“O God, teach us to be open to your truth and to trust in your love…”
This morning I was at assembly in school again, and the story this week was the story of Creation. As I was telling the story, and worrying that some of the older children might be thinking how nonsensical such a story in the light of science, it struck me most forcibly that actually this story did in fact make perfect sense! Bear with me…
The stories we tell our children are deliberately simple ways of explaining hugely complicated truths and realities. The Genesis story was composed some 2,500 years ago by people without the benefit of science and knowledge that we have, but who understood the intrinsic interdependence of all that exists. And as we read this story, with all our advanced scientific knowledge, it still works. The world was indeed created in stages. And the more we discover about how the universe came into existence the more we realise we don’t know, and indeed cannot know, and that behind the Big Bang and the mysteries and wonders of evolution must lie SomeThing or SomeOne. For many scientists, the more they find out, the more miraculous it all is, and the more likely the existence of God becomes.
Returning from assembly, on my phone were several messages from a clergy group to which I belong. This morning in The Times is the news that the House of Bishops has halted plans for blessing services for gay couples, and moreover has made life almost impossible for gay clergy in any kind of relationship. After the celebration surrounding the appointment of Archbishop Sarah, this is a monumental slap in the face, and (in my view) does further irreparable damage to any moral or spiritual authority the Church may wish to try to claim in public debate on the subjects of inclusion, equality, or love of neighbour – all (ironically) central to the teachings of Jesus.
My clergy colleagues were wondering how long they could remain in such an institution which comprehensively bows to money and baying crowd of those fearing change, and which betrays its founder and guide. My response was, I stay for the people in the pews. I stay for the children. I stay because I have trust that God will slowly, painfully slowly, reveal the truth of his love.
And so I return to the line above, which is from the Collect (or central) prayer for this Sunday and the week to come. The Collect prayer is said at all services in the week, beginning on the Sunday, until the following Saturday. It gives us a chance to really sink into a particular prayer. And, my goodness, how we need this right now!
“O God, teach us to be open to your truth and to trust in your love…”
Additional Collect for the 18th Sunday after Trinity
God, our judge and saviour,
teach us to be open to your truth
and to trust in your love,
that we may live each day
with confidence in the salvation which is given
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Revd. Talisker
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash