before their own, putting their own lives at risk in the process – and many have paid the ultimate price.

What are their sacrifices going to mean in the future? Will they make a difference, or will they be consigned to a chapter in the history books?

On Sunday we will celebrate Jesus’ resurrection and reflect on how, out of the despair of Good Friday, hope is restored, how a ‘New Reality’ was born and the Good News of Jesus Christ spread throughout the world, and mankind could have a new relationship with God. Perhaps we should also consider how what we are facing in the world today could become a ‘New Reality’. How do we respond to what Jesus has done on the cross? And how will we respond to the sacrifices of others today? We’ll consider these questions on Sunday.

In the meantime let’s give thanks to God for Jesus, His obedience to the Father and His compassion shown on the cross. And let’s also give thanks for the dedication and compassion shown by those who serve today.

In writing the prayer that follows, it was tempting make lists, the problem with a list is it would be my list, influenced by my knowledge and experience, which might easily leave people out. So I’ve simply put a few headings and ask that you fill the gaps with people you want to pray for – maybe add a heading or two – I’m sure between us we can fill most of the gaps, if not all.

A Prayer

Heavenly Father
Our thanks can never do justice to
The debt we owe for what Jesus did on the cross, for us.
But we ask you in your mercy to accept what we give
And to help us respond to the gift you gave
In the way we live our lives.
Keep the teachings of Jesus upper most in our minds
In the way we treat each other,
The way we speak to each other,
The way we care about each other,
The way we forgive each other,
The way we love each other.
We offer you our thanks also for those who, today,
Are giving themselves in the service of others,
Bless them and keep them safe we pray.

We think of those in the health and caring professions
Those who continue to keep our utilities going
Those who keep us secure
Those who govern and have to make
Difficult decisions on our behalf
Those work anonymously
Behind the scenes for the good of others
Finally we prayer for those who are suffering,
Not just with Corvid-19 but also
Any illness and pain
Loss and bereavement
Isolation and loneliness
Fear and anxiety
Lord, fill them and us with a renewed hope
As we lift our prayers to you In Jesus Name.

Amen.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – What do we want? 29th March 2020

When we ask someone ‘what do you want?’ sometimes it might be more appropriate to ask ‘What do you need?’

One of the set readings for today is Matthew 20: 29-34. Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem for what would be His last journey into that great city. He and a great crowd of followers pass two blind men sitting by the road. We don’t know what led them to do it, but they called out to Him. Had they heard about this enigmatic man Jesus and that He would be passing by on His was to Jerusalem? As they heard the crowd, what was it that made them call out to Him in such specific terms ‘Lord’, ‘Son of David’? Words which suggest they recognised some kind of Royalty.

All this happened just before what is called, ‘Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem’. Yet, knowing in His heart how that was going to end, He makes time to stop and asks them ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ (Vs. 32) not ‘what do you want?’ or even ‘what do you need?’ but what could he do. This must have stumped them for a moment, they might well have assumed Jesus was in a position to give them money, clothing, shelter. After all, if he was to be a King he could afford to give them any of these things, things they couldn’t have as blind men fending for themselves on the streets. Instead they asked ‘Lord, let our eyes be opened.’ (Vs. 33). In spite of what he was about to face in Jerusalem, Jesus is moved with compassion, and does just that. And in response, perhaps because their minds as well as their eyes had been opened, they follow Him.

If someone says ‘I want enough money to buy a house’ I wonder, if they thought about it long enough whether they’d put it differently, ‘I want to be able to provide the security of a roof over my family’s head’. What do we really want?

God has given us everything we need, food, water, light, heat, life itself….. As the world goes through a period like never before, now might be a good time for all of us, individuals, societies, nations, the World, to consider what we have, and what it is we really want.

Prayer

Heavenly Father Thank you for all
You have given to the world we live in,
That, between us, we have all we need.
Thank you for all the people who
In recent days have volunteered to help
Those who are, not just isolated,
But vulnerable and needing extra help.
We thank you again for all our front line services
Who are battling to keep us safe and well,
Be with them in a special way.
Comfort those infected with Coronavirus themselves,
their families and friends,
Especially those who have lost loved ones.
We pray for those suffering with other illnesses
who may be feeling neglected at the moment.
Give wisdom and strength to those making decisions
About people’s health and lives
So that all may receive the help and care they need.
And now, as we consider what we might want,
Give to all of us, everywhere,
Hearts not to want in such a way that others go without,
So that the bounty of your creation can be shared by all.
Help us all to have the strength and hearts to join in the
Generosity and love poured out by so many.
Be with our world we pray
In Jesus name. Amen.

The picture above shows Nature and tranquility near the Basilica of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor Israel 2012