The Infant Christ - Always on the Move by Martin Garsed

 

 

THE INFANT CHRIST,  ALWAYS ON THE MOVE

 ARE WE ?

 Hopefully we are all “on the move” in some form or another. We are called to change , grow through good and bad times. Frequently it is the latter that shift us in more positive ways, often painfully so.

God beckons us to “expand our spiritual dimensions”, increase the awareness of our true nature as part of His or Her eternal all embracing Love.

Let us therefore “travel” in our minds and souls, “seek and thy shall find”.  Perhaps the opportunities to do this are even greater in this time of further Lock-down ??

Be open to this possibility.

 The infant Christ was no stranger to “Being on the Move”. Mary carried him in her womb to her cousin Elizabeth in Jerusalem possibly on a donkey. Then on down to Bethlehem where she delivered Him into our humanity in a stable.

The shepherds, led by the Angels and the Wise Men followed a star. Each travelled to the see this holy event.

The Holy Family then went to the Temple in Jerusalem, as required by law for the  “purification”  and “consecration to the Lord” of their first born male child. Simeon had waited there for a long time to be a witness to this. The Angel Gabriel, who was also very much on the move, came to Joseph and indicated he should take Mary and Jesus into exile in Egypt for their safety, so on they travelled on a second donkey ?

 

So as we see, everyone is on the move.. Are we “on the move” So to speak ? Are we seeking to come closer to God,

                                 In our prayer life,

                                 In our being still and waiting as Simeon did,

                                 In our service to others,

 

                                 Can we see the Star ?

                                 Can we hear the Angels ?

 

The incarnate infant Christ is in every pregnant woman , in the birth of every child .

In all social settings, be it affluent societies or in slums and refugee camps, in prisons and on the migrant roads across all continents. Even in boats arriving on our Kent shores.

 

                                  Can we see them,

                                  Do we hear their cry,

                                  What are we doing to help or change things,

                                  Will we allow the Holy Spirit to challenge our complacency ?

 

It is New Year. Christ is made manifest at Epiphany again this year, lest we forget !!

Everyone is calling for “A New Normal”. That it may come soon......

 

It is only if you and I act “in the now” in the present, that any future can be made different, better for all humanity, those in our road, in our community, country other continents.

This is the challenge for 2021. Can we make the move in the here and now.

Let us make it our hope, our desire and our action.   AMEN

Dr Martin Garsed

 

Advent Reflection by Dr Martin Garsed

 

 

1

A Reflection for Advent  from Martin Garsed.  ALS

 

Dr Martin Garsed

May everyone be filled with peace, hope and trust during this Season of Advent . We are sadly also shrouded by the Covid pandemic, at times overcome with fear and uncertainty as we enter this period of anticipation, looking forward to God' greatest gift, his incarnate Son, Jesus the universal Christ who became fully as we are, human flesh living everyday life.

It is a time for us to strip away the many things, thoughts and attitudes that get in the way of our “active waiting”. Not sitting about but seeking and exploring what this means for each one of us today.

The birth of the Holy Infant is God's gift of His Kingdom, it is here.. He has come to dwell in all humankind, as an personal inner treasure,  in our own lifetime, through our every stage as infant, child, young adult, women, men and as elders, for all time. He comes to “fill the gap” between our loving Father / Mother and us that was created by Adam and Eve at the Fall. Jesus comes to be intimately in and with us every step of the way until our dying, when we return home, reunited as one in The Holy Trinity.

The ancient Russian Icon above, depicts this reality. Christ The King deep within his mother Mary. Occupying the whole of her heart and body, her true and full self in her every day. This image is also true for you and me.

We are called to acknowledge this reality in our own life and I invite you to meditate on this reality with the meditation From St Bonaventure below.

 

BRING FORTH CHRIST

1.       Conceive the Son of God in your soul. Allow the Grace of God to “seed” Jesus in your soul and life. Reject evil. Relinquish your ego. Cultivate a spiritual desire. Seek the company, counsel and wisdom of others. Beware of those who discourage you.

 

2.       May the Son of man be born in your soul. “ Put into practice” the resolve to lead a more devout life. Follow the desires of the spirit, solitude, contemplation and prayer. Be sorry and repent of your wrong doing. Be of strong will, reach out to, and teach others.

 

3.       May the Infant Jesus “be named”. Call upon, announce Jesus by name. For He is powerful, grace filled, joyous, and glorious, the Saviour, yours and everyone’s.

 

4.       Go in search; seek the Child (As the Magi did). Seek though meditation and contemplation. Long for Him in your heart. Inquire about Him in prayerful reflection. “He is found” when you confess your sin, listen to the teaching of the Gospel and take the bread and wine in the Eucharist, do good works and pronounce Him to others.

 

5.       Present Jesus the Son of God in The Temple. Take Him to the holy city, Trinity and undivided unity, our GOD take Him to all people.

