Giles Goddard | April 27, 2010
I spent last week in silence in a monastery - Mirfield, near Huddersfield. It’s an Anglican Benedictine foundation, dating from the 19th century, and I was given various Bible passages to meditate and reflect on each day.
The first one was Psalm 23, which I’ve never read very carefully before. The implications of its language are stunning.
“The Lord is my shepherd, therefore can I lack NOTHING. He MAKES me lie down in green pastures. He LEADS me beside still waters. He RESTORES my soul.”
There’s a wonderful sense of imperative in the language – at least in this NRSV translation. A great passage to start a retreat with - he MAKES me lie down in green pastures. Oh, OK, if I must I must -
I got, overall, from the retreat a real and renewed sense of the power of love, the power of God’s love. As something active, not passive; something real and creative. He MAKES me lie down in green pastures. A sense, therefore, that our job is to get out of the way of God’s love so that it can do its work. So that we become agents of love, participating in it.
This was reflected by the second passage I had, which we’re reading today. Isaiah 49 1-6. It’s a passage I’m fond of – the notion that “it is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the survivors of Israel” - oh, that’s much too easy - no, let’s try something a bit more serious - “I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”! - Oh, OK, if I must I must -
But how is this to happen? Verse 16 gives a clue – “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands: your walls are continually before me.” These things are possible because of the intimacy of God’s love for each of us, which enables remarkable things to happen.
It’s reflected again in the Gospel passage set for today – John 10. 29. “What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.” Once again, we have a notion of the all embracing, active strength of the love of God.
I think that’s all I want to say, today - because it speaks for itself. This Community is about prayers, love and justice. As we grow and develop our identity, whatever it is, perhaps the most important thing we can is try to get ourselves out of the way so that the love of God can makes us lie down in green pastures and revive our souls.... so that God’s salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
The first one was Psalm 23, which I’ve never read very carefully before. The implications of its language are stunning.
“The Lord is my shepherd, therefore can I lack NOTHING. He MAKES me lie down in green pastures. He LEADS me beside still waters. He RESTORES my soul.”
There’s a wonderful sense of imperative in the language – at least in this NRSV translation. A great passage to start a retreat with - he MAKES me lie down in green pastures. Oh, OK, if I must I must -
I got, overall, from the retreat a real and renewed sense of the power of love, the power of God’s love. As something active, not passive; something real and creative. He MAKES me lie down in green pastures. A sense, therefore, that our job is to get out of the way of God’s love so that it can do its work. So that we become agents of love, participating in it.
This was reflected by the second passage I had, which we’re reading today. Isaiah 49 1-6. It’s a passage I’m fond of – the notion that “it is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the survivors of Israel” - oh, that’s much too easy - no, let’s try something a bit more serious - “I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth”! - Oh, OK, if I must I must -
But how is this to happen? Verse 16 gives a clue – “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands: your walls are continually before me.” These things are possible because of the intimacy of God’s love for each of us, which enables remarkable things to happen.
It’s reflected again in the Gospel passage set for today – John 10. 29. “What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand.” Once again, we have a notion of the all embracing, active strength of the love of God.
I think that’s all I want to say, today - because it speaks for itself. This Community is about prayers, love and justice. As we grow and develop our identity, whatever it is, perhaps the most important thing we can is try to get ourselves out of the way so that the love of God can makes us lie down in green pastures and revive our souls.... so that God’s salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
