The Pensive Pilgrim

The following was originally presented as an address at Compline during Holy Week 2019. It was preceeded by a reading from Matthew 27:27-50. I'm aware that some will find its message contentious!  Some of you will be familiar with the old TV Series ‘Rev’ which told the story of the Revd Adam Smallbone, Vicar of what would doubtless be described in today’s Church of England as a ‘failing church’ in the East End of London – ‘St Saviour in the Marshes’.  Unlike its rather absurd precursor, ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ , ’Rev’ was shot-through with a realism that was at times comedic and at others poignant and even tragic, with which many clergy identified only too well.    In one particular episode, Fr Adam is taking a school assembly and asks a question. I can’t remember exactly what the question is, but one child puts up his or her hand and says quite mistakenly, ‘Is the answer Jesus?’ ‘No’ Adam replies with a certain degree of irritation, ‘It isn’t Jesus’. B...

I’m sure that for many of us, the abiding image of Holy Week 2019 will be that terrible fire at the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Paris. As the scenes of the inferno hit our TV screens, as the great Spire collapsed, I for one shuddered as I recalled similar scenes at Grenfell Tower and indeed on 9/11. At least on this occasion, despite the destruction, there was no dreadful loss of life, and no-one was rendered homeless; and I’ll return to this in a moment. The image that most haunts me, though, is the photograph that many of you will have seen that was taken inside the Cathedral when the fire had finally been put out. It shows the nave – the main body of the church - a scene of darkness and dereliction, but right at the front, at the East End, the Cross is shining brightly. It’s a powerful symbol of divine defiance and human hope; truly a light in the darkness. The various reactions to the fire have been fascinating. For the people of France, and especially the Parisienne...