News and reflections

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Reflection for the Third Sunday after Trinity and the loss of the Titan submersible.

“Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light.” Jesus in today’s Gospel, Matthew 10:24-39.

“I read an article that said there are three words in the English language that are known throughout the planet. And that’s ‘Coca-Cola’’, ‘God’ and ‘Titanic’. Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate, who perished aboard Titan.

The words of Jesus have an added significance in light of the disappearance of Titan, the submersible owned by OceanGate, which was recently lost in darkness as those aboard tried to descend to the wreck of the Titanic on the sea bed 3,800 metres below. It’s now thought that a catastrophic implosion instantly killed the five men inside not long after their descent but, for a while, banging noises picked up by those attempting a rescue seemed to imply that there might be hope. That was not the case, but what was impressive was the way that Canadian, American, French and British ships and technology were provided in an international search which eventually found the debris that was proof that all hope of a rescue had gone. That co-operation will continue as the wreckage is brought up from the darkness of the seabed and pieced together in the light as experts try to decide what caused this and investigations begin. As the family of Hamish Harding commented, “If we can take any small consolation from this tragedy, it’s that we lost him doing what he loved. We know that Hamish would have been immensely proud to see how nations, experts, industry colleagues and friends came together for the search and we extend our heartfelt thanks for all their efforts.” 

By contrast, those whose loved ones perished when a boat overloaded with migrants sank in the waters off the coast of Greece find themselves in a very different situation. Some were rescued but hundreds are still missing and their bodies may never be found, like those aboard the Titan. However, the wealthy tourists on the submersible had been able to afford to pay $250,000 each for their trip whereas many migrants had borrowed heavily to fund their passage and, in one family, seven members of it were missing. Those left now have huge debts to repay but without the income from the new lives being anticipated by those who perished. With the alleged reluctance of the Greek authorities to respond to what was unfolding when it became clear the vessel was in difficulty and the complexity of international responses to illegal immigration, what will now happen to those so adversely affected?

Jesus suggests that what is covered up will be uncovered and that what happens in the dark will be told when the light reveals it. As investigations continue, so the debris on the seabed will tell the story of what happened when it’s pieced together in daylight and examined – a great deal might then be uncovered. Both those aboard Titan and on the migrant boat were aware of the risks they were taking and presumably judged them to be worth it. In these instances, the outcomes were not as hoped but they still show a great deal about what is valued in life – even though the Titanic has now claimed five more souls and Coca-Cola is ahead of God in word recognition! 

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian.



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Adlewyrchiad am y trydydd ddydd Sul ar ol y Drindod a colled y llong danfor, Titan.

“26 Am hynny nac ofnwch hwynt: oblegid nid oes dim cuddiedig, a’r nas datguddir; na dirgel, a’r nas gwybyddir. 27 Yr hyn yr ydwyf yn ei ddywedyd wrthych chwi yn y tywyllwch, dywedwch yn y goleuni: a’r hyn a glywch yn y glust, pregethwch ar bennau’r tai.”

Yr Iesu yn efengyl heddiw, Mathew 10: 24-39.

“Darllenais erthygl a ddywedodd fod yna dair air yn yr iaith Saesneg sy’n adnabyddus ar draws y blaned, sef; Coca Cola, Duw, a’r Titanic”.

Stockton Rush, CEO OceanGate, a farwodd ar fwrdd y Titan.

Mae arwyddocad ychwanegol i eiriau’r Iesu yng nghyd destun diflanniad Titan, y llong danfor a oedd yn eiddo i OceanGate, a gollwyd mewn tywyllwch yn ddiweddar, wrth i’r rhai ar ei fwrdd ceisio plymio at weddillion y Titanic, ar lawr y mor  3,800 medr islaw.

Credwyd yn awr fod ffrwydiad drychinebus wedi lladd y pum dyn yn fuan ar ol eu disgyniad ond, am gyfnod, clywid taro gan y rhai oedd yn ceisio eu hachub, gan hybu rhywfaint o obaith.

Toedd hynny ddim yn bod ond be oedd yn drawiadol oedd y cydweithredwch technolegol a morwrol rhwng llyngesau o Canada, America a Ffrainc, mewn archwiliad rhyngwladol a ddarganfodd y gweddillion, a hynny felly yn tystiolaethu fod bob obaith o’u hachub yn ofer.

