From the Vicar

Dear Friends,

“DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE”

So said Jesus at the end of the parable of the Good Samaritan to the lawyer who had enquired what he had to do to inherit eternal life. The true friend is the one who showed mercy, even though he was the stranger, the foreigner.

It is a tale of what the true character of friendship should be, a crossing of expected boundaries, a reaching out in love; hence the Latin word for friend ‘amicus’, (giving us ‘amigo’ etc). Such is the hallmark of the word neighbour, which at its best demonstrates friendship rather than a simple living alongside, be that next-door, or one’s neighbours across the world. (Jesus’ answer to the lawyer’s question “And who is my neighbour?”)

Human behaviour which demonstrates an understanding of this teaching is real living, heaven on earth if you like, but certainly a positiveness that transcends any idea of merely existing. The Christian ethic is to love God, and your neighbour as yourself, which means honouring God’s image in you - you can’t love others if you can’t love yourself, the person God wants you to be.

At a more practical level of neighbourliness in Reach, are any of you willing to share in the care of our church by helping with flowers and cleaning in church or by offering some help in the garden? We do need your support, (going on a quarterly rota does not imply permanence, just give it a try, or any demand on you to ‘go to church’). Do have a word with me, or Norah Smith (741331) if you would like to know more.

Wishing you all a very good summer, and safe journeying if you are going away.

Your Parish Priest, Mark

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