September Thoughts

September Thoughts

Oh what a circus!

I downloaded the David Essex classic song “Oh what a Circus”” a nod to nostalgia, it reminds me of a youthful me, flicking though vinyl records in my favourite record shop in Kings Heath, on Poplar Road, to buy, and play at home for my pleasure! I realise lots of my music downloads have a nod to nostalgia! Songs have a power to evoke memory, projecting us back to days of old, perhaps where the sun shone brightly and a modicum of carefree filled the air. The David Essex title speaks volumes about the coronavirus pandemic that we as a world have been embroiled in these past months, and for the next few months also it seems.

The consistent themes throughout the pandemic, in government advice is to wash your hands and keep your distance. It seemed to break into the consciousness of people. We were asked to save the NHS and gave in to lockdown. Easter was not celebrated publicly in church and this in itself, caused so much pain to so many. The summer passed slowly and during it the social distancing became lax, with the protests, the days at the beaches, the pubs opening, people bombarded with opposing viewpoints; is the virus a scam or is the virus deadly and a reality? Oh what to believe… as if our own belief will make a difference to the mood of the virus!

Whatever the reason society wanted to get back to normal, but normal is far beyond our reach at present. Testing has become a difficulty politically, and yet seems to be a vital part of any strategy to overcome the virus. Now the government says the economy is the priority and seems to be telling us to prepare for a new wave of illness and deaths this winter. Confusion reigns, Oh what a Circus indeed. Let us hope and pray that the coronavirus circus is one that is soon a nod to nostalgia.

New priests, to prop up the old wineskins.

Two new priests have been ordained for the diocese and two more this coming Sunday. They are entering into a very challenging time for the diocese, and for the church. Reports have said that the secularisation of Europe has been advanced by ten years due to the virus and its effects upon communities. Before the virus restrictions and lockdown, it was increasingly difficult to explain to lapsed families who come from lapsed parents, that baptism is not a golden ticket to get into school but a journey for life. Talk about the phrase, “a dog is not just for Christmas” how about “baptism is not just for school admittance!” Baptism is requested without parish involvement, baptism requested without much evidence of faith. Baptism demanded without accepting responsibility to Christ and the teachings of the Church. It is so draining to experience this at the coalface of parish ministry. I am not disheartened, I trust in Christ, I feel grafted on through prayer, to Jesus and his message of eternal life, the good news of the gospel.  

I pray for these new priests, Fr Alex, Fr Clive, Fr Sean and Fr Benedict, that they too will not be disheartened by what they find. but be inspired by the good and sincere faith that they encounter in parishioners and colleagues too. New skins alongside the old wineskins! The old wineskins are wearing out rapidly. Trusting in Christ keeps the tears, the rips in the fabric, the wrinkles of anxiety, and brokenness from ruining the skins themselves!

May God bless you this autumn season.