12th July, 2020.
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My dear friends,

I had a conversation with a United Reformed Church minister from Cambridge last year, who said something very profound. We were talking about the death of my father, when he said: ‘People talking about “getting over” a bereavement. We don’t “get over” a bereavement. Rather, after a bereavement, we learn to live our lives differently.’ I think he was right, and his words have stuck in my mind. I have sometimes shared them with other bereaved people.
 
It seems to me that what we are starting to do now, confronted with Covid 19, is learning to live our lives differently. We do not know what the future holds – whether there will be a second spike or not – and we all await the development of a safe and effective vaccine. Gradually, though, we are starting to emerge from lockdown. Things are not the same as they were before the arrival of Covid 19, but they are a little more normal. I had a haircut yesterday (hooray!) – I never thought I would be so excited about a short-back-and-sides!
 
As we feel our way forwards into the new sort of normal, I feel that the values which have inspired so many members of St John down the years will act as our guide. We seek to use our gifts and skills to help others, pro fide et pro utilitate hominum, for the faith and for the benefit of humanity. Along the way, we help, support and cheer each other. I am reminded of Jesus’ words about loving God and loving our neighbours as ourselves. In the end, this is all that really counts.

With continued prayers and kindest regards,

The Rev. Dr ROBERT BEAKEN, County Chaplain
TRINITY 5 – 12th JULY 2020.
 
Gospel: St Matthew, chapter 13, verses 1-9, 18-23
Two thousand years ago in Palestine, everyone knew about the rhythm of agriculture, and it is no surprise to find that Jesus frequently used simple images from farming and the countryside to convey complex and important religious meaning.
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            One such image was the sower scattering seed – a familiar figure 2,000 years ago, and the basis of what is commonly known as the parable of the sower – but which might perhaps be more fittingly known as the parable of the soils.

            At the time of Jesus Christ, farming was carried out slightly differently to today. Today, fields are ploughed twice: once before sowing, and again after sowing. In Jesus’ time, the field was only ploughed once. The sower walked across the field, scattering the seed everywhere. Then, the ploughman ploughed up the soil, the blade of the plough mixing in the seed amongst the good and bad bits of the field. Jesus used the image of the sower to make a point about men and women and our journey of faith.

            He spoke about the seed falling from the sower’s hand onto four different patches of soil in the one field. (1) Some seed fell onto the path, and the birds came down and ate it up. (2) Some seed fell on thin soil, where it shot up, but later withered when it became hot. (3) Some seed fell amongst thorns, which grew up and choked it. (4) Some seed fell on good, rich soil, germinated, grew, and brought forth much grain. 

Jesus later explained to the puzzled disciples that the seed represented what he called ‘the word of the kingdom,’ what we might call the Gospel or the Good News of Christ. (1) The seed that fell upon the path and was gobbled up by the birds represents the people who hear the Good News, but the Devil immediately comes along and snatches it away. In other words, the Devil finds ways to deter them from taking the Christian message seriously.

(2) Then there is the shallow soil, with no depth. This represents the people who hear the Good News, initially embrace it, but don’t let it go very far. Then, when there is a problem or their faith requires them to do something a bit demanding, they give up.

(3) The other kind of soil is that full of thorns, which choke the seed. The thorns symbolise the cares and delights of the world. This can mean many things, for we each have our subtle temptations, drawing us away from the Lord.

(4) Finally, there is the seed that falls into good soil and bears abundant fruit. This represents the men and women who hears the Good News, welcome it, and allow it to grow in their lives.
Well, in my experience, Jesus got this absolutely right. I have come across people who fit into all four categories.

The temptation for us, though, is to nod our heads wisely, and take for granted the fact that we, here in church (or reading these words at home because we are unable to get to church), are obviously the good soil, into which the seed fell and grew wonderfully.

I want to suggest that it is a bit more complex than that. All men and women are complicated – loveable, but complicated! At times, life is easy; at times life is hard; most of the time we are somewhere between the two. We all have ups and downs. So does our health and our circumstances. Things constantly change.

Now, it strikes me, thinking about all that we may go through in the course of an average year, that we Christians each have times when we are in turns hardened soil, thin soil, thorny soil, good soil. Sometimes, because of some of the other things going on in our lives, the birds may be circling around waiting to gobble up the seed. Sometimes, we are dazzled by worldly things and God is crowded out of our thoughts. Sometimes, we are so busy that we don’t have much time for God in our daily lives. Sometimes, we are good, rich soil

Now what this observation practically means is that being a Christian takes a bit of effort, a degree of vigilance, some reflection and a pinch of imagination for all of us.

We might perhaps need to try a bit harder. Sometimes, we might need to try a bit less – if, for example, prayer is difficult because we are unwell or have just suffered a bereavement, we might need to let other people do the praying for us. We may need to repent of some particular sin (which we might enjoy!) – or patch it up with someone who has hurt us (which we might find difficult). Perhaps we might need to go on a pilgrimage or a quiet day and have a bit of special time with God. Above all, we probably need to remind ourselves that God loves us with a wonderful love that took His son to the Cross and on to the Resurrection.

What I am saying is that Christian faith is a living thing. You don’t just decide to be a Christian, and then that’s it – no need for anything else. We have to work with God, allow Him to guide us, and enjoy it, for Heaven’s sake!

I end, as I began, with the observation that men and women – that’s you and me – are all rather complicated, but immensely loveable. And that leads on to a final reflection: men and women may give up and walk away from God – but God never gives up or walks away from us.