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| Image by Piers Nye |
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Cuthbert
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A GREETING
Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
for in you I put my trust.
(Psalm 143:8a)
A READING
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘They need not go away; you give them something to eat.’ They replied, ‘We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.’ And he said, ‘Bring them here to me.’
(Matthew 14:13-18)
MUSIC
Sung in Welsh, Suo Gan is a lullaby in which a mother reassures
her child that although night is falling, all is well.
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
Teach me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
(Psalm 143:8b)
A PRAYER
In the darkness we can see the
splendour of the universe - blankets
of stars, the solitary glowings of the
planets. In the darkness the wise
three found the star that led them to
you. In the darkness of dreams you
speak to your people
As day begins to fade, let treasures
of dark draw near.
You called Cuthbert out of the
darkness of night to be the Fire of
the North.
- found in "Pilgrim Prayers," a prayer resource
for those walking the St. Cuthbert's Way
VERSE OF THE DAY
I would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.
(Psalm 81:16)
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Osprey catching fish. Found on the Instagram page
of Mark Smith Photography @mark.smith.photography
Today's reading finds Jesus fresh from the news of the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. His natural instinct is to make space and time for his grief by going away in a boat "to a deserted place by himself." As we saw with Melangell yesterday, sometimes the gifts of leadership come with the deep need for time spent in isolation and prayer. Today's saint, Cuthbert, understood this.
Cuthbert was a seventh century Scottish monk who settled on Inner Farne island off the northeast coast of England, near to the Scottish border. There he built a dwelling facing away from the mainland so he could see only the sea. But Cuthbert was soon crowded out of it by those wishing to study with him. He was also unwillingly elected bishop of Lindisfarne. He agreed to take the job only after the king rowed out in a boat to persuade him. Cuthbert loved people but he loved his solitude equally. Most of his life was torn between these two passions.
Before that time and throughout his life, Cuthbert built a life in community with others. When he was on the mainland, he traveled extensively, teaching and listening. Then, when he was on the Farne Islands or on Lindisfarne, he reclused himself into his own deep desire for prayer. Lindisfarne is only accessible in low tides. Sometimes, when he missed the tides, he slept in a cave on the mainland.
Jesus is called away and out of his grief back into the ever-increasing community of disciples. From his attempt to get away, he is drawn immediately into the feeding of the five thousand. There are many stories about Cuthbert that focus on fasting and feeding. He fasted and trusted in others to feed him. He would fast on his travels so that any scraps he might find could be given to his horse. He taught the young boys he schooled to watch out for how God provides through the wisdom and guidance of animals. When once he and a boy who was assisting him were at the end of a long day of traveling without food, an eagle brought a fish to them. When the boy took the whole fish, Cuthbert instructed him to put half back for the eagle.
Sometimes in our lives, we are called into the work of building up the realm of God — when we had other plans. In these times, we may find ourselves making sacrifices: a relationship that must end, a dream that is forgotten, an ambition that must be set aside. Similarly, we also have times in our lives, when our goals are in sight, but life throws up a sudden barrier. We find ourselves reckoning the losses against the gains. The price for following God’s will — can be high. As we begin to draw closer to Epiphany, we can become more aware of the ways in which the work of being faithful in the world is always drawing us forward. Endings become beginnings, over and over. We can easily become mired in the past events which fixate us, but God waits with us in our fears, and is always ready to walk with us out of them into new life.
When we are listening to God, we can know that we are always on the right path, despite how far it might take us from what we had thought we would be doing. When were you forced to change your plans for something you didn’t anticipate? How did this change ultimately bring you closer to God?
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| Image by Tony |
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LC† Come Holy Darkness is a project of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook, and on Twitter. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help to support extended offerings throughout the year.
Thank you and peace be with you!