Prayer diary Saturday 25 May 2013

Jesus said: 'Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.' 

Mark 10.15

Reflection: 

Simplicity of heart and obedience to Christ's teaching are key to gaining eternal life. It is very easy to change that teaching to what you want it to be and then claim your are a faithful follower of Christ. But instead we must submit to the true and unadulterated teaching we have received and make the changes to the way that we live that it demands.

Prayer diary Friday 24 May 2013 (day of discipline and self-denial)

Jesus said: 'Therefore the two shall become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one. What God has joined together, let no one separate.' 

Mark 10. 9

Reflection: 

One of the hardest teachings spoken by Christ. It was difficult for people to hear in his day; it is no easier now. But it remains his teaching. And his teaching is something that no one, especially not his Church, has the authority to change.

Prayer diary Thursday 23 May 2013

Jesus said: 'If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.' 

Mark 9. 42

Reflection: 

Strong words from our Saviour, reminding us that he was far more than the 'meek and mild' image that has become so popular.

Prayer diary Wednesday 22 May 2013

Jesus said: 'Whoever gives you a cup of water because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.' 

Mark 9.41

Reflection: 

There are many who are more sympathetic to the Christian message than even they suspect. Very often they will express hostility to the Church and religion, but will help the work of individual Christians. Accept their help; pray for their conversion; and walk gently along side them in their journey.

un-pack that ...

For those who sometimes wonder how relevant the Old Testament is:

Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today. Drill them into your children. Speak of them at home and abroad, whether you are busy or at rest.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

Work your way through those words slowly ... meditate on them ... I'm going to pick out a few phrases ... read them ... close your eyes and reflect on them  ... dim the lights, light a candle and spend a few minutes on each ...

1. The Lord is our God, the Lord alone

2. you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart

3.you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your soul

4. you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your strength

5. Take to heart these words

6. Drill them into your children

7. Speak of them at home and abroad

8. Speak of them whether you are busy or at rest

Still have any doubts as to the relevance of the Old Testament?

dead records

It occurs to me that I owe my predecessor in the parish a debt of gratitude. I arrived to find that all the records - burials, marriages, & the like - that ere more than ten years old had been sent off to Dublin to the Church of Ireland's library. At first I was rather doubtful about the idea ... it is nice to be able to look through them and learn about the history of the parish. But over the course of the last year I've come to appreciate the wisdom of his decision. Every time someone calls to the door or phones or emails looking to track down an ancestor from 150 years ago or so I can put my hand on my heart and answer with all honesty that I can't help them & refer them on to the library.

That might sound a bit unhelpful. But truth be told I put in a lot of hours over the years doing that kind of work. You can put in a lot of hours going through dusty registers in cold, damp vestries trying to track down someone's dead relative ... especially when it turns out that they weren't buried in your graveyard in the first place! I learned quickly to ask why they thought their ancestor might be buried in one of our parish churchyards ... you wouldn't believe the amount of times that they had no reason whatsoever to think so ... they were just calling all the churches in the area, trying to cover all the bases ... and even if their family member was Catholic, calling the Church of Ireland clergy 'to be sure to be sure!' I don't mind helping ... I'm not as keen on wild goose chasing.

And  it is amazing the amount of people who show up on your door step from the other side of the world & knock on my door. They've spent months planning their trip to the 'auld sod' ... but it never occurred to them that it might be advisable to call in advance to see if the clergy might be able or available to help them out. I remember  one day when I had someone visiting from Australia, who was staying in Dublin, drive down to see me without calling first. 'What a pity,' I said 'All the records are in Dublin ...' I found out later they could have saved themselves the trip. Their ancestor wasn't in my churchyard. Hadn't even ever lived in the parish ...

Nope. Far better that the records are somewhere central. This genealogical stuff is too tangled for amateurs. Best leave it to the professionals. 

Prayer diary Tuesday 21 May 2013

Jesus said: 'Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.' 

Mark 9.35

Reflection: 

Are these words that any want to hear in an age that thinks of everything in terms of rights and individual liberties? Yet our Lord spoke these words. We must not only hear them, but live them.