The Monastic Chapel at Fairacres Oxford a place where 'prayer has been made valid' (TS Eliot)

Eucharists and prayers on the South Coast for the Guardian Angels and to remember children of all ages who have died

Contemplating the Light

 Some reflections from my sermon for October 8th.

Here I discuss a visit to James Turrells work 'Within Without' at the NGA and my experience of entering across the water lined path into the stupa to stand within the light reflected from the 'eye' in the stupa, beyond description in mere words. As someone who has participated in Quaker meetings it is no surprise that Turrell is a life long Quaker. The Religious Society of Friends uses the metaphor of the Inward Light and 'Within Without' reminds me of a meeting house, a place of stillness and silence.

Today's readings included the ten invitations, the ten words or ten invitations of Exodus given as a gift. At the heart of words about the Holy One and the admonitions to live ethically is placed the command to observe the Sabbath.  The Sabbath a time for rest, renewal, contemplation, remembrance and realignment. When a Sabbath is kept, in whatever form we look to the Light, to the horizons of meaning and purpose. For Christians the Logos or Christ is the Light. Light is of course a metaphor as we know the path only through metaphors and reflections. Our Gospel was the vineyard and the tenants who forget their place. This speaks to me so vividly of the tragedy of  so much of life and our forgetting to live in harmony with each other and the planet.

The vineyard in the parable is planted, a wall and watchtower offer boundary spaces and the press a metaphor of transformation as the wine comes into being.

James Turrell's mission to assist people to find wonder, amazement and appreciation through his work is an inspiration, a sign of hope. May we in our sabbath keeping practice contemplation and participate in the Great Work of healing and hope bringing.

Thomas Traherne and the meditating inward eye

 Some reflections from my sermon on October 1st

'A meditating Inward Eye gazing at Quiet did within me lie. And everything delighted me that was their Heavenly King'

So wrote English poet and mystic Thomas Traherne, born in Hereford, the son of a shoemaker. For ten years he was parish priest at Credenhill (picture above)

 in the beautiful golden valleys near the border with Wales. He lived during the destructive and turbulent era of the Civil War when so much was torn down and destroyed by misplaced religious zeal.

So much of religion is noise, discord, outcry, refusal, complaint, argument and sheer meanness. So much of religion is experienced as the jabbing righteous finger and guilt. Let us no forget that the Church created cancel culture.

Paul sees Jesus as the one who became empty and Wesley that God emptied himself of all but love. Another story sees the Holy withdrawing in love to make space for creation to flourish freely.

Contemplation, the quiet gaze, becoming empty, open is never easy but beyond all becomes a joy and delight where the inner noise fades