大象传媒

A spiritual comment and prayer to start the day with the Revd Dr Rosa Hunt, Minister at Tabernacle Chapel Cardiff and Co-Principal of Cardiff Baptist College.

Good morning

What do you get if you cross a slow motion prima ballerina with the deliberations of an elephant? The House of Lords, apparently, or at least that鈥檚 how it was described on this day in 1957 when plans for its reform included admitting women for the first time. The reference is presumably to the slow and clumsy pace at which reform happens in ancient and venerable institutions, like the Lords, or indeed the church.

There鈥檚 often a sense that change might herald a lowering of standards, and a disturbing sense of insecurity and openness. 鈥淐hange and decay in all around I see鈥�, wrote Henry Lyte in his famous hymn, Abide with Me, reflecting the age-old Christian tendency to equate change with decay!

I don鈥檛 think Jesus saw things that way. He warned against the danger of trying to patch up an old garment with a piece torn from a new one 鈥� you鈥檒l just ruin both garments, said Jesus. There was wisdom in recognising when the old ways were beyond repair, and cheerfully donning the new garment. But that鈥檚 not always easy. Don鈥檛 pour new wine into old wineskins, says Jesus, you鈥檒l just burst the old containers and lose the new wine as a result. And anyway, he adds, people prefer to drink old wine!

Lord of creation,
Through your spirit you are continually renewing us and all of creation. Forgive us when we reject the invitation of your spirit to enjoy your new wine 鈥� to renew our churches, our societies, our institutions and ourselves so that they reflect more and more of your goodness, mercy, justice, freedom and love. Fill us with wisdom to discern your invitation to change, and courage to obey.
Amen.