Bydd y cydweithrediad yn parhau wrth i’r darnau cael eu dwyn o waelod tywyll y mor, a’u ailcynhwyso yn y goleuni wrth i arbennigwyr ceisio penderfynnu be achosodd hyn, ac ymchwiliadau ar gychwyn. Fel ddywedodd teulu Hamish Harding, “ os oes unrhyw gysur i ni allan o’r drychineb yma, mi collasom ef tra roedd yn gwneud yr hyn roedd yn ei garu. Rydym yn gwybod bydde Hamish yn ofnadwy o falch o weld sut mae gwledydd, arbennigwyr, cydweithwyr yn y diwydiant, a chyfeillion wedi ymuno yn y chwilio a rydym yn ddiolchgar o’r galon iddynt am eu ymdrechion.”

Mewn cyferbyniad, sefyllfa wahanol iawn sy’n wynebu y rhai a gollasant eu hanwyliaid ar ol i gwch ordrwm a mudwyr foddi oddiar arfordir gwlad Groeg. Achubwyd rhai ond mae cannoedd dal ar goll a mae’n bosib fydd eu cyrff byth yn dod i’r golwg, yn debyg i’r rhai ar fwrdd Titan. Beth bynag, tra oedd y twristiaid cyfoethog ar fwrdd y Titan yn medru fforddio $250,000 yr un am eu siwrne ‘roedd lawer o’r mudwyr wedi benthyca’n drwm am eu siwrne, gyda un teulu wedi colli saith aelod. Gwynebwyd ddyledion mawr gan deuluoedd y rhai a gollwyd, heb yr incwm rhagweladwy o’r gyrfeuydd newydd a ddisgwyliwyd.

Gyda hwyrfrydigwydd honedig awdurdodau wlad Groeg i’r drychineb oedd yn datblygu a chymlethdod ymatebion rhyngwladol i fudo anghyfreithlon, be fydd yn digwydd i’r rhai a effaithwyd mor ddrwg?

Mae’r Iesu’n awgrymu fod yr hyn a guddwyd yn cael ei ddatguddio a fod yr hyn sy’n digwydd yn y tywyllwch yn cael ei fynegi ar ol i’r goleuni ei arddangos. Wrth i’r archwyliadau barhau, bydd y darnau ar lawr mor yn adrodd yr hanes am be a ddigwyddodd, yng ngolau dydd – ac efallai fydd lawer iawn yn cael ei ddatguddio.

 Roedd y rhai ar fwrdd y Titan yn ogystal a’r rhai ar long y mudwyr yn ymwybodol o’r peryglon, ac, mae’n debyg, yn ystyried eu bon’t yn werth gwynebu. Yn yr achosion yma, roedd y canlyniadau ddim fel y gobeithwyd ond maen’t yn arddangos lawer am yr hyn sy’n cael ei werthfawrogi mewn bywyd – er fod y Titanic wedi cymeryd pum bywyd arall a Coca-Cola o flaen Duw mewn adnabyddiaeth geiriau!

Gyda fy ngweddion,

Pob Bendith,

Christine,

Gwarcheidwad.

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Reflection for Father’s Day and the murders in Nottingham.



‘“Your wife Sarah shall have a son.” Now Abraham and Sarah were old….. So Sarah laughed.’ An accurate prophecy in Genesis 18:1-15, despite Sarah’s disbelief.

“Grace and her friend, they fell together, and you just need to be friends with everyone. You need to love everyone and I wish we had more of it…. She loved being here and she loved all of you….you should all feel very blessed.” Sanjoy Kumar, father of one of the murdered students in Nottingham. 

Today is Father’s Day, an American tradition that has its origins in a mining tragedy in 1908 when a service was held to commemorate the 362 men who were killed in West Virginia, leaving widows and over 1,000 children. So it seems appropriate that it’s marked today in the light of so many family tragedies occurring the world over this week. Over 500 people, 100 children amongst them, are missing from a boat full of migrants that sank off the Greek coast; the death toll in the warfare between Russia and Ukraine has been proved by the BBC to be much higher than originally thought; a family has been found dead in a Hounslow flat; three people have been killed and others injured in Nottingham – so many parents and children killed, so much pain and grief to endure. Moreover, the families of those killed in war or lost at sea off Greece may never know where their loved ones are or be able to afford to have their bodies back to bury – a terrible fate for them all to have to live with as desperate risks are taken in the hope of a better life. 

