Celtic Reflections

We return to the world of Celtic Spirituality. The earliest certain historical evidence of Christianity among the Britons is found in the writings of such early Christian Fathers as Tertullian and Origen in the first years of the 3rd century, although the first Christian communities probably were established at least some decades earlier.

For the remainder of this week and throughout February we will explore some of the Celtic Christian traditions starting with the Celtic understanding of the Incarnation of Christ. George McDonald writing on the incarnation said, “It makes all the difference to know there’s someone else screaming alongside you - and that’s the point of the incarnation - I can see that so clearly now. God came into the world and screamed alongside us.”

Soren Kiekegard, the great Danish theologian of another century tells a story of a prince who wanted to find a maiden suitable to be his queen. One day while running an errand in the local village for his father he passed through a poor section. As he glanced out the windows of the carriage his eyes fell upon a beautiful peasant maiden. During the ensuing days he often passed by the young lady and soon fell in love. But he had a problem. How would he seek her hand?

He could order her to marry him. But even a prince wants his bride to marry him freely and voluntarily and not through coercion. He could put on his most splendid uniform and drive up to her front door in a carriage drawn by six horses. But if he did this he would never be certain that the maiden loved him or was simply overwhelmed with all of the splendour. The prince came up with another solution. He would give up his kingly robe. He moved, into the village, entering not with a crown but in the garb of a peasant. He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and talked their language. In time the maiden grew to love him for who he was and because he had first loved her.

John 1:14 (The Message) “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”

Ever present Lord we ask that you may hold us in your hands this day. We know there are troubles surrounding us, surrounding our nation, surrounding our world.  But we know that you are with us, that you walk by our side.

So, we turn to You, Dear LORD, to worship and to adore you.

Guide us today as we

• Pray for Others.
• Listen to Your Holy Word.
• Learn and Reflect on what you would have us do.

And draw us ever closer to you. . . our Father. 

Closer to Jesus, our Lord and Saviour.

Closer to the Holy Spirit, our Counsellor. Amen