Author: stmelangell_l5nfea

‘While Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.’ From Luke 9:28-36.

‘Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.’ The Doxology. 

The voice of God is heard in today’s Gospel, one of only three times this happens in the New Testament with the other occasions being at Jesus’ baptism and before his crucifixion in John 12. It happens as Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain with him to pray and, as he does, the appearance of his face changes, Jesus’ clothes become dazzlingly white and Moses and Elijah appear with him, representing the Law and the Prophets. Moses’ face had also shone with reflected light when he spent time in prayer on Mount Sinai and was given the commandments but Moses and Elijah being there with the glorified Jesus reinforces that he is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, the Messiah.

All three speak of Jesus’ forthcoming departure, or exodus, at Jerusalem but despite this astounding event, and the appearance of two long-dead people, the disciples struggle to stay awake as was to happen later in the Garden of Gethsemane. However, as Moses and Elijah leave, Peter suggests making three places to mark what has happened but a cloud overshadows them and the disciples become terrified. This is when God’s voice is heard, telling them that Jesus is his Son, the Chosen, and they must listen to him. The disciples keep silence and Luke says that they say nothing of this to anyone ‘in those days’ – perhaps greater understanding only came later, after the resurrection?

Perhaps the same is true for us at times, too? It may only be much later that we begin to understand what God has been asking of us or why events have unfolded as they did. Not all the disciples were taken by Jesus to the mountain and even those chosen struggled to understand and became terrified so if, at times, we face a cloud of uncertainty or unknowing and become scared about what is happening, perhaps we should not be too surprised. There is so much that disfigures our world and lives today that it may help to focus on the transfiguration and what happened to those who figure in it including those terrified disciples. Hope may then be rekindled, as Malcom Guite suggests:

For that one moment, ‘in and out of time’, 

On that one mountain where all moments meet,

The daily veil that covers the sublime

In darkling glass fell dazzled at his feet….

The Love that dances at the heart of things 

shone out upon us from a human face

And to that light the light in us leaped up.

We felt it quicken somewhere deep within,

A sudden blaze of long-extinguished hope….

Nor can this blackened sky, this darkened scar

Eclipse that glimpse of how things really are. 

From ‘Transfiguration’ in Sounding the Seasons, published by Canterbury Press.

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Priest Guardian.

Jesus rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” From today’s Gospel, Luke 8:22-25.

‘Storms make the oak grow deeper roots.’ George Herbert.

Perhaps the best bit of advice I was given when I came to this valley eight years ago was to keep a good store cupboard as the weather here can be so unpredictable, causing damage and power cuts accordingly. Recently, some of the storms have been horrendous with winds strong enough to uproot trees and one power cut lasting 32 hours. A good store cupboard has been vital with being so far away from a supermarket and in case of blocked roads or landslides – tins of baked beans, canned tomatoes and a good torch or candles have been helpful with a camping stove and thermos flask now enabling hot food and drinks until the power returns. Being ready in case a storm springs up means that, like my neighbours, I can be prepared for various possibilities. 

That’s why what happens in today’s Gospel is so surprising. Jesus is in a boat with his disciples and he wants them to go to the other side of the lake. The Sea of Galilee is 13 miles long and 8 miles wide with surrounding hills which act like a funnel – violent storms can very quickly spring up. However, amongst the disciples are experienced fishermen who would know of this possibility and could also be prepared for it. Yet, when the wind picks up, the boat starts to fill with water and it gets dangerous, it doesn’t seem as if anyone is taking control. No orders are given to overcome the situation and, instead, the disciples go to their exhausted leader who is asleep in the boat despite the storm and shout at him that they are perishing. When Jesus takes action and calm results he holds the Creator and the created together, causing the disciples to ask one another, “Who is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”

This Creation Sunday, it’s a reminder to us that, like those first disciples, we can also face sudden or unexpected storms as well as joys too. Just as Jesus calmed the storm and fear of those first disciples, the same can be true for us, too, although we may also feel that nothing is happening as quickly as we want it to. Jesus chides the disciples for their lack of faith and perhaps the same is true for us as we consider the stormy waters being faced with so many issues in our lives and world today.

