THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
10th May 2025
Greetings.
It is rather fortuitous that the Sunday following the election of a new pope is Good Shepherd Sunday. In the gospel (John 10.22-30) Jesus speaks of those entrusted to him by the Father as the sheep of his fold. Earlier in the same chapter he speaks of the Good Shepherd laying down his life for the sheep. It sets a high standard, the highest possible standard for Christian leadership and, as the various rites of ordination make clear, it is not a standard that anyone can aspire to in his or her own strength, but by the grace of God alone. Sadly, the fold of the Good Shepherd remains divided, but the Bishop of Rome is pre-eminent amongst all bishops, and the world's foremost Christian leader. His election matters to us all, and in a world of bombast, grandstanding and aggression, I pray that Pope Leo will be blessed with the grace of the Good Shepherd, that he will be a living sign of the Kingdom whose values and ways and entirely contrary to those of the powers and principalities of this world.
The Pope is sometimes referred to as the Pontiff. It is an ancient title referring to his calling as the one who leads his flock across the bridge spanning the chasm between God and humanity. He is also called to build or witness to that bridge wherever humanity is torn by division. Again, it is not something he can do in his own strength and neither is it his sole vocation. It is the vocation of the entire people of God which those of us who are ordained are set apart to represent. The Pope represents it to the supreme degree (hence Supreme Pontiff) but by virtue of Baptism, each of us is a pontiff, commissioned to a share in the ministry of the whole people of God as bridge and bridge-builder. If you are ever tempted to think of the church as irrelevant and belonging to the past just dwell on this calling. It is as urgent and vital as ever it was. Pray God give us grace to rise to it renewed in heart and soul.
Every blessing,
Charles Booth
Tomorrow, Good Shepherd Sunday, we have Breakfast@Nine in the Church Hall, and also mark the beginning of Christian Aid Week, a reminder of the great chasm between the developed and developing world. There is much bridge-building to be done there. Our concert next Saturday Songs of the Seasons is a fundraiser for Christian Aid as is our Community Lunch on Tuesday 20th. I commend them both to you. Tickets for the concert are available in church tomorrow.
A copy of Daily Prayer for Eastertide is attached which can be used in conjunction with the psalms and readings listed on the Pew Sheet.
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