May 2024

Courage

 I have never felt particularly courageous. My earliest memory of feeling intimidated by the presence of power was when I started school. Other children were in the room already, and when I entered, the teacher boomed from the front of the class, “Boy, is your name Ralph, Raif, Rolf or Raff?” I remember my almost inaudible reply, and the feeling of smallness which accompanied it. After Easter the church spends some time thinking about the experience of Jesus’ disciples after his death and resurrection. At first they were terrified that the leaders who had killed Jesus would come for them too. But gradually their confidence began to grow, and we see in ‘The Acts of the Apostles’ how they went from terror to timidity and then to confidence and courage. Soon they were challenging the same authorities who had arrested and killed Jesus, and speaking boldly about God’s plan to bless the world through him. The Jewish feast of Pentecost, fifty days after the Passover when Jesus died and was raised, was the time when God empowered his people with courage to proclaim his love with boldness.

Courage is a word we may associate with heroic action in times of war, but courage is something we all need if we are to live well. There are times when it is best to keep our heads down, but also times when we can and should speak out, and act boldly. As we look at our national and global crises, we are aware of the need for bold solutions to these problems, and of the courageous role we must all play through the way we vote, speak and act. There are times when we should recognise our own strength, and use it well. Are there important conversations we have put off, acts of kindness we have hesitated to offer, or care for ourselves which has been neglected - things which we should tackle with new boldness? Are there boundaries we need to assert in our relationships to help others and ourselves to flourish, and is it time for us to stand up for what we believe, for what is right? Should we ask God for boldness to also follow the way of Christ, and for the courage to worship? The church celebrates the gift of the empowering Holy Spirit at Pentecost on Sunday the 19th of May. Please do join us!

Revd Ralph Williamson - Rector