The Fourth Sunday of Easter
You can find all of our latest information, Edith's reflection for this Sunday, our Thursday "Worship for all Generations" and much more by clicking on the following link to our facebook page - Leesfield Parish
Hymns for today and notices appear at the end of this blog.
Today we reach the 4th Sunday of Easter. So sad still not to be able to gather in our churches. The odd situation we are in is beginning to feel almost normal. We may be physically cut off from so many but I know there are all sorts of networks of friendly communications going on. We have been saddened by some deaths. Some events have had to be cancelled. I am greatly frustrated that I can’t visit where there is need. I hope you are finding what you need to nourish your soul. It is beginning to look as if the end of this period is in sight, so I urge you to have patience, to carry on with whatever you are doing and to keep in touch with the Christian community as best you can. When we reach the end we will need your help to get our churches up and running again.
God bless, Edith
I was rather daunted when I realised this is the passage for today. Sheep seem rather irrelevant right now (and I have already told my best sheep story). The relevant passage is the last verse. Many are really struggling to find “life in abundance” right now! There are people, who can quote large chunks of the Bible, and can say exactly where the passages come from. I am not one of those people. I don’t find it particularly helpful to indulge in what is sometimes known as text tennis. That is one person quotes a passage and the other bats it back with another one. Often the passages are taken out of context…. And this can be not just worthless but also damaging. The writings in the Bible are so much more complex than that. They are all part of the bigger picture. There are passages we can ascribe real authority too, and others which we have to recognise are of their time. One of the very few texts I can and do quote is at the end of today’s gospel passage, In John 10.10 Jesus says “I came that they may have life and have it in abundance”. Many modern translations use the word fullness but I prefer abundance. – overflowing is another alternative. There are so many people living desolate lives, lives without that abundance.
What does life in abundance mean? Well it certainly doesn’t mean being rich in monetary terms. I am not saying money doesn’t matter – clearly if someone is in the position of really struggling to feed and house themselves, or worse their children, then it is hard to look beyond those basic needs. Material things do matter, but the danger is in over reliance, over emphasis, on material things. So what does life in abundance mean? Many people sadly live very narrow, hollow life, with very limited horizons, unable to look beyond self. It is very important that we try to find positives in our present situation. One of these positives is that we realise what things are important. In the face of serious illness, how useless is money. How useful is money when we are isolated, separated from family and friends. It has been heart-warming to hear of so many acts of selflessness, of kindness that have been demonstrated –big and small. We are still in the season of Easter, we are celebrating the resurrection of our saviour……who said “I am the resurrection and the life”. We are the Easter people. And we are God’s hands here on earth – he has no others! If Jesus came so that we can have life in abundance then surely we have a responsibility to do our best to ensure our fellow human beings have life in abundance, in whatever way we can in these challenging times.
Edith
Hymns for today - a shepherd one (of course)
- and a personal favourite
Notices -
The Church of England has introduced a new free phone line, where people can ring up and access hymns, reflections and prayers. This will be particularly helpful for all our friends who don't have internet connection, so please do let them know about it.
And finally, next Friday is the 75th Anniversary of V E Day. Despite the lockdown, people all over the country will be celebrating safely at home. It's a Bank Holiday (which won't make much of a difference to most of us at the moment), and there will be televised coverage throughout the day. Queen Elizabeth will be leading the celebrations, starting with a two minute silence at 11 am, and ending with a public address at 9 pm - the exact same moment as her father, King George VI, gave his radio address 75 years ago.
Locally - Lees, Springhead and Grotton Business Hub and Lees & District Royal British Legion are hosting a "Virtual V E Day 75th Celebration", and we're all invited to join in. All the details you need are on the poster.
