My Thoughts on 07/05/2020

What are you reading during this time of isolation? I am reading a book by Michael Casey a Cistercian monk entitled “Truthful Living”. It is about St Benedictus teaching on humility, which is found principally in the seventh chapter of his rule. I know it isn’t particularly light reading, but I have a growing awareness that being humble is the only way to true and lasting happiness.

In today’s gospel we read how after washing the feet of his disciples Jesus reminded them that no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him. Hard as it is to accept, we are not the centre of the universe. Our fundamental relationship with God is one of dependence.

As Michael Casey reminds us “We are not the source of our own being: our race exists only because we receive life from another.” It is hard for us to accept that all we have, comes from God; we have nothing to contribute to the relationship accept our needs. The truth is that we are incomplete without God. It is in all of us to seek God.

St Augustine has given us that well known saying.” You have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” We cannot attain human fulfilment except in relationship with God. “There is a space in us that can be filled only by God.”

Canon Father Anthony Charlton
Canon Father Anthony CharltonParish Priest