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“Get behind me, Satan.” Jesus in Mark 8:31-end, NIV.

“Get thee behind me, Stan.” Misprint in an order of service of Mark 8:33, KJV.

The name Satan originates from the Hebrew and means accuser or adversary. It’s one of the names by which the devil is known and he is often depicted as dressed in red with horns, a trident and cloven hooves, much in evidence at Hallowe’en, and often seen as a figure of fun. The accidental reference to him as Stan is amusing but part of his challenge in that so many people see the devil as an invention and part of the subtlety of the accuser is that so many people don’t believe he exists.

Whether or not the notion of a devil is accepted, the reality of the power of evil is very much in evidence today as any news broadcast indicates. When Jesus addresses Satan in the accusations he is making through what Peter is saying, Jesus clearly feels very strongly that he is being tempted to find another, easier, way of responding to what God is asking of him. It must have been horrifying for the disciples to hear Jesus speaking of his suffering and death –  understandably they would want to avoid this and Peter even rebukes Jesus for what he is saying. The harsh response from Jesus shows how strongly he reacted to the accusation that this must not be the way – and yet Jesus goes on to tell the disciples that they, too, must take up their own cross. What an awful prospect for them to contemplate!

The crucifixion is now so central to the Christian faith that it may be hard to grasp how shocking this would have been for the disciples to hear. Having seen the miracles he performed, the crowds he attracted and his effect on them, this would have filled them with hope for the future but what Jesus tells them so appalls the disciples that the actual hope for the future through the resurrection that will also follow seems to have been lost on them. Although the disciples are unable at this point to realise it, there will be hope – but not as they envisage. Perhaps, as our Lenten journey continues, the same is true for us?

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian.

‘The Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.’ From Mark 1:9-15, today’s Gospel.

‘Hope could arise from ashes even now Beginning with this sign upon your brow.’ 

From the poem ‘Ash Wednesday’ by Malcolm Guite.

On Ash Wednesday, those present in church had the sign of the cross made on their forehead. This is traditionally done with ashes made from last year’s palm crosses and the poem  by Malcolm Guite mentions the hope that can arise from broken promises and dreams when forgiveness breaks through and a new beginning can happen if it’s allowed to. Ashes are dirty and messy – but household ash can clean glass really well and potash can be helpful in the garden. From dirt, mess and destruction, new life can grow – where might hope still arise from ashes this year?

On this first Sunday of Lent, the reading from St Mark’s Gospel is the shortest of the temptation passages and simply states that Jesus was driven out into the wilderness immediately by the Spirit. This comes after his baptism but there is no time to celebrate this, which indicates the pressing nature of all that lies ahead – the time is now right for Jesus’ ministry to begin. The wilderness experience provides a time of reflection and testing that is essential as the way ahead and future hopes are discerned but there is no mention of the three temptations as in Matthew and Luke – Mark’s account is appropriately very brief as no-one else was present other than the Tempter. 

However, Mark’s is the only Gospel to note that wild beasts were with him – but, in the Holy Land, these would be more likely to be snakes and scorpions, reptiles rather than mammals. As these tend to hide away, the desert would seem barren but references to wild animals may echo the covenant in Genesis and throughout the Old Testament where God tells Noah that the agreement, “… is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh.” Gen.9:15. References in Isaiah 11:6-9 mention the wolf living with the lamb, the leopard lying down with the kid, the calf and the lion together and the cow grazing with the bear – this may be an indication of the dawning of the messianic age being fulfilled in Jesus. However, Mark’s Gospel was written at a time when many Christians were being fed to lions by Emperor Nero so this would be unlikely to heard as an indication of peace and perhaps more as a sign of Jesus becoming vulnerable in all God asks of him. Perhaps this would be part of the  angelic protection Mark mentions, although St Augustine said of Jesus that, “He endured death as a lamb; he devoured it as a lion.” Sermon 375A.

