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“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

‘They saw the child with his mother Mary and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they….presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:1-12.

“Rather than getting more spoilt with age, as difficulties pile up epiphanies of gratitude abound.” Alain de Botton.

I had a minor epiphany recently, a revelation of seeing in a new way something I’d viewed in a different light for many years. It involved the badge of my grammar school, which had elements from the city’s coat of arms on it. At school in Nottingham, I’d been told that the three golden crowns on the badge represented the Holy Trinity and its rough wooden cross Shirewood Forest. It had also been suggested that the crowns are ducal coronets and a mark of the King’s approval with so many royals often coming for the good hunting in Sherwood Forest with an area still called the Dukeries today. What I didn’t realise, and have only discovered this Epiphany, is that the three crowns may be linked with the Magi in Matthew’s Gospel, who took symbolic gifts to the Christchild of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 

Many carols sing of the figures known as the Three Kings as well as the Wise Men and they may not have existed at all, though their influence is extensive as they traditionally depict young, mature and older people from Europe, Africa and Asia. As Magi, priests of the Zoroastrian religion whose deity is the god of light Ahura Mazdā (hence Mazda light bulbs), Matthew’s  account tells of their arrival in Jerusalem as they asked where the child born to be king was to be found. By doing so, they alerted King Herod, which led eventually to the Massacre of the Innocents as he ordered all baby boys under the age of two to be killed. However, there is little historical evidence for this either, though savagery was used by the Romans in enforcing their empire. By travelling on to find Jesus and then returning via a different route, the Magi linked both Jews and Gentiles in showing that the Light of the World had come to all humanity and not just a chosen race, age or background. That is sometimes lost today. 

Those three kings were also the link between the crowns on my school badge and the mother of Emperor Constantine, St. Helena, who was thought to have been born in 242 CE in Colchester. She was the daughter of King Coel from whom the city gets its name and Nottingham may carry three golden crowns on its crest, like Colchester, because a later King Coelus was buried there. Helena recovered many artefacts of Christian significance, amongst them the relics of the Three Kings which eventually ended up in Cologne. There is a golden shrine in the Cathedral holding the bones of three men and, although their existence is doubted by some, the fact of the shrine’s existence and its importance as a place of pilgrimage for many today shows that truth is revealed in the story of the Magi for others. 

The same is true here at St. Melangell’s, where I’m sometimes asked whether or not it troubles me that she is thought by some never to have existed. That may be the case, but would her church, shrine and story have developed and still be thriving today had she never lived? Clearly, elements of her tale may be exaggerated or misunderstood but perhaps the legacy of sanctuary, healing and hospitality that has endured here for centuries is the greatest testament to the truth of her existence. So, as Epiphany is marked once more, the church door has been chalked with this year’s date and the words Christus Mansionem Benedicat inviting Christ to bless this house of peace and hope as well as commemorating Caspar, Melchior and Balthazzar. As 2025 begins, may Epiphanytide bring revelations of truth and hope which will continue throughout the year – if we’re willing to seek them and even if they are sometimes only fully understood many years later!

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Priest Guardian.

“The Lord…took away the disgrace I have endured among my people…. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me?“ Elizabeth to Mary in Luke 1:25-45.

‘Shame must change sides.’ Stéphane Babboneau, her lawyer, quoting Gisèle Pelicot. 

Today’s Gospel reflects the courage and humility of Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin with whom Mary went to stay as she came to terms with the astonishing events surrounding her pregnancy. Elizabeth’s own pregnancy was remarkable, given that she was barren and past childbearing age – in those days, children were considered to be a sign of God’s blessing and Elizabeth was clearly made to feel disgraced because she had not conceived. She speaks of God looking upon her favourably because of her pregnancy and spends five months in seclusion as she prepares for what is to be. Both women courageously agree to what is being asked of them in such perplexing circumstances and are able to support one another before their babies are born, also being filled with the Holy Spirit. It may be that, before Mary’s visit, perhaps Zechariah and Elizabeth had wondered whether their baby was to be the Messiah but, as she greets Mary, it’s clear that Elizabeth realises that Mary is the mother of her Lord because of the reaction of her unborn child. What grace and humility she displays as Elizabeth tells Mary that she and her child are blessed and Mary displays similar qualities in the words of the Magnificat as she praises God for all that has been given.

Both of these women endured shame, Elizabeth for being barren and Mary for being pregnant and unmarried, but each of them is willing to allow that shame to be transformed as the new life they are carrying helps them realise God’s purposes in what is happening. These are humble yet remarkable women of faith, now lauded down the ages.

Another remarkable woman has been much in the news in France as Gisèle Pelicot waived her right to anonymity in the face of the shame and disgrace that rape victims often experience. In contrast to Elizabeth and Mary, Gisèle was denied consent to what was happening to her as her husband and many other men abused her while she was drugged and she later spoke out to warn others during their trial. In suggesting that shame must change sides, Gisèle faced the shock of learning the full extent of what had happened to her, which left her exhausted but, as she said, “I have nothing to be ashamed of….. I  can survive anything now.” Due to the staggering support she received from all over the world, Gisèle was able to allow the potential shame of what had happened to be transformed into a new way of life for herself and for others as French society engages with the consequences of the trial and calls begin for justice to be served by changing the law. 

Gisèle’s husband betrayed her but both Elizabeth and Mary were fortunate to have the support of Zechariah and Joseph, hard though it was for both men in the shame they initially endured too. Perhaps there have been times in our own lives, families or communities when events have caused feelings of shame, scandal or embarrassment which may have been resolved but are perhaps festering through being concealed or lack of support? May the example of these remarkable women and men enable us to respond with courage and hope that God’s grace will also enable us to become transformative at the times when we may ask with Elizabeth, “Why has this happened to me?” As the light of Christmas dawns at this dark time, may we see more clearly how new life may develop as God’s purposes are discerned today:

‘…Mary stands with all we call ‘too young’

Elizabeth with all called ‘past their prime’.

They sing today for all the great unsung 

Women who turned eternity to time

Favoured of heaven, outcast on the earth,

Prophets who bring the best in us to birth.’ 

From ‘The Visitation’ by Malcolm Guite.

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Priest Guardian.