Luke 2:33-35
Numbers 21:4-9
Ephesians 2:1-10
This week we received the great news that we shall be reopening the church on Palm Sunday in time for our Holy Week services and the celebration of Easter.
We may cast our minds back to this time last year when the crisis was beginning, little did we know then how it would evolve and how our lives would change. It has certainly been a year of challenges as we strived to live with ever-changing government restrictions, social isolation and fear of the virus itself. We have had to embrace new technology in order to stay in touch, we have had to learn patience as we wait for our vaccines and we have had to discern how to pass our time when our usual avenues of activities have been unavailable. I am sure there will be some aspects of last year which we may wish to continue with but there may also be others, less palatable, which we will not.
Today is Mothering Sunday, a day when mothers up and down the nation are treated, in normal times, with floral gifts, chocolates and lunches out. The tradition originates from medieval times when people would visit their nearest cathedral, their mother church. In later years it became the custom to visit mothers and give thanks for their care and love. It is a festival which is associated with joy, flowers, happiness and love.
But it can equally be a difficult time. Mothering Sunday is relational in its nature, and relationships are all about feelings and emotion. At the heart of many of our relationships is the emotion of love. But as we all know love can be costly and love can be painful.
In the gospel this morning we have the wonderful scene of Mary entering the temple with her newborn son to present him to the Lord. Guided by the Holy Spirit Simeon also enters the temple at the same time. He blesses the baby, he is full of praise and adoration as it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die till he had seen the Messiah. In great joy and celebration, he says,
“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32
But then he says the words “And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” Luke 2:35
Mary must have felt a chill down her spine on hearing those words. For they are words which foretell the passion, the crucifixion, and so by implication the costliness and pain of love.
In the stories of our lives, I’m sure we can all recall many times when our souls may have been pierced. But unlike some of our stories and unlike “the big tale tell interview” of the week, Simeons’ words may speak of pierced souls, but his main message is that of salvation!
“for my eyes have seen your salvation” Luke 2.30
Salvation – this is what we will be celebrating as we gather at Easter. The baby we read about in this morning’s gospel, presented in the temple by his mother, was the long-awaited messiah. He would grow up to teach a gospel of love and forgiveness, healing our souls and relationships, and he would ultimately rise from death to new life, bringing new life to all.
Saint Paul reminds us of this fact in his letter to the Ephesians.
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions.………. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” Ephesians 2:4-5,8
I am very pleased to say that we will be opening the church for worship on 28th March Palm Sunday 10am.
I will give you the details for our Holy week services with next week’s letter.
In the meantime, the Sunday Eucharist will be available at 11am online. You can access it on this link at that time. http://www.scotland.anglican.org/broadcast-sunday-worship/ Alternatively, you can access it by going straight onto the Scottish Episcopal Church website.
I will look forward to joining you all again via YouTube on Thursday for our morning Eucharist.
Please feel free to telephone me at any time.
My love and prayers to you all as always
Andrea
The Collect for The Second Sunday in Lent
ALMIGHTY God, you see that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.