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Thought for the
Week 29 June 2008 – St. Peter and
I can hardly believe that it is a whole year since my
ordination to the priesthood by Bishop John Flack at the Maison des Oeuvres
in Cahors. So much has happened during
the last twelve months – many happy events and a few testing times! The rite of Ordination of Priests begins with this
statement: “Priests are called to be servants and shepherds among
the people to whom they are sent.
With their bishop and fellow ministers, they are to proclaim the word
of the Lord, and to watch for the signs of God’s new creation. They are to be messengers, watchmen and
stewards of the Lord; they are to teach and to admonish, to feed and provide
for his family, to search for his children in the wilderness of this world’s
temptations, and to guide them through its confusions, that they may be saved
through Christ for ever. Formed by the
Word, they are to call their hearers to repentance and to declare in Christ’s
name the absolution and forgiveness of their sins.” Priests are called to be servants and shepherds. It’s an
awesome responsibility, impossible to fulfil without the grace of God and the
support of all the congregations in this chaplaincy. Last year Bishop John said: “It is because the priestly role
is about serving and shepherding that God does NOT choose the
most able people for this role. Instead he chooses surprising
people, always people who know in
advance that they are failures and have the humility to admit
it for God knows that if you are
going to love and care for others you have to know yourself first
to be a forgiven sinner. For as Jesus himself once said
“it only is he/she who is forgiven much who will love much in return.” Perhaps this is why most ordinations take place at
Peter-tide when we celebrate the life and witness of St. Peter and St. Paul –
two of the biggest failures, or forgiven sinners, who went on to become two
cornerstones of the Christian Church. Our readings today do not concentrate on the failures of
Peter and Paul. There is no mention of
the Peter who, having recognised Jesus as the Messiah, went on to deny that
he had ever been his friend [1]. Between his resurrection and ascension
Jesus told Peter that he must become a shepherd of people [4]. Peter the fisherman became a fisher of men for God, then he
became a shepherd of God’s people. There’s no mention in our readings today of the man Saul,
also known as Paul, who held the coats of the people who stoned Stephen to
death [2] and actively persecuted Christians. No mention of Saul’s dramatic conversion on
the road to Instead we look at the way our life can change when we
turn to God. Not all prisoners of
conscience are released from prison, but Peter’s experience demonstrated that
God is with us whatever our situation may be and countless saints have
testified to that down through the centuries.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Nelson Mandela are notable witnesses. Paul’s letter to Timothy is one of encouragement – death
rescues us from evil because our life continues in God’s heavenly
kingdom. It’s a forceful reminder that
this life is temporary; it’s not a rehearsal, but only part of our
existence. Jesus promised to give
Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven, with the authority to forgive sins
in his name. The Church of England
believes in the apostolic succession.
That is why I was ordained by a bishop who had himself been ordained
by a bishop. That is why priests have the authority to declare in Christ’s
name the absolution and forgiveness of sins.
Peter and Paul, two forgiven sinners, were able to
spread the good news of God’s love.
Through them, Jesus would build His church here on earth. They were to be part of the new Jesus’ community
of forgiven sinners. We should never think ourselves unworthy of God’s
forgiveness – after all none of us are “worthy”. Paul was, by his own confession and the
testimony of others, an accessory to the murder of Stephen and others. He oppressed and persecuted countless more
besides – all in the name of religion. We may not have “seen the light” like Paul. However, we have to guard against using our
faith as a means of oppressing or persecuting others. Sadly, the Church has its share of people
who hide behind their religion whilst treating their fellow Christians in a
totally un-Christian manner. Each one of us is called to join the flock of Jesus the
Good Shepherd. Whatever our failings
and shortcomings, if we repent we are forgiven by the grace of God and not by
any good deeds we may be able to perform.
We are called, along with Peter and Paul, to belong to a community of
forgiven sinners. Amen.
Revd June Hutchinson: Anglican
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