All this suggests that, despite its brevity, Mark’s account gives a great deal of food for thought. However, despite the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus emerges from this desert experience proclaiming that, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe the good news.” Therein lies the hope that may yet arise from the ashes and desert places we face in our own lives today as the Lenten journey begins. 

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian.

Lent Prayer

Today being Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent, the Bishop of St Asaph invites you to join him in praying the Diocesan Lent prayer everyday at or near 6pm. Welsh and English versions follow.   May Lent be a time of blessing as well as challenge. 

Christine, Guardian

Gweddi Grawys Yr Esgobaeth 2024
Meithrin ein ffydd, Arglwydd,
wrth inni ddilyn esiampl Iesu,
yn sefyll ar graig ein
hiachawdwriaeth.
Yn seiliedig arno fo,
boed inni brofi bywyd yn ei lawnder,
a dwyn ffrwyth trawsnewidiol.
Rho lawenydd i’th Eglwys
a gogoniant i’th enw. Amen.

Diocesan Lent Prayer 2024
Grow our faith, Lord,
as we follow the example of Jesus,
standing on the rock of our salvation.
Founded on him,
may we know life in its fulness,
and bring forth transforming fruit.
Give joy to your Church
and glory to your name.
Amen.

“They were terrified.” Peter, James and John in today’s Gospel Mark 9:2-9.

“God places us in the world as his fellow workers-agents of transfiguration. We work with God so that injustice is transfigured into justice, so there will be more compassion and caring, that there will be more laughter and joy, that there will be more togetherness in God’s world.” Desmond Tutu.

Although the Transfiguration is marked on August 6th, the same date as the explosion of light caused by the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, today is Transfiguration Sunday as well as Quinquegessima or the Sunday before Lent. During that mountain top experience, Peter, James and John were at first terrified and then astounded by the unexpected intensity of light as Jesus was transfigured before them. By contrast, those witnessing the deadly light at Hiroshima found that it had fearful consequences for the many who were vaporised or disfigured by what had happened. The source of the light was key – Jesus was seen in his full glory but Hiroshima revealed the full devastation of what happened, although it lead to the surrender of Japan. The use of nuclear weapons marked a very different kind of transfiguration through disfiguration: ‘In one split second, the face of war changed completely.’  Imperial War Museum. 

Both before and after the Transfiguration, Jesus talks about suffering, death and resurrection, hence its link with Lent which begins on Ash Wednesday this week. Earlier, he had told his disciples that not all of them would taste death, “…until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.” Mark 9:1. That happened just six days later for Peter, James and John who were the only ones who witnessed this – such dazzling spiritual experiences are not for all. 

During this experience, Jesus appears with Moses and Elijah who traditionally represent the Law and the Prophets. However, both men had mountain top experiences and Moses was a prophet as well as a law giver with the Ten Commandments. His face had to be covered by a veil after his encounter on Mount Sinai because it was too bright to bear for those around him but Moses reflected God’s light whereas Jesus IS the light. Touchingly, in verse 3 Mark describes Jesus’ clothing as being, ‘dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them’ – perhaps the sharing of a reminiscence of what had happened? 

As Lent begins on Ash Wednesday this week, it’s a good time to consider the figures around or in the news who influence life today as well as those who transfigure or disfigure what unfolds. Even in the midst of the disfiguration suffered by air crew who were terribly burned during the war, the work of the surgeon Archibald McIndoe on members of the Guinea Pig Club in rebuilding bodies and souls led to the development of much of the plastic and cosmetic surgery that is available today. In the challenges being faced now, Desmond Tutu’s words still call us to engage with the hope of transfiguration as we consider the example of Jesus who, in the wilderness, overcame temptation and engaged with injustice and compassion. As we follow in his footsteps, will we see things in a new light?

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian.

