It is a common is conception to think that Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience are the calling of those who live a vowed life in a Religious Community. All of us, in our Baptism Promises, make similar vows and each of us needs to discern what their call on our life demands
We cannot become ourselves by ourself. We all need community to be a mirror for However, if we make it difficult for that community to be open to all sorts of people it become as an echo chamber which stunts our growth.
In popular culture to surrender involves giving up and failure. In the Christian journey to surrender is to place ourselves in the hands of our Beloved and find their purpose and meaning
In churches there are many differently shaped and decorated crosses. Some would make much of their ‘own’ as the ‘true’ cross and be tempted to belittle the devotion of others. We need to remember that it is the Cross of Christ and we cherish it not because of its shape but because our Beloved wore it
As Covid19 continues and it seems as if Easter has not yet arrived I re-visit reflections from 2012 to help readers through Lent v2.0 in 2020
40 Days ago the world was a very different place with very different plans. As we move from Lent to Easter the question God asks us is ‘What will you do now?’
‘Live simply that others may simply live’. Surely this is not that difficult a maxim to follow? However from the realm of fast fashion to the need for the latest version of just about everything we find ourselves faced with a world that is more interested in money than people.
How we use the goods of this world is often seen as personal business and we should be permitted to enjoy the fruits of our labour. However not all that we do with them is good for us or for others
Contrary to tales told by the media, most people do not enjoy being the centre of attention as it means they are distinctive in one way or another and become ‘famous’ because they are different. For Christians being ‘different’ is our primary call and we must be ready to acknowledge that we are ‘not as others are’
In a time of international crisis, more than at any other time, we need people to ‘tell it like it is’. Our predilection for telling half-truths to gain advantage will mean we all lose. It is time to be true humans.
Suffolk Vicar 