Perhaps it may be appropriate to consider the words of Grover Cleveland who in turbulent times  suggested that, “The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those on board.” His words seem appropriate today with recent national and international developments – but Grover Cleveland was the 22nd President of the United States from 1885 to 1889 and the 24th President from 1893 to 1897. He was as concerned about democracy then as some are now and if stormy waters were creating mutiny then, perhaps we shouldn’t be too surprised that this is still happening today.

Where, then, is our faith as we also ponder who Jesus is and what storms we and the created world in which we live are facing? Are we prepared for them and will we take action or do we expect Jesus to come to our rescue while we just panic like those first disciples? What is being created in our lives this Creation Sunday?

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Priest Guardian.

“Blessed are you…. Rejoice in that day.” Jesus, in Luke 6:17-26.

“Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.” Groucho Marx. 

Today’s Gospel has a similar account in Matthew, the sermon on the Mount, which emphasises that the teaching in it came down from God. Luke’s occurs on a plain, often linked with ordinary events as well as suffering, death, hunger and being unable to rise up. It happens just after Jesus has chosen twelve of his disciples to be apostles, those sent out, and he has not chosen scholars or educated men who can take on the religious leaders of the day. Amongst the apostles are fishermen, working people, a tax collector and even a former social agitator – all of them people who have left the familiar behind to follow Jesus. Luke writes that a great crowd of disciples was present as well as a multitude of people from Judaea, Jerusalem, Tyre and Sidon – clearly, people want to hear what Jesus has to say and are willing to travel a long way to do so.

In his version, Matthew (5:3-12) has nine beatitudes whereas Luke has four, which are followed by four woes. Surrounded as he is by people hungry for his teaching, Jesus speaks of God’s love for the poor, the hungry, the sad and those who are hated, excluded, reviled or defamed. He calls them blessed – not because they are in this state but because they have only God to trust and are dear to him. Their reward will be great in heaven, says Jesus, whereas the rich, the full, those laughing and those acclaimed by others now have choices which may mean that they don’t need God and so may not seek or find him. Jesus warns them of the woe to come and of being distracted by false prophets rather than listening to the word of God. 

Jesus’ words then are appropriate today as we consider the similarities and priorities of our own lives and the world we live in today. On All Saints’ Day in 2016, Pope Francis suggested six ‘modern Beatitudes‘ for our times:

1. Blessed are those who remain faithful while enduring evils inflicted on them by others and forgive them from their heart.

2. Blessed are those who look into the eyes of the abandoned and marginalised and show them their closeness.

3. Blessed are those who see God in every person and strive to make others also discover Him.

4. Blessed are those who protect and care for our common home.

5. Blessed are those who renounce their own comfort in order to help others.

6. Blessed are those who pray and work for full communion between Christians. 

Today, I would add a humorous seventh: Blessed are those who are loving to the dog that has, overnight, chewed their iPad charger into five pieces and been sick!

What Beatitudes are appropriate for 2025? As we consider our own situations, where are the blessings and what makes us woeful? How might that enable us to change our priorities and reach out to others, that woes may be transformed, blessings increased and God’s will be done on earth as in heaven?

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Priest Guardian.

“If you say so, I will.” Simon Peter in Luke 5:1-11, today’s Gospel.

To help others belong ‘requires reciprocation…. It is about allowing newcomers to affect you on your native soil, to change you.’ From Dina Nayeri’s ‘The ungrateful refugee’.

Today’s Gospel reading is the extraordinary encounter between Jesus and Simon Peter, the fisherman. Jesus has been talking with the crowds following him beside the Sea of Galilee and the throng is so great that the crowd is pressing in on him. So, seeing the fishermen washing their nets after an unsuccessful night, Jesus gets into Simon’s boat and asks him to put out a little way from the shore so that the crowds can see and hear him more clearly. When he’s finished teaching them, Jesus tells Simon to put out into deep water and lower the nets for a catch. At this, Simon protests that they have worked all night and caught nothing – it must have been exasperating for him, as a professional, to be told what to do by someone who has never worked in this way. Not only would he get his cleaned nets dirty again, the fish would be sheltering in the shade or under rocks in the heat of the day and the likelihood of a catch was low. It didn’t make sense to him – but, nevertheless, he does as Jesus suggests and replies, “If you say so, I will…” The catch of fish is then so great that the nets begin to break and Simon has  to ask his partners James and John in the other boat to come and help them as they begin to sink with its weight.