Yet alongside this are the words of hope spoken by the parents and children of those who died in Nottingham. The son of school site manager Ian Coates, who was a valued member of staff, spoke of the simple things he enjoyed, his grandchildren, fishing and supporting Nottingham Forest football club. Ian was coming up to retirement and the two students aged 19 were just completing their first year of study. So much loss, so much possibility for rage or bitterness – and yet, Grace’s mother urged those listening, “Please hold no hate that relates to any colour, sex or religion” while her father spoke of Grace being a blessing. What courage in the face of devastation, a deliberate choice to love and break the cycle of violence that could otherwise have increased. We who have choices where so many do not are blessed in having those options, hard as they may be make. 

That was also reflected in the life of Jesus, who taught his followers to pray Our Father and not My Father and urged them to love one another until he, too, was murdered. His death, stabbed by the nails and spear of the soldiers, was accompanied by the words, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) That sacrificial love eventually led to resurrection and the hope that death will not have the last word. May it be so in all places where fathers and mothers, sons and daughters grieve and have the choice to be able to show such grace and courage as in Nottingham this week. And may doubters such as Abraham and Sarah, who understandably laughed at the idea that she could have a child in her old age, dare to believe that blessings and heartfelt longings can still be fulfilled whether in anguish or joy and at the start or nearing the end of life’s adventure. 

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian.

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Adlewyrchiad am Sul y Tadau a’r llofruddiaethau yn Nottingham.

“  Ac un a ddywedodd, Gan ddychwelyd y dychwelaf atat ynghylch amser bywoliaeth; ac wele fab i Sara dy wraig. A Sara oedd yn clywed wrth ddrws y babell, yr hwn oedd o’i ôl ef. 11 Abraham hefyd a Sara oedd hen, wedi myned mewn oedran; a pheidiasai fod i Sara yn ôl arfer gwragedd. 12 Am hynny y chwarddodd Sara rhyngddi a hi ei hun,”

Proffwydaeth cywir yn Genesis 18: 1-15, er anghrediniaeth Sara.

“Grace a’i chyfaill, syrthasant gyda’u gilydd, a dim ond rhaid cyfeillgarwch at bawb. Rhaid i chi garu pawb, a hoffwn petai fwy ohono.. Roedd hi’n caru bod yma ac yn caru chi i gyd. Ddyle chi gyd deimlo bendith mawr.”

Sanjoy Kumar, tad un o’r myfyrwyr a lofruddwyd yn Nottingham.

Heddiw yw Sul y Tadau, traddodiad Americanaidd gyda’i darddiad yn nhrychineb cloddio ym 1908, pan gynhaliwyd wasanaeth coffau 362 o ddynion a laddwyd yng Ngorllewin Virginia, yn gadael ar ol gweddwon a dros fil o blant. Felly mae’n addas ei gofnodi heddiw o ystyried gymaint o drychinebau teuluol sy’n digwydd dros y byd yr wythnos yma. Mae dros 500 o bobol, 100 ohonynt yn blant, ar goll o gwch yn llawn mydwyr a suddodd oddiar arfordir wlad Groeg; yn ol y BBC mae’n debyg fod y marwolaethau yn y rhyfel rhwng Iwcrain a Rwssia lawer uwch na amcangyfrifwyd; teulu wedi ei ddarganfod yn farw mewn fflat yn Hounslow; lladdwyd dri person ac anafwyd eraill yn Nottingham – gymaint o blant ac oedolion wedi eu lladd, gymaint o boen a phrofedigaeth i’w ddioddef. Ymhellach ac efallai fydd teuluoedd y rhai a laddwyd mewn rhyfel neu oddiar arfordir wlad Groeg byth yn gwybod lle mae eu annwylion, nac yn medru talu i ddod a nhw adref i’w claddu – ffawd ofnadwy iddynt i gyd gorfod goroesi tra fod peryglon ofnadwy yn cael eu gwynebu mewn gobaith o fywyd gwell.

Er, ochor yn ochor a hyn mae geiriau o obaith a lefarwyd gan rieni a phlant  rhai a laddwyd yn Nottingham.

Soniodd mab Ian Coates, rheolwr poblogaidd yn yr ysgol, am y pethau syml y mwynhaodd; ei wyrion, pysgota a chefnogi tim peldroed Nottingham Forest.

Roedd Ian yn nesau at ymddeol ac roedd y ddau myfyriwr yn cwblhau eu blwyddyn gyntaf o astudio.

 Gymaint o golled, gymaint o gyfle am ddicter a chwerwder – er hynny, crefodd fam Grace ar ei gwrandawyr, “Daliwch dim casineb sy’n gysylltiedig a lliw, rhyw, na chrefydd”, tra roedd ei thad yn son am Grace fel Bendith.