Today is Creation Sunday and, with Candlemas also happening this week, three snowdrops are on the altar as nature’s candles, marking the ancient custom of making light, peace and hope visible as the beauty of creation displays the first signs of new life after winter. Actual candles are also blessed at this time as Jesus, Light of the World, is made visible in the Temple and as the generations meet through the aged and faithful Simeon and Anna, his parents and the baby, who would have been circumcised in the eighth day. Mary is coming to be purified thirty three days after this as would be expected in those days and it’s clear that, as observant Jews, the family is living by the law of Moses.

Not everyone lives by obeying the law, whether of Moses or the land where they live. I was struck recently by the words of a police officer who said of the nightly battle for law and order he and his colleagues face when darkness is a cover for criminal activity, “We shine the brightest.” This is a dark time of year with daylight hours still short, very troubling events in the world making many so gloomy and the stormy, cold weather not helping matters. It can be tempting to lose confidence and to think that there is little that can be done to improve things. That’s why the officer’s words had such an impact – he was sure he and his colleagues would overcome the criminals challenging them and that they could make a positive difference. And so they did!

As we face the challenges before us, perhaps we’re not sure that we can overcome them. There will be daily ways in which we can also make a difference – but what difference will we decide to make? February Filldyke is dark and rainy but early daffodils are already appearing, buds are developing on the magnolia and weeping willow trees here and the daylight is lengthening. There are signs of new life and growth all around – sometimes they are noticed and sometimes just overlooked.

The same is true of relationships too. The song This little light o’ mine, I’m going to let it shine is a joyful gospel song but it became well known as an anthem of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s. During that struggle, many were heartened by it as, despite the circumstances, it helped to lower the awful tensions being experienced. The lyrics speak of letting the light shine – for those around us as well as ourselves:

This little light o’ mine, I’m goin’ to let it shine Everywhere I go, I’m goin’ to let it shine …

In my neighbour’s home, I’m goin’ to let it shine Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.’

The light is there – it’s a question of letting it shine. At the funeral of Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the President of the USA, it was said that she would rather, “…light a candle than curse the darkness.” She championed civil rights, doing what she could and letting her light shine when others were eclipsed. In the darkness and challenges still being faced today will we let ours shine or look for what creation is showing us about new life and growth? And, as Candlemas marks the turning from Christmas to Easter and Lent beginning on 14th February, do we shine the brightest we can?

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian.

 
I was struck recently by the words of a police officer who said of the nightly battle for law and order he and his colleagues face when darkness is a cover for criminal activity, “We shine the brightest.” This is a dark time of year with daylight hours still short, very troubling events in the world making many so gloomy and the stormy, cold weather not helping matters. It can be tempting to lose confidence and to think that there is little that can be done to improve things. That’s why the officer’s words had such an impact – he was sure he and his colleagues would overcome the criminals challenging them and that they could make a positive difference. And so they did! 

As we face the challenges before us, perhaps we’re not sure that we can overcome them. There will be daily ways in which we can also make a difference – but what difference will we decide to make? February Filldyke is dark and rainy but early snowdrops are already appearing, buds are developing on the magnolia and weeping willow trees here and the daylight is lengthening. There are signs of new life and growth all around – sometimes they are noticed and sometimes just overlooked.  

The same is true of relationships too. The song This little light o’ mine, I’m going to let it shine is a joyful gospel song but it became well known as an anthem of the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 60s. During that struggle, many were heartened by it as, despite the circumstances, it helped to lower the awful tensions being experienced. The lyrics speak of letting the light shine – for those around us as well as ourselves: 

This little light o’ mine, I’m goin’ to let it shine Everywhere I go, I’m goin’ to let it shine ….. 

In my neighbour’s home, I’m goin’ to let it shine Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.’ 

The light is there – it’s a question of letting it shine. At the funeral of Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the President of the USA, it was said that she would rather, “…light a candle than curse the darkness.” She championed civil rights, doing what she could and letting her light shine when others were eclipsed. In the darkness and challenges facing us today, will we let ours? And, as Lent begins this month, do we shine the brightest we can? 

