Pastoral Letter
Dear Friends,
My computer sits right by my large study window with it's sliding patio door, and often, when I am working at my computer, I can stop awhile and gaze out at the beauty of the green grass, the flowers and the trees. The garden is particularly lovely at this time of the year because of all the blossom on the trees. Henry, my Golden Retriever, often lies on the carpet beside me soaking up the sun or gazing out at the birds and butterflies and bees buzzing by. There is a beautiful Clematis climbing up one side of the window and it's lovely pink flowers are a site to behold. We often spot beautiful unexpected visitors - a lovely Green Woodpecker, a pair of Jays, a couple of Monkjacks.
I feel a real sense of safety and security as I gaze out of the window. It seems as if there is nothing bad or evil or cruel in the world. Yet I know there is.
St. Cyprian felt much the same way as he gazed out at his garden. In fact he wrote to his friend Donatus:-
"This is a cheerful world as I see it from my garden under the shadows of my vines. But if I were to ascend some high mountain and look out over the wide lands, you know very well what I should see: brigands on the highways, pirates on the sea, armies fighting, cities burning; in the amphitheaters men murdered to please applauding crowds; selfishness and cruelty and misery and despair under all roofs. It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world."
St. Cyprian became a Christian at a relatively mature age. He was a wealthy man who lived in Carthage at the beginning of the third century, and possessed the most lovely gardens. Having become a Christian he found himself deeply concerned about the state of the world about him and felt that he should do something about it. He became a Priest and devoted his life to serving the needs of others, including giving much of his wealth away. He even sold his beloved home with its beautiful gardens. He eventually was elected Bishop of Carthage by popular acclaim, because the people loved and admired his deep faith in Christ and his concern for people. The people admired him so much that they clubbed together to buy back his beautiful home and gardens for him to live in. It is said that had it not been for the fact that the Emperor at the time initiated a great persecution of Christians, that resulted in Cyprian's eventual death as a martyr, Cyprian would have almost certainly sold his home and gardens again to meet the needs of those in trouble.
In that same letter to Donatus St. Cyprian went on to write:-
"But I have discovered in the midst of the world a quiet and holy people who have learned a great secret. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are the Christians - and I am one of them."
Jesus Christ said "I am the light of the world". Jesus calls us to:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength, and love your neighbour as yourself."
If we all truly followed Christ's teaching, the world would indeed be a happy place, and the beauty of my garden would indeed reflect the beauty of the world around us. But first we need to accept in our hearts that Jesus is indeed the "Light of the World", and to respond to his love by loving him and each other in the way that he taught.
May God bless you all.