Symbols, Colours and Objects - Two of the things we do

I've had a couple of interesting questions regarding symbols and objects. The first relates to candles on the altar (table) and what they signify because when they asked whether the candles signified anything they were told they were there because 'Jesus is the light of the world'.

Now I'm probably going to get into some heavy weather with some out there but as far as I know (and that's probably little) the reason we have candles (two or more) on the table (altar) is down to the fact that without them it's pretty difficult to read the service when it's dark! Basically candles were lit for purely practical reasons BUT of course it doesn't take long before someone adds some spiritual or other context to the blesséd things and they become part of something they were never intended to be.

I recall a lecture on liturgy, worship and the things we do in our services where someone read out something about the candle being a trinity where the candle, the wick and the flame represented God, the believer and the Holy Spirit. In the same lecture we were told how, with regard to the epistle and Gospel sides of the table (altar) - which (looking at the congregation) is apparently left and right respectively - the candle was lit on the Gospel side first (that's reversed for the person lighting because they do it from the front!). To make it more interesting, if you were into multiple candles you'd light them left then right and then repeat for as many pairs of candles you had (extinguishing them in the reverse order).

The only candle that represents the light of Christ remains the Paschal candle.

The second 'interesting' question relates to adding water to the wine when we celebrate the Eucharist (Communion). When asked the person asking me was told that it's all about symbolism as it speaks of the blood and water that flowed from Jesus' side when He was pierced by the spear.

Sadly I think this might be one of the great sounding explanations that fall just a little short of the reality and yet has made it into law! I know I was told that when I first realised the bloke up the front was watering down the red stuff - wasn't him fiddling the books or making the wine go further after all - there was this cool sounding spiritual explanation.

Truth is that it was the Greek custom for water and other stuff to be added to the wine and Israel having been part of Hellenistic and then Roman culture had been exposed to such practices and also made them theirs. It was what they did. BUT one of the reasons I was given (accompanied by a defence of the Eucharist by one of the Early Christian Fathers+) stated that it wasn't some licentious booze up (my words) but something else and that this could be demonstrated by the fact that the wine was watered down. Another explanation I had came from an RC friend who spoke of bread, wine and water forming a trinity and then went on (at length) to explain how it brought God, man and Church into a oneness - have to say I wasn't convinced and so find myself going along with the contemporary practice of the time and the 'not boozing' scenarios. But I'm happy to have someone who knows lead me further forward.

So there we are  - two questions and two (as brief as I can be) answers - a ten minute splurge - hopefully something sound and of worth here.

Pax

Can't Make it to church? - Mar 16

Here we are at the second week of Lent - a third through  and I'm wondering how (and what) are we all doing? I ask that because although many of us are certain in so many ways, that certainty can be shaken and turned to confusion by the simplest of encounters with Jesus.

Take the character in today's Gospel as an example. For here we have Nicodemus, a member of the ruling classes and a Pharisee - someone who knows much (if not perhaps all?). A man who, under cover of darkness, encounters Jesus, the Christ and finds that what he knows is the confirmation that he knows little - a reality well known to me.

Why darkness?

Who was he worried about?

Who didn't he want to know that he had met with Jesus?

It is here, upon learning about being 'born again' that he asks, 'Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born again?'

It is here the born again so favoured by those who like to ask if you have been, comes into our language. For me the impact of the whole encounter is that in the life of a man who has it all and is 'religious' and assured comes the awareness that he hasn't even started you. He needs to be reborn - to visit the 'Go' of the monopoly game that is the spiritual life - and start the spiritual journey he thought he had mastered.

This is a call to begin, not an assurance of fulfilment or completeness.

It is too easy for us to speed onto the 'God so loved the world' bit and seek assurance when what we need to know is that this is the reason we are called upon to be born again and not the remedy. A reality that leads us wonderfully into a call, like Abram's, to get up and move from the places where comfort might be and travel in faith and trust to be a blessing and to be blessed too. Paul's words are a summation and assessment of Abram's call and perhaps we would do well to exchange our name for his (Abram's) and reread with different ears, eyes and heart.

Having done it - we need to make the words of today's Psalm ours and ask ourselves the question - Where are the places I think I have it made?
What do I see through God's eyes and the commitment and sacrifice of Jesus and the journeying of Abram?

Where are my eyes fixed?

Genesis 12.1-4a
Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
He will not suffer your foot to stumble; he who watches over you will not sleep. Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord himself watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand, So that the sun shall not strike you by day, neither the moon by night.
The Lord shall keep you from all evil; it is he who shall keep your soul.
The Lord shall keep watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for evermore.

Romans 4.1-5,13-17
What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.

