Transition.....
This month there is so much to commemorate. There are Apostles, Saints Philip, James and Matthias, the Venerable Bede, Julian of Norwich, John and Charles Wesley. In the Church calendar we have Ascension Day, Penrtecost and Trinity Sundays, along with the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. There is Rogation Sunday, too. Many secular organisations, and religions mark other days.
So many things to think about, so where do I start?
In our rural communities we ask God's blessing on the land and crops on Rogation Sunday.
Ascension Day is forty days after Easter - and the last day Jesus was seen by the disciples after his resurrection. It is the day when he was taken up to heaven. It commemorates Jesus's victory over death, which we celebrate on Easter Sunday, and proclaims salvation to all who believe in him.
Pentecost is the day we remember Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to be along-side the disciples to comfort them and enable them to be bold in declaring and sharing their faith in the Risen Christ.
These things were transitional both for Jesus and the disciples. Our lives are a journey - we know what we've experienced, but we do not know what the future holds.
May is a month of transition. Our lives are a transition from birth to death, from the womb, through ups and downs, culminating in our death and eventual eternal life with Christ. I pray that this month will be one where we reflect on our inescapable transition from life here and now to life with Christ forever. Jesus said that those who believe in him will never die.
Pat Harris LLM