Am ddewrder yn wyneb trychineb, dewis pwrpasol i garu, a thorri’r cylch a fydde, o bosib, wedi arwain at fwy o drais.

Rydym ninne, gyda dewisiadau, lle mae gymaint heb ddewis, yn ffodus drwy gael opsiynnau, er fod rhain yn anodd, weithiau, eu cymeryd.

Adlewyrchid hyn hefyd ym mywyd yr Iesu, wrth anogi Ei ddilynwyr i weddio i “ein” tad, nid “fy nhad” a’u anog i garu eu gilydd, nes iddo Ef hefyd gael Ei lofruddio. Roedd Ei farwolaeth, wedi anafu gan hoelion a gwaywffon y milwyr, ym mherthnasol a’r geiriau “Fy nhad, maddau iddynt canys na wyddant yr hyn y maen’t yn ei wneud”.(Luc 23:34).

Arweiniodd y cariad arberthol hynny, yn y pen draw, at yr atgyfodiad a’r gobaith nad fod marwolaeth yn cael y gair olaf.

 Gadewid i hyn fodoli ym mhob man lle tristha mammau a thadau, meibion a merched, gyda’r dewis i ddangos cystal gras a dewrder a ddangosid yn Nottingham yr wythnos yma. A gadewid i ddybiwyr fel Abraham a Sarah, a, wrth reswm, chwarddodd ar y syniad fod bosib iddi eni plentyn yn ei henoed, fod mor hy a chredu fod bendithion a hiraeth calon yn medru cael eu cyflawni, boed hyn mewn llawennydd neu mewn tristwch ynte ar gychwyn neu ar ddiwedd antur bywyd.

Gyda fy ngweddion,

Pob Bendith,

Christine,

Gwarcheidwad.

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Reflection for St Barnabas the enabler.

 

‘A good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.’ Description of Barnabas in Acts 11:24.

‘Rescuing someone who continues to make poor choices is not called love. It’s called enabling. Stop enabling and refuse to be a safety net, so they can grow up.’ 

Reach Out Recovery.

For some time after the Covid pandemic, people were understandably afraid of close contact and gatherings where they thought they might still be at risk. In today’s Epistle it’s clear that, although he’d had a conversion experience on the road to Damascus, the early Christians were still afraid of Saul of Tarsus, who had persecuted them. In Acts 9:26, they doubt that he really has changed his mind and become a follower. Their fear is understandable and it’s Barnabas who convinces them that Saul really has converted to the emerging faith. Barnabas prepares the way for Saul’s acceptance and his later ministry, when he goes to look for Saul (Acts 11:25) and bring him to Antioch where the disciples were first called Christians. He becomes known as the enabler or encourager, which is what the name Barnabas means. 

However, although the two men embark on their first missionary journey with Barnabas’ cousin John Mark to help them, they later have a disagreement about him. The argument is sharp – Paul seems to have had concerns about Mark deserting them in Pamphylia and perhaps Barnabas felt the need to support his family member. It means that they split up with Saul, now Paul, taking Silas to Syria and Barnabas going with Mark to Cyprus. Perhaps it’s a help to know that there were arguments between Christians then just as there are today, but what’s clear is that neither man allows their difference to prevent their outreach continuing. Both Paul and Barnabas enable the evangelism to continue and their separation actually means that the Gospel was then spread in two different directions because of the way they handled the situation. Would t’were so more often!

Today, ‘enabling’ can have a different meaning when used in addictive contexts. As Reach Out Recovery indicates, it’s possible to cover for someone in addiction in the mistaken belief that this is supportive whereas it may actually delay the facing of reality and possible recovery. Perhaps there are situations in our own circumstances where this has happened or a row has created division and, if so, take heart. Paul and Silas were commended by the church at Antioch with no commendation for Barnabas and Mark but perhaps Barnabas’ decision enabled a second chance for his cousin as Paul later wrote, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:11) 

As Mark was given a second chance perhaps we, or someone we know, deserve one too. If that was considered, would it be enabling as in the example of Barnabas the encourager or perhaps in the context of Reach Out Recovery? And in view of political events now unfolding: would the outcome apply to Boris Johnson, Donald Trump and all the other politicians involved or not?!

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian. 

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Adlewyrchiad am St. Barnabas y galluogwr. 

“Dyn da, yn llawn o’r Ysbryd Glan ac o Ffydd.” 

