Father Nicholas King

I don't know how many of you have been reading the Lent Book published by Christian Aid and CAFOD, which I commended for study during Lent. It is a small book, with readings for each day, a meditation by a theologian, a 'Thought for the Day' and a prayer. I have been interested in the contribution by Father Nicholas King, as he writes after working for 12 years in South Africa, and brings that experience to bear on his contributions.

He wrote for example of the privilege of working with the poorest who find themselves in the situation where 'they think that God cannot possibly be', but later - quite unexpectedly - they are touched by God's Spirit. It was like that to be in South Africa in the days of apartheid, he says, 'and then the days after that system was destroyed'. He commented that the touch of the Spirit was also felt 'at an AIDS deathbed, in a prison for sex-offenders, and serving the sick at Lourdes'. The readings for that day spoke of 'the God who is in such impossible places'.

Perhaps in our rather sheltered lives we do not have much opportunity to sense God's presence in that way. Perhaps then we need to try and go outside our normal ways of doing things, and become more vulnerable. That appears to be what Jesus felt as he meditated during the traditional '40 days in the wilderness' about his life and ministry. The temptations came to him to seek wealth and power, when he could be protected from anxiety and fragility. The more vulnerable we become, it seems, the more likely we are to feel God's presence.

Father Nicholas wrote of the choices available to us, and the lack of choice available to many in the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. 'They are surrounded by death, partly because of the life-destructive choices that we have made in the affluent West'. He drew the picture of the tree which has no access to water, well-known to those in Southern Africa, 'dry and dead, and easily blown away'. Let us ensure in this Lenten period, leading through Holy Week to Good Friday and Easter that we make at least some choices which expose us to discomfort and vulnerability. Go somewhere we don't usually go, speak to someone we might not otherwise speak to, visit a place we find difficult or frightening. That is, disturbingly, advisable if we wish to test our access to the water of the Spirit, and if we really want to make again that deeply painful journey to the foot of the Cross.

David Haslam

March 15th 2006

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