“Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” These are challenging words from Jesus. The image of the cross, brings to mind suffering and pain. Not something we want in our lives if we can help it. As you know life has its ups and downs. Happiness and sadness, joy and pain. We cannot avoid it. It is all around us in some form.
Following Jesus’ life through the Gospels we see the same ups and downs that we experience. It is comforting to know that Jesus experienced everything that we do in our lives.
If we want to be true disciples of the Lord, then we must follow and experience the same ups and downs of being a Christian. We have been called to be ‘Salt of the Earth.’ As you know salt, tasted plainly brings a distaste into our mouths. This is the same as being a Christian who spreads the ‘Good News’ and talks about their faith. People will accept it and people will refuse to listen. We can be loved, or we can be hated due to our believe in the Lord Jesus. This is our Cross. Jesus says, ‘If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.’ The closer we come to the Lord, the more we would do anything for him. Even give up our possessions. This has a couple of meanings. Jesus mentions in another passage of scripture, let us store up heavenly things, and not earthly things. He is not saying having possessions is wrong but let us not be greedy. Be thankful for what the Lord has given us and have already received. Keep the Lord firmly in the centre of our lives, praying and focusing on heavenly rewards.
Another meaning about having no possessions points to a small group of people. Mainly religious Monks or Sisters, who have promised a vow of poverty. These groups of people have very limited possessions, and many of the items are shared within the community.
Luckily, I am a priest, and I don’t promise a vow of poverty. Many priests enjoy having some possessions. It took me three car loads to move to Blackpool. But there was a time, 7 years ago when I did sell all my possessions.
Before being accepted for seminary at Oscott college, the Bishop gave me a 12 month placement in the Diocese. I was sent to Workington for 8 months and Lancaster for 4 months. I was currently living in Preston, renting a flat, and working at Preston Hospital. With no guarantee that Bishop would accept me after my 12 placement, I left my place of work, and gave notice for my flat, selling most of my possessions, like the settee, chairs, bed, and TV to charity shops, friends and family. Any money I raised I gave to charity. My Dad wanted me to take a sabbatical from work, so I had something to fall back on if I wasn’t accepted by the Bishop. But I said I am going to leave it into the Lord’s hands. Luckily, 12 months later the Bishop did say ‘yes’ to me and I started my 6 years training at Oscott College in Birmingham.
Now my next stage in my life is living down sunny Blackpool. A place where I visited many times as a child. My Grandparents had a caravan in Great Eccleston, so my family would take me and my brother on our family holidays. I believe the Blackpool lights were turned on last Friday night, I was so disappointed I didn’t get the call to turn them on, but there is always next year.
I am so pleased to have my first appointment here in this parish, I am really looking forward to the months and years ahead. Big shoes to fill following Fr Stephen, even thou, he has only small feet. He has been a good friend to me over the years, as we were at college together for some time, Fr Stephen was three years ahead of me and I wish him all the best in Preston.
I am really looking forward to getting to know you all, unfortunately it does take a while for me to remember people’s names. So please bear with me. You are my new family in the Lord, and I will do my very best to provide for your pastoral needs. We all have our crosses to bare and to carry in the uncertainty of this world. Simon of Cyrene helped carry Jesus’ cross in his time of need. I will try and help carry your cross in your time of need. We are all one family in Jesus Christ, let us all be close disciples of the Lord in love and charity.
Rev. Fr Philip Wrigley's Blog 