Disgrifiad o Barnabas yn Actau 11:24 

“Nid cariad sy’n achyb rhywun sy’n parhau i wneud dewisiadau drwg. Enwir hyn yn ‘galluogi ‘. Peidiwch galluogi a gwrthodwch fod yn rwyd amddiffyn, iddynt gael tyfu fynny.” 

Reach Out Recovery.  

Am gyfnod ar ol pandemig Covid, ofnus oedd bobol ynglyn a cysylltiad agos a chyfarfodydd lle’r oeddynt yn teimlo bon’t dal o dan fygythiad.  

Yn Llythyr heddiw mae’n amlwg fod y Cristnogion cynnar yn dal i ofni Saul o Tarsus, yr hwn a oedd wedi eu herlid hwynt, er iddo brofi gweledigaeth ar y ffordd i Damascus.  

Yn Actau 9:26, maen’t yn amheus ei fod wedi wirioneddol newid ei feddwl a bod yn ddilynwr. Dealltwn eu ofn a Barnabas sy’n eu darbwyllo fod Saul wedi derbyn y ffydd ymddangosol newydd. Barnabas sy’n paratoi y ffordd i dderbyniad Saul a’i weinidogaeth wedyn, pryd mae’n chwilio am Saul (Actau 11:25) a dod a fo i Antioch lle galwyd y disgyblion yn Gristion am y tro cyntaf. 

Cafodd ei adnabod fel y galluogwr neu’r un sy’n magu hyder, sef ystyr ei enw, Barnabas. 

Beth bynnag, er i’r ddau gychwyn ar siwrne fel cenhadwyr, gyda cefnder Barnabas, John Mark, i’w helpu, maen’t wedyn yn cael ffrau amdano. Mae’r ffrau yn egar – mae’n debyg fod Paul yn amau fod John Mark yn mynd i ymadael a nhw yn Pamphylia ac efallai fod Barnabas yn teimlo dyletswydd i gefnogi aelod o’i deulu.  

Mae’n golygu eu bon’t yn gwahanu,  gyda Saul, Paul erbyn hyn, yn mynd a Silas i Syria a Barnabas yn mynd gyda Mark i Cyprus. Efallai fo’n gysur i ni wybod fod yna ffraeo rhwng Cristnogion adeg hynny fel y mae heddiw, ond be sy’n amlwg yw fod ‘r’un ohonynt yn gadael i’r anghydfod amharu ar eu cenhadaeth. Mae Paul a Barnabas yn galluogi i’r efengylu barhau ac mae’u gwahaniad yn sicrhau, oherwydd y modd a ddelwyd a’r sefyllfa, fod yr Efengyl yn lledaenu mewn ddau gyfeiriad. Hei lwc i hyn ddigwydd yn amlach! 

Heddiw, mae’r gair “galluogi” yn medru cael ystyr wahanol tra’n cael ei ddefnyddio yng nghyd-destun chwannaeth. Fel yr awgrymer yn Reach Out Recovery mae’n bosib esgusodi rhywyn chwannog, yn y gred anghywir fod hyn yn ei gefnogi, lle mae’n medru gohirio wynebu realiti a gwellhad. 

Efallai fod hyn wedi digwydd yn ein amgylchiadau ninne hefyd neu fod ffrau wedi creu rhanniad ac, os hynnu, calonogwch. Cymeradwuwyd Paul a Silas gan yr eglwys yn Antioch gyda dim cymeradwuaeth i Barnabas a Mark ond efallai fod penderfyniad Barnabas wedi galluogi ail gyfle i’w gefnder gan fod Paul yn sgrifennu nes ymlaen “dowch a Mark gyda chi oherwydd mae’n ddefnyddiol yn fy weinidogaeth” (2 Tim. 4:11). 

Fel cafodd Mark ail gyfle efallai ein bod ni, neu rhywun rydym yn ei adnabod, yn haeddu un hefyd. Pe ystyrwyd hyn, a fydde’n “galluogi” fel yn engraifft Barnabas y galluogwr, neu yng nghyd-destun Reach Out Recovery?   

A dan olwg digwyddiadau gwleidyddol ar hyn o bryd, a fydde’r canlyniad yn addas i Boris Johnson, Donald Trump a’r holl wleidyddion eraill ynghlwm, neu beidio?! 

Gyda fyng ngweddion, pob bendith, 

Christine, Gwarcheidwad. 





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Reflection for Trinity Sunday 



“Go…and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”  Jesus, in today’s Gospel Matthew 28:16-20.