Give thanks to the Father, who gave you the seed, and resolve to lead a holy life. To the Son who gave you the grace to put it into effect (To be born and named) and to the Holy Spirit, whose strength keeps you steadfast in your life of prayer and good works.

 

 6.       Glorify God the Father. Magnify God the Son. Bless and honour God the Holy Spirit.

 

Taken from:

“Bringing forth CHRIST.  Five Feasts of the Child Jesus”,

by St Bonaventure. 13C Franciscan friar.

 

 When we look forward to Christmas we have the nativity scene of The Holy Family in the stable at Bethlehem.  But Mary already had Jesus within her being at the Annunciation and she carried Him within, as her King, a painful treasure, all her life. Pondering on these truths from the beginning right through to the foot of the cross, and beyond.

We are invited to do the same and not miss out on this reality in these times how ever good or bad they might be for each of us.

 

HE is coming.

HE comes as Hope.

HE is coming whether you are ready or not.

HE is coming, so do not worry

HE is calling you to come to Him as he always does.

 

So will you greet Him ?

 

Will you prepare a place for Him ?

 

Will YOU offer HIM your love, or not ?

 

For it is in HIM we live, move and have our being.

 

 

AMEN

Dr Martin Garsed

1

Let Us Shine The Light of Words on It

I am writing as a former GP, Psychotherapist and Hospice Physician. A member of the prayer and healing ministry team in the All Saints Anglican Church community in Whitstable.

“Let us shine the light of words” on where we are now and what we feel and think in these unprecedented times. We are all very different individuals, as are our particular situations.

But the mixture and complexity of our emotions, thoughts  and imagination are common to us all and are part of who we are. The same yet unique.

In my work over years, what was always important, was to enable those I was with to “shine the light of words” on their situation be it in health, sickness or other adversity, the many challenges that life threw at them.

If we give free reign to to our emotions, exacerbated in times of trial, they can run a mock and take charge, disempowering us, at times to such a degree, that we can no longer function and loose touch with reality.

It is important and a great help if we can voice how we feel , what we imagine or fear, to others in sharing or in writing them down for our selves. This is a good start to taking back control and feeling more secure even if not resolving the dilemma we are in. It helps to tame the loose demons !

A further reality is that many of these emotions and thoughts are in a way “paradoxical”. There is an opposite more positive dimension before us that we have lost sight of. Our task is to bring them together into a joint clearer light (In our sharing with others or writing) to find a more balanced view thus enabling us to move forward.

Here are a number of these paradoxical situations that face us in these challenging times and how we might address them

·        ISOLATION: This is the most dehumanising situation, particularly if on our own Try and recall all the small gestures of belonging that you have received from friends and loved ones over time. Think of your wider family and neighbours. Make efforts to be in touch using the telephone or technology not forgetting old fashion letter writing or sending cards to loved ones near of far away. 

·        TRAPPED SHUT IN: We are free and able to travel in our minds imagining the future or recalling the past, walks holidays etc. Write a memory book for the younger generations.

·        THE SILENCE: Can cause anxiety yet the noise that surrounded us in normal time is equally unnerving. Relish the quiet in your mind and heart, make your own quiet noise. Rest in that quietness.

·        EVERYTHING TAKEN AWAY: I have lost all my normality. Move to taking note of all the small things we do have. Acknowledge and express gratitude for them.

 2

As Christians, members of other faiths, and people of good will, we can add a further dimension to our present experience and its questions.

·        ALL MY LIFE IS ON HOLD: We feel the bottom of our life has fallen out. But we also know and trust that GOD HOLDS us in his hand every day come what may. We can shift our prayer to a more “Contemplative” dimension learning to rest in the “now”, being in God's presence. Try this twice a day for 5 to 10 minutes. Use a holy word, picture, a cross, a candle (blow it out at the end !) to fall back on when distracted, it helps hold your attention.

·        SEPARATED FROM OUR SACRED SPACES AND WORSHIP: Yet each one of us are a “one unique sacred space made in the image of God”. All creation in and around us is also a universal sacred space.  Nothing separates us from the Holy within and around us from the creative love of God (Romans 8 vs 38.39)

·        FEAR: Yet we are called to live in Hope and Trust in our ever loving creator and his sacrifice for our eternal salvation. What more important a time, Holy Week, is it to recall and accompany our Saviour Jesus Christ during these days. He weeps over us, he washes our feet, he was flogged and hung on the cross and died for each one of us.

·        JESUS COMES THROUGH OUR LOCKED DOORS: As when the disciples were in isolation, full of fear locked up in the upper room, Jesus came through those closed doors (John 11 vs 35) Have no doubt, He will come through the closed doors of our homes and hearts in these uncertain times.

I pray for and commend you, and all those suffering at this time due to Covid 19 and the many women, children and men world wide, who are subject to many other sufferings.

Grace and peace be with you in this Holy Week and beyond.

This is my prayer in Jesus's name.

AMEN

Dr. Martin Garsed.

Whitstable                                                                                     07.04.2020