…Leave Us Not Comfortless - Reflection by Canon Mike

I don’t know about you, but one aspect of the lockdown has been not just the increase in screen usage on my electronic devices (and it was pretty high before!), but also how much tea and other comfort foods I am consuming each day.  Coupled with the growing hair is my growing waistline – you’ll not recognise me when you see me in the cathedral next time!  I think one of the reasons is that at home, my laptop – and therefore the sole centre of my lockdown world – is located right next to the kitchen.  Yes, that doorway you’ve seen behind me in the online videos leads to my kitchen and ultimately it’s far too easy to wander into every few minutes, for gallons of tea and some of many comfort foods available therein….like Oreo biscuits and hot chocolate! 

So, from that perspective, I’ve definitely not been left comfortless these last few weeks.  But that phrase has been foremost in my mind, not just because of the hot chocolate, but because it’s a phrase in the heart of the daily collect used in the period from Ascension until yesterday – the day of Pentecost.  When the Holy Spirit, which Jesus brought to his disciples on the evening of his resurrection by his breath (our gospel yesterday, John 20:19-23), was then brought to all gathered together like the sound of a rushing wind and divided tongues, as of fire, alighting on each of them (Acts 2:1-21).  The gift Christ promised, the Holy Spirit, the comforter, was introduced to the world, and the worldwide church was born!  Alleluia!

As then….as now – the spirit is with us to be just that; brought first through Jesus’ own breath to be the comforter to strengthen, guide and renew the courage of the disciples when perhaps they felt all was lost, that same spirit is within each of us to support us all through these troubled times.  And support is still needed – for although today marks a day of further easing of the country’s restrictions, it is still really really difficult and still very worrying for many people – and the new normal we emerge into will take some getting used to for everyone. 

So, we pray….and we pray….and we pray; because God always wants us to; God always listens to us; and God always answers us in some way.  And just as the Holy Spirit was there then, the Holy Spirit is here now to help us, day after day.  The practical results are seen in the work of all of us – through the hands reaching out, through the help we give to one another in so many different ways, through the tireless frontline workers who are as anxious as we are.  As Paul assured us in his letter to the church in Galatia (Galatians 5:22-23), even in these times, whenever we witness acts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control by anyone, the spirit is at work…..for those are her fruits.  So, with faith in God, the love of Christ in our hearts, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, we may continue to be sustained – knowing that we are never truly left comfortless. 
 
With my love and prayers for you all; continue to stay safe….
 
Canon Mike 

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