Miracle of the Hudson River

It's not very often that the word miracle is used in the media so much as it has been in the past 24 hours. But what many have termed "the miracle on the Hudson River" has meant that the word has been on many people's lips.
A miracle is generally regarded as the astonishment and amazement created by an unusual or inexplicable event. Albert Einstein argued that "There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle."
Miracles don't have to be connected to religion nor, as CS Lewis reminds us, do they need to go against the laws of nature. Many things we see on a day to day basis, the birth of a child for instance, have, from our human standpoint, miraculous qualities. They are truly wonderful.
But, from time to time, a combination of circumstances brings about something as astonishing as the survival of everyone on board that aircraft. And something so special, extraordinary - a remarkable sequence of events such as this - touches an emotion and provokes a response - regardless of how cynical we might be the rest of the time.
Even at the level of - how would I have responded if I'd been in that situation - we are faced with challenging questions about what is important to us and the bigger picture of our lives.
The Jewish and Christian faiths are based on a fair few miracles of various types which have provoked debate over the centuries - not just on the grounds of historicity and theology - but also because of the effect they had, and have, on people of faith and no faith.
Astonishment and amazement is also often, in the books of the Bible, accompanied by fear and insecurity because such events - natural or divinely provoked - have a similar knock-on effect. There is the need to reflect and ponder the consequences of what has taken place.
I have always preferred the word "sign" to "miracle". And "this is a sign to us" is common parlance amongst lots of people for whom such miracles have some deeper but unknown meaning. And I personally believe that miracles have always been reminders that we live in a fragile and surprising world, where events simply do not always turn out as we thought that they would.
Whether or not one adopts faith as part of a rationale for dealing with "miracles" - that's a personal decision.
But all of us, this morning, can only reflect and ponder on the miracle of the Hudson River and the extraordinary stories that are now being told.
copyright 2009 BBC

Recent Radio 4 TFTD - Recession

So it's official. Today is the first full day when we actually know that we are in recession. Not that yesterday's Office of National Statistics data would have come as a surprise to anyone who has lost their job, can't sell their home, if they still have one, or is simply feeling an almighty pinch. But now, at least, it's official.
The question is: how do we respond? Across Europe - in places as far afield as Bulgaria, Latvia, Hungary, Greece and Iceland - people have taken to the streets. Social unrest and rioting are causing concern to European leaders.
But in Britain, which has a tradition of a stiff upper lip and often proving that it is stronger when in the midst of a crisis, we are only just beginning to seriously reflect on how long this recession might be, to what depths it will plunge us and what we are going to do about it.
Any kind of depression or loss, whether individual or shared, inevitably consists of a series of distinct phases or stages. The five classic stages of bereavement, for instance, are denial & isolation, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. And you can see how with this recession we have already, or are currently, in the process of going through some of these.
But the acceptance stage will be the most challenging, and then the resolve to do something about it.
The French Jesuit, Jean Nicholas Grou, suggests that spiritual resistance is as important as physical or mental resolve. He wrote: "the chief pang of most trails is not so much the actual suffering itself as our own spirit of resistance to it."
The communities to which Paul wrote many of his letters in the first century were all obviously buffeted by the constant struggle to get the balance right between earthly riches and possessions and the need to be free to be the kind of people God wanted them to be. There is parable after parable about this in the Gospels too.
A resistance to earthly tribulations is rooted in our constant ability to resurrect our spirits out of depression (or recession) and to look for new opportunities to be positive and creative. This is the challenge of these times for everyone of us: asking what is really important, getting a real perspective on things.
Such confidence and positive creativity isn't going to be easy. It's about faith, in many things, rather than doubt. As Julian of Norwich's famous refrain underlines - what is wrong and sinful in the world is worrying and challenging, "but all shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."
Her reassurance is a challenge to the human spirit in these uncertain times.
copyright 2009 BBC

The French Strikes

The manner in which the UK media patronise the French never ceases to surprise me.

OK, so the people have taken to the streets to protest against the polics of Nicholas Sarkozy.

But the media have latched onto the President's "worrying out loud" and the fondness of the French for the upheaval.

"The French guillotined the king," said NS before adding "a symbollic measure is enough to make the country turn upside down."

Cath up and St Mary Abbots 9th Jan 2009

It has been a very busy time over Advent and Christmas with clients and parish taking up a lot time.

Like most people - I was quite ill with the winter flu virus over the winter but am now back at the gym and feeling better.

Have hosted South African friends Alan and Maria for the past 3 weeks and now fully back at work.

St Mary Abbots
Matins
9th January 2009

Baptism Sunday

Johannine teaching on John the Baptist

Lamb of God - title introduced:

various explanations given by commentators

- first - Isaiah 53 - the suffering servant
-takes away the sins of the woel
baptism with the spirit

-secondly, Passover Lamb
celebrates the notion of exodus and deliverance

Barnabas Lindars writes: " we conclude that the title is based on Isaiah 53 interpreted in the light of the passover sacrifice."

Baptim - reveals the truth of the incarnation

initiates the notion of Jesus as Messiah

is the first sign that sin will be dealt with.