Part Ii – the Holy Island of Lindisfarne Reflection
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HOLY PLACES MONDAY 5 APRIL READINGS Acts 2:14. 22-32 REFLECTION PART II – THE HOLY LIVE Psalm 16:1-2. the 6-end ISLAND OF LINDISFARNE WORD Matthew 28:8-15 n these Iweeks he Holy Island of Lindisfarne, just off the Northumbrian coast, is SUSTAINING YOU TUESDAY after a popular place of pilgrimage now, although it has a turbulent THROUGH THE WEEK 6 APRIL Easter we T Acts 2:36-41 history of Viking invasion which forced its famous monastic Psalm 33:4-5. are invited community to leave. Turn east off the A1 nine miles or so south of 18-end to take in the border town of Berwick. Head over the main east coast railway at Edited by John 20:11-18 the reality Beal and the peace hits you like a wave. No wonder when St Aidan Caroline Hodgson of Jesus WEDNESDAY arrived in Northumbria in around AD 634 at the request of its king, and risen 7 APRIL Oswald, he chose it as the place for a priory. This was to be the base Heather Smith Acts 3:1-10 from the from which he restored Christianity to the kingdom. Psalm 105:1-9 dead. Our Luke 24:13-35 readings The island is cut off at high tide, and for centuries visitors had this week to take the route across the sand to get there. In the first half of THURSDAY the twentieth century there were special high taxis to take you, 8 APRIL take us through all four Gospels, looking at the resurrected Jesus Acts 3:11-end from all angles, rather like a cubist painting, and in some ways just allowing for the longest possible access between tides. There has Psalm 8 as confusing. The reading from Mark on Saturday is almost certainly been a causeway since 1954. Travel across it with careful attention Luke 24:35-48 a later addition to the starkness of the original ending at verse 8, with to the tides and find yourself in the place that was known by Finian, the disciples fleeing terrified from the empty tomb. Bishop of Northumbria (651-661) and Northumbria’s patron saint, FRIDAY Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne. The famous Lindisfarne Gospels were 9 APRIL In Luke, the disciples on the road to Emmaus fail at first to recognise Acts 4:1-12 produced here in the eighth century. Psalm 118:1-4. Jesus – and the same is true in John’s Gospel for Mary, thinking 22-26 that Jesus is the gardener, and again for the disciples on the shore. Today, the Community of Aidan and Hilda John 21:1-14 In Matthew not only do the authorities refuse to believe, but the holds retreats on the island and you disciples have ongoing doubts. It’s hard to take in such a momentous can stay at their house, the Open Gate. SATURDAY fact as Jesus’ resurrection, God’s power for life breaking through Their approach is in the Celtic tradition 10 APRIL and you might find a week based around Acts 4:13-21 again into the world. Let’s not be afraid of our doubts and questions, Psalm 118:1-4. but bring them in prayer to Jesus and allow him to love us back into the fantastic nature on the island or on 14-21 faith and life. mysticism or Aidan and Hilda themselves. Mark 16:9-15 It would be hard not to feel inspired by the Loving God, you meet us by your risen Son place, whether you find it windswept or in the midst of our questioning and our doubts. bathed in sunshine. You can almost catch St Cuthbert in the ruins of the Benedictine monastery of Lindisfarne Help us to recognise him in the reality of our lives, a glimpse of those early Christian leaders Easter Week PRAYER to hear his word of healing love, walking on the beaches, communing with God, and there is plenty and to bring that word to others. [email protected] @redemptorist 88222 www.rpbooks.co.uk 01420 of opportunity to do the same. You might wonder why it was all too Monday 5 April to Saturday 10 April busy for Cuthbert, who moved to the island of Inner Farne, further WEEK FSC 2021 down the coast, to live as a hermit. redemp orist Live the Word. Written by Heather Smith and John Witcombe. Copyright © logo publications Redemptorist Publications, Chawton, Hampshire GU34 3HQ, A registered charity limited by guarantee. Registered in England 03261721. www.rpbooks.co.uk. HOLY PLACES MONDAY 12 APRIL READINGS Acts 4:23-31 LIVE Psalm 2:1-9 REFLECTION PART III – INNER FARNE the John 3:1-8 WORD n this second he Farne Islands are