‘Too often the Church has presented the process of a person becoming a Christian as joining the Church and adding Jesus to their team.…. They have gained a heavenly supporters’ club of the Holy Trinity and the angels. This is consumer Christianity but it‘s not discipleship.’ John McGinley in ‘The Church of Tomorrow.’ 

Today, Trinity Sunday, is the beginning of what is often called Ordinary Time after the great festivals that precede it. It’s a time when Christians celebrate the complex mystery of love at the heart of God, three persons and one God of community and in relationship. This is a God of unity who calls his followers to be in relationship and unified where, often, division or separation prevails when allowed to.

Matthew’s Gospel states that, as the eleven disciples go to the mountain in Galilee as Jesus directed, they worshipped Jesus but some doubted. Perhaps it heartens us to realise that even those who were close to him had difficulty in understanding what was happening, just as we may wrestle with faith today. It may also be a comfort to know that nevertheless, in the words of the Great Commission, Jesus tells those same disciples to go and make disciples using a Trinitarian baptism. Jesus does not choose perfect people but people with imperfect pasts and habits – like you and me. 

When this commission happens, Jesus does not tell his followers to make people come to synagogue or go to church – they are to go to make disciples wherever they happen to be. In ordering them to do this, the command is given in the name of God the unseen source of all and reveals Jesus as the missionary God who in turn sends out his followers as witnesses filled with the breath of life that is God the Holy Spirit. Those of us who worship in buildings that may contain the focus of our faith need to remember that love can’t be constrained by them – as well as noting the event in Matthew 28:15. There, the story is told that, after the resurrection, the guards at the tomb were paid off and ordered to say that his disciples had come to steal Jesus’ body during the night. They took the money and kept silent as they were told – with the exception of at least one of them who spoke about this. As a result, ‘This story is still told amongst Jews to this day.’ 

What if that soldier or the disciples had kept quiet then – and what if we do now, when called to share the good news and be the good news today?

With my prayers; pob bendith,

Christine, Guardian. 

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Reflection for the Day of Pentecost and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is the 50th day after Easter, a time when the Holy Spirit came to the first disciples and when Peter addressed the crowd drawn by what was happening. The event in Acts is a great contrast to what happens in the Gospel of John when Jesus appears to his frightened followers on the day of resurrection, simply breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Jesus also gives them power to forgive sin, an amazing advance for his fallible followers who so often misunderstood, denied and forsaken him.

By contrast, rather than the breath of the Holy Spirit, the noise of a rushing, mighty wind is heard in Acts, a noise so loud it fills the entire house where the disciples are. Tongues, as of fire, confer the Holy Spirit on the disciples who begin to speak in a different language which can be understood by the crowds from many nations who have gathered outside, amazed that they can each understand what is being said.

The effect on the disciples is immediate – they leave their safe place and Peter’s sermon to the crowd testifies that, “Everyone who believes in the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The work of the church has begun!

The account in John’s Gospel spends only four verses in describing the coming of the Holy Spirit with the rest of chapter two being given to Peter’s address. There is no time to ponder what has happened – but now, rather than the disciples who are bewildered, disbelieving and astounded, it’s the crowd that struggles to understand and even thinks the disciples may be drunk. The gift of the Holy Spirit means that the disciples have become witnesses as Jesus had said. They know how much they have been forgiven and now they have the power to forgive others – Peter’s sermon urges those who listen to him to repent and John tells us that many wonders and signs happened, with people sharing their possessions and their food as a new way of life began.

And so it is for us because, whether we have a Christian faith or not, we also have power. Power to make a difference to our own lives and the lives of others. Power to forgive when we could condemn. Power to find common ground rather than look for separation. Or not, as illustrated by the power issues being played out in the ongoing dispute about presenters on ITV’s This Morning.

Melangell, as a woman of her day, didn’t have power – or did she? Being born into a wealthy family conferred status and leaving her family, choosing so different a way of life and living on her own shows a determined mind set, one that took action for change rather than just longed for things to be different. Melangell certainly showed the soft power so often talked about in political circles in the face of possibly escalating conflict with Prince Brochwel and both draw the best from each other as the valley becomes a place of sanctuary, healing and hospitality through Brochwel’s generosity in giving Melangell this part of the valley to build a church and, as sisters join her, a community is established of which she becomes abbess. Power in so many forms making a difference to lives then and today –  the power of love, the power of Pentecost and the breath of life itself.

Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit, the gift of love, and the power to make a difference for good in our generation as did Melangell and Brochwel in theirs.

With my prayers; pob bendith,
Christine, Guardian.