The following services will be held at St Melangell’s: 

Thursdays 1st, 8th, 22nd, 29th February at noon: Holy Eucharist and healing service followed by a shared lunch. 

Feb. 4th, Creation Sunday; 11th, Racial Justice Sunday, 3pm: service of reflection. 

Ash Wednesday, 14th, 10am: Ashing and Holy Eucharist. There will be no service on 15th due to this. 

18th First Sunday of Lent, 3pm: Service of reflection.  

25th Second Sunday of Lent, 3pm: Holy Eucharist. 

Monday 26th February, 10.30 in the centre: Julian Group. 

The Lent group will focus on Julian of Norwich, known as the Covid Saint because she voluntarily chose to a lifetime of prayer in isolation. Julian wrote the first surviving book by a woman in English and lived during a time of plague that had parallels with the Covid pandemic. If you would like to join the weekly discussion group looking at these and other issues, please contact admin@stmelangell.org or 01691 860408. 

With my prayers; pob bendith, 

Christine, Guardian. 

 ’Judas said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”….. He went and hanged himself.’ From Matthew 27:1-10.

You couldn’t do this and you couldn’t do that, but life went on.

Anne Frank, in her Diary, published after her death from typhus at the age of 15 in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

The theme of Holocaust Memorial Day this year, marked on the day of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, is the Fragility of Freedom and some of what follows is testimony from those involved at the time. A purple flame is the symbol of the Holocaust Memorial Trust and so the actual words of survivors are written in purple. 

When the Nazis arrived in the Netherlands, Anne wrote in her diary:

That is when the trouble started for the Jews. Our freedom was severely restricted by a series of anti-Jewish decrees: Jews were required to wear a yellow star; Jews were required to turn in their bicycles; Jews were forbidden to use trams; Jews were forbidden to ride in cars, even their own; Jews were required to do their shopping between 3.00 and 5.00p.m; Jews were required to frequent only Jewish-owned barbershops and beauty salons; 

Jews were forbidden to be out on the streets between 8.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m.; Jews were forbidden to go to theatres, cinemas or any other forms of entertainments; Jews were forbidden to use swimming pools, tennis courts, hockey fields or any other athletic fields; Jews were forbidden to go rowing; Jews were forbidden to take part in any athletic activity in public; Jews were forbidden to sit in their gardens or those of their friends after 8.00 p.m.; Jews were forbidden to visit Christians in their homes; Jews were required to attend Jewish schools, etc. You couldn’t do this and you couldn’t do that, but life went on. 

Life went on, despite what was happening, just as it does today for those still enduring the consequences of persecution, racism and hatred as others look on or prefer not to acknowledge what is unfolding. Genocide not only erodes the freedom of those being targeted, but also the freedom of those around them yet there are also those who are willing to do what they can to enable freedom or escape. 

However, many of those who survived the war and the camps found, like Esther Brunstein, that they were not free despite their liberation: The first few days after liberation were joyous and yet sad, confusing and bewildering. I did not know how to cope with freedom after years of painful imprisonment.

When freed, many former prisoners were alone and unable to return home, having to live in a new country, learn a different language and rebuild their health and lives whilst living with terrible memories and the loss of families and friends. Many were physically free, but not psychologically, sometimes remaining stigmatised or traumatised for the rest of their life. Others, like Judas Iscariot after betraying Jesus, committed suicide as they were unable to live with the consequences of what had happened. 

With persecutions since in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Dafur, the ongoing wars between Israel and Gaza and elsewhere now mean that anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim attacks as well as other forms of prejudice and hatred are increasing once more. It may be tempting and understandable to seek revenge but as the son of a partisan who avenged his murdered family by killing Nazis after the war observed at a mass war grave in Belarus:

”The greatest revenge wasn’t killing Germans. The greatest revenge was building life.”

Joe Green, in ‘Revenge: Our dad the Nazi killer’, a BBC Storyville documentary.

In whatever we are battling to overcome, therein lies the challenge for us all.