situated off the coast of Northumberland, TUESDAY week after SUSTAINING YOU I directly east of Bamburgh. Inner Farne, although closest to the 13 APRIL Easter we begin T THROUGH THE WEEK Acts 4:32-end mainland, is a wild and windswept place. Now owned by the National to follow the Psalm 93 Trust, it is home to puffins in the breeding season, and still houses John 3:7-15 story of the first the remains of a seventh-century anchorite cell and the fourteenth- Church in the century St Cuthbert’s Chapel. Edited by WEDNESDAY book of Acts and Caroline Hodgson 14 APRIL the Gospel of You can reach Inner Farne by boat from Seahouses, a bustling little Acts 5:17-26 and John. Together town a little south of Bamburgh with its iconic castle. You may be Psalm 34:1-8 Sculpture St Peter with a key, St Peter’s Cathedral, Vatican Heather Smith John 3:16-21 they help us accompanied by nature lovers and those who want to visit the engage afresh with the reality of Jesus – who he is, and what he Longstone Lighthouse from where Grace Darling famously rowed to THURSDAY means for us. This week’s readings include one of the most famous the wrecked Forfarshire in 1838. But there is plenty of time to imagine 15 APRIL of all verses, John 3:16: “God so loved the world that he gave his the experience of St Aidan and St Cuthbert, who both lived on the Acts 5:27-33 Psalm 34:1. 15- only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but island. end may have eternal life”. Jesus is the one who has come from heaven St Aidan was here when the pagan Mercian King Penda burned John 3:31-end to earth, the saviour of the world, the one who feeds the hungry and Bamburgh. St Cuthbert, who had made his way to Lindisfarne after walks on water, who gave his life for the life of the world. FRIDAY a vision of angels on the night St Aidan died in 651, went to live on 16 APRIL In the light of the resurrection, Peter prays for boldness to proclaim Inner Farne in 676. He stayed until 684 when he was elected Bishop Acts 5:34-42 the good news and is filled with the Holy Spirit – and the Church of Lindisfarne, but returned two years later and died on Inner Farne Psalm 27:1-5. 16-17 multiplies. This is a good week to meditate on that single verse, in 687. turning it over in our minds and hearts until we are so gripped by John 6:1-15 St Cuthbert constructed a round building its truth that we simply have to tell the world, to speak with Peter’s with a straw roof containing an oratory for SATURDAY boldness of the transforming love of God, that all may know that prayer and a house to live in. He also dug 17 APRIL Jesus has risen from the dead. Acts 6:1-7 out a well. The chapel that exists today was Psalm 33:1-5. built in 1370 and probably stands on the 18-19 same spot as the oratory. John 6:16-21 Eternal God, you raised Jesus from the dead as saviour of the world. An interest in the wildlife is not out of Give us courage and compassion to share keeping with the spiritual nature of the the good news with all your people, island. The Venerable Bede recorded a PRAYER that the whole world may come to believe legendary story of otters who came to and receive your gift of eternal life. warm and dry St Cuthbert’s feet after he had been praying in the Second week of Easter 01420 88222 www.rpbooks.co.uk [email protected] @redemptorist 88222 www.rpbooks.co.uk 01420 sea all night, while Cuthbert is also said to have scolded crows for Monday 12 April to eating his barley. If you walk to the far end of the island you can find Saturday 17 April WEEK FSC a quiet spot away from others to contemplate Cuthbert’s life and to 2021 redemp orist Live the Word. Written by Heather Smith and John Witcombe. Copyright © logo publications Redemptorist Publications, Chawton, Hampshire GU34 3HQ, A registered charity experience the majesty of God’s creation in this wild place. limited by guarantee. Registered in England 03261721. www.rpbooks.co.uk. HOLY PLACES MONDAY 19 APRIL READINGS Acts 6:8-15 LIVE Psalm 119:17-24 REFLECTION PART IV – ST CUTHBERT’S CAVE the John 6:22-29 WORD ohn’s eather Smith concludes her series about sacred sites of the UK. TUESDAY JGospel is an H SUSTAINING YOU 20 APRIL St Cuthbert, Abbot of Lindisfarne Priory and Bishop of Lindisfarne, extraordinary THROUGH THE WEEK Acts 7:51 – 8:1 a reflection on died on Inner Farne in 687.