Reflection by Rev Caryl Kyle

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors to Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come…… shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord’. Romans 8: 37-39

Dear Friends

As I have been speaking with many of you on the phone these past few weeks I am relieved to hear that you are indeed following the guidelines and managing to stay at home. I am also relieved that many of you while physically distancing from others are not socially distancing

and are frequently staying in touch with each when you can by mail, phone, Facetime or even Zoom.

We know the weeks and months ahead are going to be perilous and there are many challenges for us to face before this time of uncertainty is over. However, our world has faced great challenges before and has overcome them.

One of the great quotes from the 1960’s as African countries struggled for liberation was spoken by Amilcar Cabral who said, ‘Hide nothing from the masses, mask no difficulties, mistakes, failures. Claim no easy victories’.

That phrase ‘no easy victories’ would seem to set the appropriate tone for our time too. We believe that the Coronavirus will eventually be defeated. There are hopeful signs of its decline in some parts of the world and the testing of vaccines goes on faster than ever before and yet we sense too that the worst is still to come. The virus’ effects are likely to be devastating especially in nations where people have to live in close proximity, with poor sanitation and crowded transport. We too will share the pain. Lives will be lost and families separated. For some a whole life’s work will be swept away, the great sacred events of life and death will pass without celebration and the precious daily connections of community life will be deeply missed. We will overcome this virus but there will be no easy victories.

As people of Christian Faith we should be no strangers to this truth. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are sometimes described as ‘passion narratives with long introductions’. Perhaps in the church we have tended to move too quickly and easily to the resurrection of Jesus without pondering the passion (the suffering and death) of Jesus as representing the cost of defeating the powers that destroy and take away from life.

Yes, we know that the power of the Coronavirus will be overcome and our faith assures us that the future of the world is safe in God’s hand, but we know there will be no easy victories. The suffering and cross of Jesus remind us that there never were!

Loving Lord, in these perilous days and this time of great anxiety, we pray that we may be very aware of your presence with us and among us. May any who are fearful for their lives or the lives of others at this time know the peace of your presence. May all who are working in the front line, caring for those who are fearful or struggling to cope be strengthened by you that they may continue their crucial work. Give any who feel overwhelmed at this time moments of reprieve and may our faith remind us that although there are no easy victories, our God is with us and the future is secure in his hands. Amen. 

Blessings

Caryl