Latest Reflections
NOVEMBER COMMEMORATION
Charles Mitchell-Innes, Vicar of the Close (Saturday 1st November 2008)
“Only remember me”, wrote Christina Rossetti.
November is for remembering. First it is the Saints, those dazzling men and women of God, whose single-minded dedication and devotion we aspire to emulate, even though their life-style, and sometimes their characters, may be distinctly uncomfortable. Next come All Souls, “that great multitude which no man can number, whose hope was in the Word made flesh, and with whom in this Lord Jesus we for evermore are one.” That blurring of the dividing line between this world and the next is a particularly welcome assurance as we remember those who have been – and remain – close to our hearts.
But the most visible and public feature of our November commemorations is the Remembrance of those died in war, to whom we pay a corporate, national tribute in the middle of the month, as we hold them before God in our prayers. It is a happy coincidence that we celebrate at the same time the feast of St Martin, the Roman soldier whose generous yet careful act of giving a beggar half his cloak – thus sharing it – reminds us of the altruism, of military service at its best. We have had many examples of such altruism, indeed heroism coming from Afghanistan in recent months.
If all this sounds somewhat gloomy, akin to the November weather, it is worth reminding ourselves of the affirmative nature of the Christian message, which looks hopefully forward to the years ahead and to eternity. Vera Brittain, looking back to her friends who were killed in the First World War, asks them (rhetorically), “Would you have me only remember you, only dwell in those days that we shared so long ago – or would you wish my life to go on? In spite of the war, which destroyed so much hope, so much beauty, so much promise, life is still here to be lived.”
As Quintin Hogg puts it in his poem ‘Remembrance Day’, The evening star / By her own loveliness assurance gives/ That beauty in a darkened world still lives.”
HEALING MINISTRY
Canon Edward Probert (Wednesday 1st October 2008)
Over recent decades the ministry of healing has moved from the fringes of Church life towards the centre ground. Since the 18th century it has been viewed as the province of a few eccentrics or the delusional; healing was the work of the medical profession, and religion (if needed at all) was to deal with the ‘spiritual’ realm. But this philosophical and professional separation of mind and body has become increasingly discredited, and everyone now recognises that the mind plays an important part in physical health.
But Christians are looking deeper than this. The psychosomatic unity isn’t simply about the individual, but concerns our whole being, including our relationship with God and with others. The Christian healing ministry involves a health which is not merely focussed on an ailment (however important it may be), but attends to the well-being of the whole person in society and eternity.
This is a large remit, and vague language. But our bodies (including our mental health) confront us with problems which are specific, and can dominate our attention. The Church’s healing ministry is exercised to bring the graceful nature of God to bear on these specific needs. This does not promise dramatic curing of ills, but rather, as with all prayer, places needs before God and asks, with Jesus, ‘not my will, but yours, be done’. And because we have the assurance of God’s love, we are confident in his good purposes, that he brings good from evil, joy from pain.
For years we have held a healing service at the Cathedral, at 6.30pm on the first Thursday of each month. This month we are beginning an experiment which extends the healing ministry, and holds it within our main act of worship, the Sunday Eucharist. St Luke’s day falls on the 18th, so it is appropriate that the first of these occasions will be 19th October; thereafter it will happen monthly.
Members of the congregation can pray privately with appropriately trained people, either for their own needs or for someone else, and receive laying on of hands for either. Anointing will be available. All of this will happen after receiving communion; people will be invited to the Trinity Chapel where the ministry will take place.
However many go there, this will not be for the few, but of the many.