By the Revd Matthew Earwicker, Rector of The Oldbury Benefice

Peace. I wonder what that word means to you.

In Greek, "eirene" first of all seems to have meant simply the end of war. Any war is ended by the two sides “making peace.” But even here there is more than simply a ceasefire in mind; it incorporates the idea of a state of order which is the opposite of the chaos of war. It is a social word - peace is to be found between or within nations.

The Latin word “pax” comes from the root “pango” which means to make something fixed or certain, and implies a commitment - usually written - by one or more parties which records a promise or commitment and provides clarity and stability.

On the other hand the Hebrew word “shalom” is much more personal. It means to be complete, sound, healthy. It implies an internal tranquillity. “God is in his heaven, all’s right with the world.” If there is no peace, then somehow balance needs to be restored.

The human experience throughout much of history has been of almost unceasing conflict. We have fought for food, for land, for religion, for politics, for one king against another, and so much more. It’s no surprise, then, that at the beginning of the story of Christianity we have that great message from the angels: “Peace on earth, goodwill to humanity”. Surely that is the greatest hope of all of us.

Jesus famously encouraged anyone who was willing to listen to him to become a peacemaker, and there is much that each of us can do to rise to this challenge. Some of you are providing shelter for people in need of place where they can sleep without fear. Others are going out of their way to provide support in many ways to individuals and families ripped out of their normality. That is fantastic, and I am thrilled to see the generosity once again being shown by this community.

But not all suffering is so clearly visible, so I would like to make a suggestion this month to take time each day to do two things. The first is to find one short, simple activity that helps you find inner tranquillity. I myself find it in prayer, connecting with the One who I believe provides order in the midst of the greatest chaos. The second is to do one thing to contribute to someone else’s completeness.

In her Christmas message in 2014 Her Majesty the Queen, whose Jubilee we celebrate with such joy this month, said, “For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing.”

Whatever your faith, my prayer for you all is that you, too, find the peace that Jesus sought to bring: The restoration of order after chaos; the stability of a more certain future; and the inner tranquillity that comes from feeling complete.

Pax et Bene

Matt
mattearwicker@gmail.com

Bishop Stephen's Monthly Message

In his first monthly message, Bishop Stephen reminds us what's really important, and reflects on putting aside differences in the name of love.

This message comes to you in July 2022. I first learnt that I was on the long-list for Bishop of Salisbury in July 2021. It has been a long year for me; a long year for all of us as so much has changed as we have emerged out of the pandemic and into an economic crisis, with leadership and integrity in question and sadly, war in Europe.

I wonder, why are we surprised? Out of the most difficult of circumstances come problems, conflicts, shortages and challenges. We learn more about ourselves. We learn more about reality and about the human condition.

And yet, we also learn that we have the power to provide vaccinations, we have the power to fund recovery, we have the power to change our communities, we even have the power to blunt aggression. Its’s all about choices.

What a powerful thing to have choice. So many people in our world do not have that. We have choice in the Diocese of Salisbury.

As your Bishop, I am not prepared to preside over petty differences in the name of choice. We have a privilege, and we need to use it for the common good. It is a shared responsibility. It is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to. As someone always said to me (and they were from this diocese), with privilege, comes responsibility.

We cannot deny in this country that we are privileged. The scandal is when people fall through that net. Too many of our brothers and sisters in our society are struggling. And yet, just look at the poverty and still the glorious witness of our brothers and sisters in the Sudans. We have much to live up to.

Our sometimes-petty differences give me concern. Whose work are they? When I received the call to be your Bishop, my first thought (after blind panic) was ‘What is really important?’

What is really important is our faith. Faith that God in Christ has our back. The only problem that gets in the way of his love, is when we turn our back on Him in the name of our own failures.

God is love, and those who live in love, live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4.16

Bishop Stephen

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