Happy Easter. At a time when Christians the world over are focussed on the Easter Story with all its intrigues and twists in the tale it’s worth recalling that as Church we are called to be set apart from the world whilst still a part of it. It’s a difficult thing to achieve. How do Christian’s remain a part of the world with all its temptations yet still remain set apart? Is it possible to do both? Well, yes, I believe so. In ‘The Message’ translation of Romans we are told ‘Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out.’ It’s a rather erudite (my word of the day) passage if I may say so. I recently had a conversation with someone who ‘confessed’ they were a lapsed Catholic, and envied my faith as a Vicar. During our discussion they asked how I came to the priesthood and could I pinpoint the moment I was called to such a vocation.
I must confess I cannot. My growth in faith as a follower of Jesus was more akin to the Emmaus Road encounter following Jesus’ crucifixion. Conversation turned to the why’s and wherefore’s of becoming a priest, the training required, the sacrifice of inordinate amounts of time and a dramatic reduction in the family income during training and after Ordination. They expressed incredulity at the very idea I had (with my families approval) chosen to reduce my income stating, ‘well it’s alright for you Vicar, clearly you’re happier without the stress of a demanding job.’ No, I did not laugh. I simply told him the truth, with a straight face. Yes, I am happier. Yes, I do enjoy my vocation, and actually, not only do I earn less but I’m better off financially. Why? Because God rewards those who place their full trust in him in a sacrificial way.
Of course, we do not become Christians for the rewards. Being a Christian is hard, counter-intuitive and counter-cultural. It is in trusting God that we find ourselves unable to explain why we take certain actions that society would deem ‘foolish.’ For instance when my training began my wife and I knew we would run out of money by the end of the first year. No-one in their right mind would ever place their wife or family in such a position, surely. Yet to be Christian means to trust that God will provide just as Jesus taught us in Luke. It also requires us to stand apart from, yet remain a part of, the world. But only if we accept the need to love God and each other. Only if we acknowledge we cannot see all outcomes and must trust God’s plans for us implicitly. Trust is the key word, the watch word if you will. For to trust means placing our hope in the principle that what we believe is true is, well, true. I believe in God not because someone told me, not because the Church told me, but because I have experienced His grace and mercy firsthand in the form of Jesus Christ, who was beaten, tormented, nailed to a cross and hoisted up before his mother. Who died and was buried and yet on the third day rose again. All this he did for my salvation and, whether you believe it or not, for yours as well…
When Jesus appeared in the locked room he brought peace into his disciples hearts. I pray this year he will also bring peace into yours…
with every blessing…
Rev Paul
