Good Morning Folks, Hope you are feeling groovy today.
Please find below my Tuesday Offering. I shall be doing a short Christmassy video tomorrow, but then I shall be having a break from these until sometime in mid January.
Thank you to those of you who have read, watched or shared these offerings. When I started in March I thought I would be doing them for three weeks! How little we actually know.
May I take this opportunity to wish you Every Blessing this Christmas. I know it is going to be different, weird, and a struggle for many – but we are still celebrating the coming of Christ afresh and anew into our lives.
I pray that we may all discover the Joy that Christ brings.
Tuesday Offering from Fr Marcus
My Dear Friends,
Did you see the Great Conjunction last night, when Jupiter and Saturn were aligned, for the first time in close to 800 years, and it happened on the Winter Solstice. It was big stuff, and fascinating to look at if you are interested in unusual and cosmic events.
So, I got out my binoculars, checked which way I was supposed to be looking, and WOW! It looked so close and bright, I could hardly believe it. Then I discovered I was focussing on a street light, and I had to raise my sight a little.
I did find it, and when I was looking, Saturn and Jupiter were right next to each other, but it difficult to focus too clearly with binoculars. They tend to shake a little unless you can rest them on something solid, and when I tried resting them on my garden balustrade, I couldn’t get the angles right. So, not a huge enlightenment, but I am pleased I looked.
But it was all quite a good metaphor for where we are. We have just celebrated the shortest day, and from now on there will be a little more light every 24 hours. We have entered winter, but we look for the growing light, and the coming of spring, and all that means. However we have got off to a shaky start, and to make sense of any of it, we need to lean on something, or someone solid.
For me, that ‘Leaning on’ is so important, because I do have a tendency to try and cope with too many things on my own. Yes, I lean on all sorts of people to help me with administration throughout the Chaplaincy (Thank you – you know who you are), or on friends when we are walking, so that I don’t get lost (Thank you – you know who you are), or my old favourite tunes to make me smile (and play air guitar to). But I do have this dreadful habit of thinking that I can manage the tough stuff on my own, or that I need to be strong for others, or always positive and cheerful. The thing is, I know it is nonsense, and in real life, I can never do it on my own, and shouldn’t be even trying.
Jesus says “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matt Chapter 11.
We are not supposed to try and cope all by ourselves, we have one another to comfort and help, we are a community, a fellowship, a team. But most importantly we have Jesus to lean on. That solid rock who is the foundation of our lives. He is always with us, and knows what we are going through. Sometimes we need let go of our ridiculous ego, and let him be strong for us.
I think we do best when we lean on the message of The Good Shepherd, The Prince of Peace, The Messiah, the God who is with us, Emanuel, who we are about to celebrate at Christmas.
It is no use us having the gift of faith, and then pretending we don’t need it. Rather we should embrace the Comfort and Joy which is on offer, and trust that in Christ all shall be well.
It is the case that we are all a bit shaky at the moment, but three things are always with us, if we have eyes to see, Faith, Hope and Love, and I wish you all plenty of those as we walk together towards Christmas and the New Year.
My Dear old friend, the late great Bill Withers had some wonderful hits during his life, but two stand out for me at the moment. Lovely Day, and Lean on me
Both could be seen as human love songs, or they could be used as prayers.
So, try praying these. First of all Lovely Day
When I wake up in the morning, love
And the sunlight hurts my eyes
And something without warning, love
Bears heavy on my mind
Then I look at you
And the world’s alright with me
Just one look at you
And I know it’s gonna be
A lovely day
I especially love the words to Lean on me
Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrow
Lean on me
When you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on…
For it won’t be long
Till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill
Those of your needs that you won’t let show
You just call on me brother when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’ll understand
We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me
When you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on…
For it won’t be long
Till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on
You just call on me…
Bless you, Bless you, Bless you,
As ever,
Fr Marcus