For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

John 3.1-17
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Here's a bit of a bonus from Stainer's Crucifixion

The first major piece I sang as a chorister of eight

and something that touched me greatly

Collect
Almighty God,
you show to those who are in error the light of your truth,
that they may return to the way of righteousness:
grant to all those who are admitted
into the fellowship of Christ’s religion,
that they may reject those things
that are contrary to their profession,
and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same;
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Post Communion
Almighty God,
you see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves:
keep us both outwardly in our bodies,
and inwardly in our souls;
that we may be defended from all adversities
which may happen to the body,
and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ the King

When the soldiers came to the place called “The Skull,” they nailed Jesus to a cross. They also nailed the two criminals to crosses, one on each side of Jesus.

Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.”

While the crowd stood there watching Jesus, the soldiers gambled for his clothes. The leaders insulted him by saying, “He saved others. Now he should save himself, if he really is God’s chosen Messiah!”

The soldiers made fun of Jesus and brought him some wine. They said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!”

Above him was a sign that said, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals hanging there also insulted Jesus by saying, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and save us!”

But the other criminal told the first one off, “Don’t you fear God? Aren’t you getting the same punishment as this man? We got what was coming to us, but he didn’t do anything wrong.” 
Then he said to Jesus, “Remember me when you come into power!”

Jesus replied, “I promise that today you will be with me in paradise.”

Luke 23.33-43

Eternal Father,

whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King:

keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace,

and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet;

who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

May you today meet with Jesus, The Christ,
May you be touched by the fact that you are loved
Loved enough that someone would die in your place
That you might be reconciled to God
And be brought into the joy that the knowledge
of eternal life is yours.

Just reach out and touch the hem of His garment

Pentecost: Waiting for God

Not the sitting it out waiting to die variety as portrayed in the television series of the same name but the expectant, ‘what’s God going to do now?’ waiting.

Looking at the time from Holy Week through to Pentecost we have been challenged, excited and now . . .?

If we were to live our Christian lives as if everything from Good Friday to Pentecost were a total surprise (and for some, it is) then where would we be now, what would we have felt and be feeling?

The despair and desolation as we follow Christ from the garden to the Temple and from there to Pilate, Herod, Pilate and Golgotha.

The confusion as we see Jesus, the Christ, hung upon a cross and later, in His tomb, sealed behind a stone.

The disbelief which slowly turns to joy as we hear the words, ‘He is Risen!’ from the lips of Mary and others.

The encounter in the upper room when Jesus is suddenly with them; the risen Lord bringing peace and hope to a frightened and troubled people

The many appearances of Jesus to His followers and the final encounter (Lk 24) where He appears and after sharing God’s peace with them proves he had risen and was flesh and blood (a piece of broiled fish sealing the act) and opens to them the Scriptures (the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms). Having done so, He says these words (46-49):

‘This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 
You are witnesses of these things.
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’

Having said these words, Jesus takes them out into the vicinity of Bethany and He blesses them.

 ‘While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.’

This is, of course, an account of what we call Ascension Day. Jesus has physically left the earth (which is why some churches extinguish the Paschal candle, which represents Christ, immediately after the Gospel is read on Ascension Day).

Again Jesus is gone and His followers are left ‘waiting for God’.

Not for them the snatching away by death of a teacher, the taking down of a corpse from a cross and with that death, the death of hope, but for them, and us, an expectation that God is going to do something amazing (as if bringing someone back from the dead was amazing enough).

We, like the early followers look to God and wait expectantly for something to happen.

The conundrum that unless He goes `He (Jesus) cannot be with us is about to be solved for God is going to send to them the same Holy Spirit that is God and raised Jesus from the dead and is, dot-for-dot, exactly the same as Jesus (for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one).

No longer will His followers have to be concerned about Jesus being with them working miracles and opening the Scriptures and experiencing the kingdom of God being with them – for on the day of Pentecost Jesus is, in the person of the Holy Spirit within us, opening the Scriptures and enlightening us; healing the sick and proclaiming the fact that where we are so too is God and the Kingdom of God is proclaimed by our very presence.

I pray that each of us will be daily refreshed by His holy and life-giving Spirit as we live in the reality that the wait is over!

Images of the Christ - 1

I was sent a image recently of Paul Fryer's 'Pieta'. A shocking (not a pun, sorry) depiction of the death of Jesus, not on a cross, but in an electric chair.

Those with whom I have previously (privately) shared this image have exhibited a range of responses ranging from shock and even anger through to a consideration of what means the Christ might have been put to death using had the time, or the people doing the capital punishment, been different.

So I have the image here for a reason. As you look at it, does it make the penalty He paid for you any more powerful or does it diminish the act? Is the sacrifice of Christ made different because the means of killing is different? Do we see the means as any more, or less, humane than the crucifixion?

What do we think when we see 'art' depicting the things we see as sacrosanct? Is is offensive or does it challenge us to consider the penalty differently.

I'll tell you my thoughts a little later, but for now I will leave you to yours:

Pax