20 April 2008

Welcome to St Alban’s Anglican Church 

Today's Scripture (HC) : Acts 7: 55-end    1 Peter 2: 2-10    S. John 14: 1-14

Today's Liturgy: 8.35 a.m. BCP Matins;   9.00a.m. Scripture Study Prep;   9.30a.m. Holy Eucharist ;   EP 6.00 p.m. followed by lecture on The Proposal for a Human Rights Commission at Frank Sound Church of God.

This Week: Tues & Thurs 12.30 p.m. Prayer.    Wed (S. George’s Day) and Fri (S. Mark’s Day) HC 12.30 p.m.

Fourth Sunday After Easter

O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

FAITH IN FOCUS: PASTA SAUCE?

We like to think that we live in more tolerant times. We claim that social prejudice is a thing of the past and that we come from a civilised people and a world in which all cultures and religions can be embraced for what they have to offer us as a whole. In cultural terms this has the obvious effect of our sharing in each other’s food, music, literature etc. In religious terms, however, the consequences are much more complex.

There are some people who think that all religions are equally valid, that they are just different routes taking people to the same God. So it doesn’t matter, they say, whether you’re a Christian, a Jew, a Muslim, a Sikh, a Buddhist, a Hindu etc.

This would be true if we all believed the same thing. But, for example, Christians believe in the resurrection of Jesus as the bedrock principle that guarantees they too will rise to eternal life. Such a belief is not shared by Buddhists who believe that after death there is nothingness. While Christians acclaim Jesus as the Messiah of God, Jews are still awaiting the coming of the Messiah. The plurality of Hindu gods is something that Christians find perplexing, and despite the many shared ideals between Muslims and Christians there are tenets of Muslim belief that are difficult to square with Christianity.

Religious tolerance is a good thing. But we can fall into the trap of saying that religion is nothing more than spaghetti that’s simply topped with different flavoured sauces. A closer look would reveal that they are different types of pasta.

Jesus throws a spanner into the works in today’s gospel. He says that no one can come to the Father except through him. What does it mean? Can there be such people as anonymous Christians? Then why not anonymous atheists? It’s a tough question.

What Christians can take from today’s gospel is that Jesus claims to be THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life. And if he’s telling the truth then that seems to knock the pasta sauce theory on its head!

WORD OF GOD

I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6)

WORD FOR TODAY

Jesus became human precisely so that we could know how to be like God. He reveals the Father, the sort of God we have. To follow the Way means to live out the Truth as Jesus’ life proclaimed, and it leads us to the fullness of Life.

ALL SECTS DIFFER because they come from men; morality is everywhere the same because it comes from God. (Voltaire)

ANSELM (April 21st)

Anselm was an Italian scholar who also worked in France and eventually became Archbishop of Canterbury. He was highly respected for his teaching and his writings. One of his famous works explored the Incarnation and was called in Latin "Cur Deus Homo?" ("Why did God become Man?"). He used many arguments to try and prove the existence of God and is credited with saying that God is "that than which nothing greater can be conceived". He died in 1109 aged 76 and is buried in Canterbury Cathedral.

 

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS:

Mon: Numbers 9: 15-end; 10:33-end, Luke 4: 38-end, 1 Pet 1: 1-12

Tues: Numbers 11: 1-33, Luke 5:1-11, 1 Pet 1: 13-end

WED (S. GEORGE, Patron of England): Rev 12: 7-12, 2 Tim 2: 3-13, John 15:18-21

Thurs: Numbers 13:1-3, 17-end, Luke 5:27-end, 1 Pet 2:11-end

Fri (S. MARK, Evang): Proverbs 15:28-end, Ephes 4:7-16, Mark 13:5-13

Sat : Numbers 14:26-end, Luke 6: 12-26, 1 Pet 3:13-end

NEXT SUNDAY (5^th AFTER EASTER): Acts 17:22-31, 1 Peter 3:13-end, S. John 14: 15-21