VICAR'S LETTER
17
Sundon Road
Streatley
May, 2008
Dear
All
The musical Godspell contains a version of an old prayer by Richard of Chichester. In Godspell it goes:
Day by day, day by day,
O dear Lord, three things I pray:
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day, by day.
It is a prayer that perfectly sums up the message of the events that took place between Easier and the Ascension.
'Seeing thee more clearly' is the theme of Jesus' meeting with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. It tells how they are brought from blindness to sight. When Jesus first meets them on the road then do not recognise him. They are blinded by their dejection and by their preconceptions of what he had come for. They had hoped that he was the one to liberate Israel, but now they have seen him crucified. Reports of the discovery of the empty tomb have just added to their confusion. Patiently, drawing on the writings of the prophets, Jesus explains his role. As he does so, 'their hearts burn within them.' And finally when, having accepted their invitation to stay, Jesus breaks bread with them, they recognise him for who he is.
'Loving thee more dearly' is the theme of the story of Doubting Thomas. Thomas is not present when Jesus first appears to the disciples. Faced with the sheer improbability of the story, he demands proof: 'Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.' Eight days later, Jesus provides him with that proof. Coming again to meet his disciples, he says to Thomas: 'Put your finger here and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side; be faithless no longer, but believing.' Thomas' response is to offer Jesus his unconditional devotion. He answers: 'My Lord and my God.'
'Following thee more nearly' is the theme of Jesus last meeting with his disciples before the Ascension. After the miraculous draught of fishes and breakfast by the lakeside, Jesus enters into a private conversation with Simon Peter. Three times he asks Peter to offer his devotion - 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Three times Peter does so. And three times he is told the form that his personal following of Jesus is to take: 'Feed my lambs,' 'tend my sheep,' 'feed my sheep.' What others are asked to do to follow Jesus, he is told, is none of his concern. When Peter asks about John, Jesus replies, 'What is that to you? Follow me.'
The prayer of St. Richard is a helpful way of remembering both the events that took place between Easter and Ascension and what they were all about. But these stories, in turn, invite us to make that prayer our own. We began this letter by setting out the prayer in its Godspell form. We end it with the prayer in its original form:
Thanks be to thee, our Lord Jesus
Christ
For all the benefits which thou hast given us,
For all the pains and insults which thou past borne for us.
O Merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother.
May we see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day.
All best wishes,
Roger