The Guard’s Report
I’m supposed to write some sort of report saying what happened didn’t happen. Them priests want us to say that that group of Galilean fishermen overpowered us and took the body. Well, it’s their money, and her indoors keeps on about a new dress. But I need to put down somewhere what really happened, cos I’m not sure I believe it myself. The two of us was sent to guard the tomb. Guard the tomb! As if there was anything that could happen – it took a group of us to roll that ruddy great stone across the hole. And we had to use stakes as levers and everything. Ain’t nobody going to move that thing! Well there was the two of us, having a bit of a chat to keep us awake, y’know talking about the day before, some of the things what had happened, some of the things this Jesus-bloke was supposed to have said and done.
So we was chatting, when, and I‘ll swear to Jupiter and all the other gods that this is true, there was this blindin’ light from within the tomb, and an earthquake as the stone rolled to one side. Well, we was a bit shook up to say the least but we managed to sort ourselves out and have a look in the tomb. Empty! ‘cept for the grave clothes which were neatly folded in one corner. And I know he was in there before cos I was the one what made the final check before we heaved that stone in place.

When we come out again, there was this bloke all shining-like, talking with some of the Galilean women who had flowers and ointments. And this shining bloke was saying,’ He is risen from the dead’. Then them women ran off, well more like danced off, laughing and cheering. And that’s the truth of what happened.
‘Course the priests want us to write some cock‘n’bull about them fishermen taking the body. Well, if it gets she-who-must-be a new dress and me in her good books, as I say, it’s their money. But I know what really happened cos I was there. And I’m going to tell my kids and their kids, so they’ll know the truth .
There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine – bought with the precious blood of Christ.

Rev Phil

There is music … and then there is music.

There are paintings … and then there are paintings.

Vivaldi’s ‘Spring’ from the ‘Four Seasons’ is beautiful, full of melody and intricate harmonies; it is aesthetically pleasing.

But Elgar’s ‘Nimrod’ from the ‘Enigma Variations’ stirs my soul. I can see rolling English hills covered in hues of green and brown; a lazy sun rising in a blue sky with wisps of high, cirrus clouds; larks singing as they rise; a traditional village nestled in the valley, with a church and a pub and a village green.

Da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’, with her enigmatic smile, the mystery of who she is, is a great painting.

Dali’s ‘Christ of St John of the Cross’, with its extraordinary perspective, like an Orthodox icon, draws me into the suffering of Christ on the cross, the mystery of God’s love, while ordinary life carries on with the little fishing boat … I could spend hours simply gazing at this picture, meditating on it, communing with God.

The Psalmist wrote:

‘One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.’

‘… to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord …’ This is more than just looking, more than just aesthetic appreciation. It involves meditation, communion, standing in awe, loosing oneself, just being; as Wesley put it, to be ‘Lost in wonder, love and praise’

When I look into Your holiness, When I gaze into Your loveliness, When all things that surround Become shadows in the light of You;

When I’ve found the joy of reaching Your heart, When my will becomes enthralled in Your love, When all things that surround

Become shadows in the light of You: I worship You, I worship You,

The reason I live is to worship You

Rev Phil

[dflip id=”197″ height=”700px”][/dflip]