Letter from the Vicar
I would like to take this opportunity on reflecting further on our two
patron saints following John Smelt’s excellent article last month.
Although St Peter and St Paul are both clearly amongst the most venerated
saints of Christendom, it is reassuring to know that they were not perfect. Far
from it, especially in their earlier years of life! St Peter of course is well
known as the disciple who denied Christ three times, only to be restored by his
master on the shores of Lake Galilee following the Resurrection.
St Paul
makes St Peter seem positively angelic when we consider his history of
persecuting Christians as Saul, before the blinding light and the voice from
heaven on the road to Damascus led him to repentance and faith in Jesus.
Despite their previous failings, the fact that St Peter and St Paul went on
to be the most prominent ambassadors of the gospel, with their writings admired
and devoutly adhered to even today, speaks something of the nature of
discipleship and Christian fellowship in general. Namely, God uses imperfect
people for his perfect plans to come to fruition. Moreover, Jesus’
determination to forgive and entrust those who had opposed and deserted him is
a lesson to us all.
As a church fellowship, as Christian families, and as
Christian individuals we all can benefit from reminding ourselves of this from
time to time. The test of Christian fellowship is not how well people get on
with each other, but how well they handle life together when they do not get on
well with each other. It is easy being friends when one shares the same tastes,
the same sense of humour, and the same interests. It is when discord and
disagreement arises that true Christian fellowship is properly tried and
tested, and at each time we should remember the words of Christ “Forgive
us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us”
The fact that
this was a prayer Jesus encouraged his disciples to use each day when they were
travelling with him on the road suggests that Jesus fully expected tensions to
arise, even within his close-knit fellowship. What concerned him though was
that his followers should live in a way that was loving and forgiving,
courageously rising above confrontation and retaliation in an effort to follow
Jesus’ commands, whilst still speaking the truth in love.
To conclude, we can be thankful that we have St Peter and St Paul as role models. If Jesus was prepared to forgive them, restore them and then use them as his missionary leaders, how petty our own lack of forgiveness can seem in comparison!
I trust you have a wonderful summer ,
Simon Tillotson
This letter appears in the parish magazine. To subscribe to the magazine please email Brian Eddy or contact the church office.
Old (but not dirty!) Thoughts
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