Dear Friends

THE CALL

Writing this in Eastertide, holding before us continually the fact of Jesus' resurrection, we should recall, that trusting his Father, Jesus became the instrument of God's peace for us.

` I am created to do something, or to be something for which no-one else is created: I have a place in God's world, which no-one else has; whether I be rich or poor, despised or esteemed by man, God knows me and calls me by my name.

God has created me to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which is not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow I am necessary for His purposes, as necessary in my place as an arch-angel in his - if, indeed, I fail, He can raise another. Yet I have a part in this great work: I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.

He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments, and serve Him in my calling.

Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness serves Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end which is beyond us. He does nothing in vain; He may prolong life; He may shorten it; He knows what He is about'

Newman concluded this meditation with a prayer of self-offering:" I give myself to You. I trust to You wholly. You are wiser than I - more loving to me than I myself. Fulfil Your high purposes in me whatever they be - work in and through me. I am born to serve You, to be Yours, to be Your instrument. I ask not to know - I ask simply to be used."

As you reflect on the Easter story, in a month when we celebrate Jesus' Ascension into heaven (40 days after Easter), and Pentecost or Whit Sunday (50 days after Easter), may you be helped to find your sure place in God's world by the grace of His love, and in the power of His Holy Spirit.

Your parish priest,