VICAR'S LETTER FOR JULY 2008

GRACE, God's Grace: St Paul talks a lot about it – Jesus (according to the Gospels) never mentions it, and, the word hardly appears in the Old Testament. So what DOES it mean? Go on dear brother or sister in Christ, what on earth does GRACE mean? It is used several times in the Marriage Ceremony so if you don't know what it means how do you expect those who rarely come to church to know what it means.

I think the simplest way of explaining it is that Grace is a sign. A sign of something that points us to God's indiscriminate love for us. So for example: The rain that falls on your garden (and you are a “saint” of sorts) also falls on the villain's garden. Likewise, the Sun shines on you both! God does not grant or withhold the good things of this world according to merit. The church is a sign of God's Grace as is Marriage, Baptism, Holy Communion (known in religious speak as sacraments). But there are other signs of God's grace beyond the church. The healing that takes place in hospital – the care of someone that is vulnerable. The generosity of those who see that the poor are fed and the homeless have somewhere to sleep; these are all signs of God's Grace.

We can always test how well we understand God's grace when we hear of something fortunate that happens to someone and then make the judgement that they don't deserve it. If you've caught yourself thinking that then you still have much to learn about grace. Similarly if something bad happens to someone and you suggest that they have asked for it, or indeed deserve it (just desserts) then you are in trouble.

The biggest sign of God's grace ever is - - - - - - - - - - - (you fill in the gap) and no-one is beyond receiving that grace. Can't fill it in?? Ring the vicar and he will give you a clue 0113 2705689.

Your friend and priest, Robin.