With my prayers; pob bendith. 

Christine, Guardian.

This is the Third Sunday of Epiphany, when the set Gospel reading is the continuing revelation of Christ’s glory, shown in his first miracle when water was turned into wine at a wedding in Cana. As it’s the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, today’s reflection originates from the parable of the Good Samaritan and resources offered by the persecuted churches in Burkina Faso in West Africa. These are provided by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and further details can be found on their website at ctbi.org.uk

With my prayers,

Christine, Guardian.

”Which of these…was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The lawyer said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

From Luke 10:25-36.

The priest and Levite who walked by on the other side may have had religious reasons for not helping. The beginning of the text for the Week of Prayer tells us how the teacher of the law wanted to justify himself. The priest and the Levite in the parable would have felt justified in what they had done. Yet on many occasions, Jesus is critical of religious leadership for placing the rules of religion ahead of the obligation always to do good.

This parable of Jesus not only challenges us to do good, but also to widen our vision. We do not learn what is good and holy only from those who share our confessional or religious worldview, but often from those who are different from us. Light and love are embodied in our enemy too. The Good Samaritan is often the one we do not expect….

The Good Samaritan did what he could out of his own resources: he poured oil and wine and bandaged the man’s wounds and put him on his own animal. The Samaritan went further still by promising to pay for the man’s care. When we see the world through the Samaritan’s eyes, every situation can be an opportunity to help those in need. This is where love manifests itself. The example of the Good Samaritan motivates us to ask ourselves how to respond to our neighbour. He gave wine and oil, restoring the man and giving him hope. What can we give, so that we can be a part of God’s work of healing a broken world?…. How do we empower such courageous behaviour, recognising there is a cost?

At the end of the parable, Jesus asked the lawyer: who was the neighbour to the man who was robbed? The lawyer replied “the one who showed him mercy”. He does not say “the Samaritan” and we might imagine that the hostility between Samaritans and Jews made that answer hard to admit. We often discover our neighbours in the most unexpected people, even those whose very name or origins we find difficult to utter. In today’s world, where polarised politics often set those of different religious identities against one another, Jesus challenges us through this parable to see the importance of our vocation to transgress borders and walls of separation.

Like the lawyer, we are challenged to reflect upon how we live our lives, not merely in terms of whether we do good or not, but whether, like the priest and the Levite, we are neglecting to do mercy.

Through these words – “Go and do likewise” – Jesus sends each of us, and our churches, to live out His commandment to love. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, we are sent out to be “other Christs”, reaching out to a suffering humanity in compassion and mercy. Like the Good Samaritan towards the injured man, we can choose not to reject those who are different, rather cultivating a culture of proximity and goodwill – actively seeking out and moving towards opportunities to be hospitable, to welcome and to share – in our common task to bring to fruition the dream of God.

Jesus answered, ”I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 

From John 1:43-51.



”We shine the brightest.” Durham police officer, speaking of the nightly battle for law and order when darkness is a cover for criminal activity. 

At this season of Epiphany, revelations continue as Jesus is seen in the first chapter of John’s gospel as ‘the Lamb of God’ (v29), ‘one who baptises with the Holy Spirit (v33), ‘the Son of God’ (v34) and ‘Rabbi’ (v38). It is the third of ‘the next day’ texts where Jesus finds Philip in Galilee and tells him to “Follow me”. Philip does so, but first goes to tell Nathanael that the one about whom Moses and the prophets wrote has been found. Nathanael is scornful – “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” – but Philip then invites him to come and see for himself. Nathanael responds and is astounded when Jesus discerns that he is an Israelite with no deceit. As Jesus tells him that he saw him under the fig tree before Philip called him, this being traditionally a place where a Rabbi would study the Torah, Nathanael then realises for himself that the Rabbi before him is, “…the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” This is an astonishing revelation, given that Nathanael was originally so scornful, and Jesus goes on to tell him that he will see far greater things, including heaven itself and the angels. 