The fact that Jesus tells him to lower the net in deep water would mean that there would be plenty of fish there avoiding the heat of the day and so Jesus does know what he’s talking about. It has a profound effect on Simon, who immediately falls on his knees confessing that he is a sinner because his own efforts have come to nothing. He, James and John then leave everything, despite the catch, and follow Jesus after being told not to be afraid and that they will henceforth be catching people rather than fish.

What happens immediately changes their behaviour. The fishermen don’t even stop to count or unload their valuable catch – they simply leave it all behind and follow him. Perhaps there were others who would finish this for them, and perhaps their families would be glad of this financial benefit – for how will they now manage without them? But it seems that what has happened makes these fishermen realise that Jesus will provide for their needs no matter how unlikely it may seem so, “they left everything.”

There may be times for all of us when circumstances suddenly change profoundly and drastically transform our lives, thinking or actions. As with Simon Peter, it may be for the good but, as in Southport when three children were killed and others stabbed by a teenager, this may also have drastic negative consequences. In Southport, deliberate and false rumours in the media lead to some of the worst racial unrest seen in recent years in the UK and, although some communities gathered in support and to repair the damage, uncertainty in the Middle East and elsewhere has lead to renewed religious and racial conflict as well as fear in many places.

In these uncertain times, Isaiah’s call that God’s “house will  be called a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7) is timely for Racial Justice Sunday today, founded in 1995 after the racial killing of Stephen Lawrence. The findings of the MacPherson enquiry arising from this explored institutional racism and gave three examples of it: the colour blind approach where people claim not to notice colour but don’t then respond to particular needs; the stereotypical approach where the needs of others are assumed without verifying what they are actually are; the saying, “We’ve always done it this way,” as a reason for resisting change. 

Perhaps these comments apply to our responses too? For there are sometimes occasions when someone suggests we do something we find hard, like Simon Peter, and it may be easy to dismiss them accordingly with similar reactions. Might it be that, in doing so, we dismiss the voice of Jesus, too? How often do we respond, as Simon did, “If you say so, I will” and discover where that could lead to? We’re asked this more often that may be realised, implied as it is in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.” What kind of kingdom and society are we building and whose will is being done? 

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Priest Guardian.

“For mine eyes have seen your salvation…a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” Simeon in Luke 2:22-40.

‘If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have a second flight.

If Candlemas Day be dull with rain, winter will not come again.’ Folkloric rhyme, said to predict the coming weather with greater accuracy than Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog in Philadelphia. His annual forecast on this day, made by seeing whether or not his shadow is visible as he leaves his burrow, is said to be only 35% correct!

Today’s Gospel reading of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple at Jerusalem is one of the few stories from the childhood of Jesus, about which little is known. Jesus was brought to the Temple because, being born a Jew, he and his parents were subject to the law of Moses set out in Leviticus 12, it being forty days since his birth. According to the custom of the day, Mary was considered ritually impure until she had been cleansed from childbirth and was not allowed to enter the sanctuary or touch anything holy. Any first-born male child had to be dedicated to the Lord and Jesus’ parents offered a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons for sacrifice, as was the custom. 

They would be amongst many families doing this at the Temple, but faithful Simeon is also present and he realises that this is the child for whom he has been waiting. Simeon prays the words of the Nunc Dimittis, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace” and this canticle is often said at the end of a funeral service as the coffin leaves the church. Anna, a devout woman who never leaves the Temple, also echoes Simeon as she praises God for what is happening and their testimony is a reminder that their great age is no barrier to God’s purposes.

Simeon speaks of Jesus being, “A light to lighten the Gentiles” and so this feast has also become known as Candlemas – traditionally, the yearly supply of candles to be used in worship was brought to the altar to be blessed at this time. It also coincides with the return of the light as winter begins to give way and the first signs heralding spring start to appear. Not least of these signs is the snowdrop, known as Nature’s Candles before the head of the flower drops down. It’s a plant which can withstand the cold due to the pointed leaves being able to pierce through the snow or frost with their sap containing a natural antifreeze that prevents ice crystals forming. They are often the first signs of new life after the dearth of winter and, traditionally, three are picked and brought into the family, church or house to symbolise light, hope and love also being renewed. Three are in the church, centre and home here. 

Following the ancient heritage of cleansing, the churching of women used to be a regular custom but nowadays there are different attitudes to childbirth and it is not sought so much, although it is still available if wanted. However, one of the challenges surrounding the ordination of the first women priests was that of ‘tainted’ altars or hands when a bishop laid hands on their head as they were ordained or if they had celebrated at an altar where traditional views that clergy had always been male and should remain so were held. It was also an issue for some if a female priest was thought to be menstruating as well as questions such as whether, if pregnant, the unborn child was also being ordained through receiving God’s grace whilst in its mother. These issues still remain for some but other headlines in the news are also giving cause for concern that there is a lot that needs cleansing and much to be gloomy about.

So, as the snowdrops reappear, may they bring a sense of renewed light, hope and love where it is needed – whatever the weather heralds, whether according to the rhyme for Candlemas Day or Punxsutawney Phil’s forecast this Groundhog Day, February 2nd!

With my prayers, pob bendith,

Christine, Priest Guardian.

There will be no service on Thursday 30th January at 12pm

My apologies for noting last week’s reflection as being for the Third Sunday of Epiphany when it was actually the Second. That’s because Epiphany was transferred in the Lectionary to Sunday 5th January but is actually on 6th January. Last week was therefore the Third Sunday in which Epiphany has been the focus but only the Second Sunday of the season of Epiphany when counting from 6th, hence today being the Third. Sorry if that is too much church-speak!

“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus, in Luke 4:14-21.

“If something happens, I would want there to be somebody who would remember that someone named D. Berger had once lived. This will make things easier for me in the difficult moments.” David Berger, a Pole shot dead at the age of 22 in the Holocaust.

Tomorrow is Holocaust Memorial Day, when those who have died in the Holocaust and genocides since are remembered, lest we forget. This year’s theme is For a better future and it marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp, and 30 years since the genocide in Bosnia. For there to be a better future, there has to be a consideration of the past and Jesus’ remark as he reads the words of Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth indicates how much this influenced the foundation of his ministry. Handed the scroll of Isaiah, written in the eighth century BC, Jesus selects chapter 61:1,2 and, filled with the Spirit himself at his baptism, he reads it. Jesus echoes Isaiah’s emphasis on preaching good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight for the blind, letting the oppressed go free and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favour. These words were familiar to all listening – but then Jesus sits down and declares that this has been fulfilled “today”. On hearing this, the congregation is astounded and he debates with them in the manner of a rabbi or teacher, leading them to say in astonishment, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” So angry do they become that Jesus is driven out and they even try to throw him off a cliff before he goes on his way. 

Trying to do away with Jesus indicates one of the characteristics of the development of genocide, which it’s been suggested never just happens. The organisation Genocide Watch indicates that there are 10 stages to its development: classification (them and us); symbolisation (Jews having to wear yellow stars); discrimination; dehumanisation (Tutsis were called ‘cockroaches’); organisation; polarisation (such as propaganda); preparation (the Final Solution hid the Nazis’ real intent); persecution; extermination and finally denial by the perpetrators and others. (See genocidewatch.com for further information.) It’s interesting to note how this might also apply to the life and death of Jesus and his followers down the ages as well as to some of the ongoing issues of today.

If a better future is to be even a possibility, perhaps the words and actions of Jesus are helpful. He took the writings of a past prophet, applied them to a hopeful future and declared them to be fulfilled that very day. As the good news of the ceasefire is declared (though not all agree with this) and captives are freed following such historic as well as current carnage and suffering in the Middle East, could this lead to a more hopeful future or might it herald a resumption of unresolved past hostilities? Today – and every new day – will hold opportunities to shape in the present moment a better future outcome in this and the lesser conflicts we all face in so many different ways. What is being fulfilled in our hearing as we do?

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Priest Guardian.

‘Jesus did this…..and his disciples believed in him.’ (John 2:1-11) 

”I feel like I’m being ordained into the Traitorhood.” Charlotte, as she was forced to become a Traitor having been a Faithful.

This may seem a confusing time in the Church Lectionary – recently having celebrated the birth of Jesus, last week’s Gospel focused on his baptism as an adult whilst today’s Gospel is the first miracle at Cana in Galilee at the start of Jesus’ ministry. The season of Epiphany centres on the revelation of God’s glory and purposes in varying ways despite the surrounding doubt and treachery. Chief amongst this is crafty King Herod who tells the Magi that he wants to worship the baby and later orders the massacre of all baby boys under the age of two to try to ensure his death. What if the Magi had done as Herod asked rather than gone home by a different route after being warned in a dream? They had a choice to make – as do we.

Difficult choices were being made on the BBC TV programme The Traitors this week and I was struck by the religious language being used in a show that rewards lies and deceit as the Faithful try to discern the unknown Traitors amongst them. This was highlighted in Charlotte’s above comment as she joined the Traitors, ordained being the term used for the consecration of a priest or other religious leader as holy orders are conferred – and yet being used by her in this unorthodox way. Ironically, an Anglican priest is voluntarily part of the programme too but Charlotte had no choice about this decision – she was asked to become a Traitor or be ‘murdered’. As one of the players commented, “It depends how you’ve been recruited. If you’ve been seduced you have a choice. If you’ve been given an ultimatum it’s that or murder.” However, Charlotte seems to have embraced her new role with great enthusiasm and is already talking of possibly betraying the Traitor who selected her as the prize money of up to £120,000 exerts its attraction. Just watching the programme is complicated as doubts develop about each individual and living through the experience must have been very challenging, although some contestants seem to thrive on the intrigue.

The programme is intriguing in itself as the power of lies, division and persuasion creates a web of deceit that can affect all those involved. It’s only a game – but is it? Perhaps there have been times for all of us when we have been deliberately misled, situations have not been as depicted or lies have prevailed – and perhaps we’ve been economical with the truth at times too. As my Gran once told me, “I always tell your grandad the truth – just not necessarily all of it!” 

This Week of Prayer for Christian Unity challenges us to seek ways of establishing unity rather than division as do Jesus’ words from John 11:25, 26 where he declares, “I am the resurrection and the life….. Do you believe this?” His words may sound challenging but are also an invitation and are spoken to Martha in love and compassion as she grieves for her brother, Lazarus. They are spoken to us too as scammers, A I robots, and identity fraudsters can also be treacherously present amongst those of dubious or honest intent who surround us and the need to discern truth and reality grows ever more pressing. What is genuine, who do we believe and what is being revealed this Epiphanytide as we, in what’s been called the game of life, try to be faithful in our own way – but to what?

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Priest Guardian.

The Bishop of St Asaph’s recent letter to his clergy mentioned Psalm 131 moments and the hope that these could form part of facing whatever challenges 2025 brings to us individually and corporately. With his permission, that part of his Ad Clerum forms this week’s reflection and it comes with my thanks to Bishop Gregory and the hope that this may be a helpful discipline for us all as thoughts turn from Christmas towards Lent.

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Priest Guardian.

Bishop Gregory’s reflection – Psalm 131 moments. 

Walking in the bright sunlit calm that we had on one day last week, I was able to soak up the healing balm of nature. After all the rush and busyness of Christmas, the quietness of space to think, to relax and to recover was very important. However, that walk in the open air was also for me a quiet revelation of the love of God. I do believe that the Holy Spirit is manifest in all creation and offers grace to us through all sorts of things and experiences, so that even walking in the sunshine can itself be a channel of God’s grace to us. It was a Psalm 131 moment:

Lord, my heart is not proud;

my eyes are not haughty.

I will not get distracted by things

too great or too wondrous for me.

Instead, I have calmed and quieted my soul

like a weaned child with its mother.

My soul is like a weaned child.

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord,

both now and forevermore.

My hope, as we begin 2025 together, is that we can all invest, individually and corporately in Psalm 131 moments. In eight weeks’ time we will be beginning Lent, and we will have once again the fine Lent Prayer Card…. which calls us to be joined together spiritually in the saying of the same prayer at the same time every day in Lent. Until then, however, we have two months to make a discipline of finding time to say Psalm 131 alone or in prayer groups, to make the attitudes of which it speaks, of humility before God, and expectation, part of the orientation of our hearts in facing whatever challenges 2025 will bring. As Isaiah put it: “in quietness and in trust shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30.15)

Every blessing as we begin an exciting new year. 

+ Gregory Llanelwy