Despite what he originally perceived, Nathanael was willing to respond to Philip’s call and then to change his mind. As he saw for himself, so Jesus looked on him and promised great things to come. All of this could happen because Philip told Nathanael the good news about Jesus and, at such a dark and challenging time today, good news is needed more than ever. Hope will triumph over despair, love will triumph over evil and the message of the Prince of Peace will eventually prevail – but meanwhile, darkness, misunderstanding and wrongdoing may seem to have the upper hand. That’s particularly pertinent as revelations continue about the great miscarriage of justice by Post Office administrators, the increasing tensions in the Middle East, the unresolved issues over refugees, the waste of money with HS2 and much more. There may seem to be little that can be done but there are many opportunities to make a positive difference in small if not great ways, although we may have to change our mindset or leave our comfort zone to see this for ourselves – like Nathanael. How this might happen is complex and diverse but the Durham police officer spoke with confidence in himself and his colleagues in bringing light into the darkness. In answering God’s call in our lives, or encouraging others to respond as did Philip, at this dark time the light and insight we can contribute with others is vital. Jesus’ question to his followers today as well as those first disciples is appropriate in light of the way ahead as 2024 unfolds and Epiphany continues: “What are you looking for?” (v38)

With my prayers; pob bendith

Christine, Guardian.



’In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan.’ From today’s Gospel, Mark 1:4-11.



“ A cold coming we had of it. Just the worst time of the year. For a journey and such a long journey.” T.S. Eliot, The journey of the Magi.

This week, I had to make a journey from the East Midlands back to Wales but storm Henk was causing huge problems. Many places were already flooded by the River Trent with more rain to come and so I started with a hopefulness that I would be ahead of the further downpours. However, within ten minutes of setting out, a flooded road meant that I had to take a detour through Derby and onto the A38 rather than the planned M50.  A further diversion was both simple and quick but then a notice of a road closure with no diversion set up was a surprise which threw me. My satnav kept telling me to turn around, which I couldn’t do due to the closure, and at one point, it directed me to take the M6 to Birmingham. That was the opposite direction in which I needed to travel and I began to think I would need to go back and set out again the next day when the flooding had subsided. However, a slip road onto the A5 meant that I began to travel towards Telford, although in a very circuitous way. I persevered although my journey took me over twice as long as normal – I was cold and tired but also relieved that I did get back eventually at a time when so many found themselves stranded or flooded out.

At least I knew where I was trying to get to but, in this season of Epiphany, my journey made me think of that of the Magi who travelled for much longer without being sure of where they were going. Matthew’s Gospel relates that they turned up in Jerusalem, presumably thinking that a new king would be born in the seat of power, thus alerting King Herod and leading to the massacre of the innocents. Having found their way to the Christ child, they then went back by another route. This applied to the Holy Family too, who had to flee as refugees to Egypt – did they know where they were going or have contacts there? The perseverance and willingness to change plans of those in the Biblical narratives are reminders that those characteristics are much needed today, too.

The Gospel today records the baptism of Jesus, traditionally thought to have been on 6th January, as an epiphany because of the words, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” With the descent of the dove as a visible sign of the Holy Spirit, so Jesus the adult is revealed as one of the Trinity, a revelation recorded by St John Chrysostom in the fourth century thinking of his day: “It was not when he was born that he became manifest to all, but when he was baptised.”

Whatever we may think of the Epiphany stories and their origins then, there are times in our lives when we may be clear where we’re going, sometimes confused or even lost as we seek the way ahead. The revelations these times bring to those who seek the light as well as the way ahead may be helpful as well as challenging, often in much smaller but significant ways than we may realise as we play our part in the stories unfolding around us today:

“The epiphany was simply tucked away for consideration after we were back…. Sometimes a revelation comes with a flash of heavenly light and a booming voice – and sometimes it is jotted in a sun-bleached spiral notebook.” JA Lockwood. 

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian.