We are fortunate to be part of a Church which follows a liturgical cycle and in a world which appears chaotic and with out order at times, to be reminded of the rhythm of life. I have sometimes wondered about the description in the opening chapter of the book of Genesis, as it describes the days of creation, we have this wonderful refrain “And there was evening and there was morning…” We should think on these words and apply them to ourselves, experience the rhythm which moves from rest to activity “evening and morning” not the other way around.

One wonders why it is so hard for us to develop such a rhythm to life given that we are created in the image and likeness of God, who has a pattern about living. The seasons move through Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter and while we are more aware these days of climate change, we know that we have now entered Spring and new life is appearing. Our Anglican heritage draws deeply on the Benedictine spirituality and so seeks to encourage us, clergy  and laity, to follow the liturgical year through for example saying the Daily Office and using the lectionary. Sometimes when things go awry in our lives we should take time out and reflect on the direction of our spiritual life. Some of our clergy, whose lives are called to reflect Christ to the world, neglect this essential aspect of our spirituality and fail to say Morning and Evening Prayer as well as setting aside time for meditation or silent reflection each day. Where possible clergy in parishes might consider inviting parishioners when they are saying the Daily offices and, as our Prayer Book instructs, cause the bell to be rung. The tools are there to grow spiritually but we require commitment to our Lord and a desire to pray. As parishioners you should hold the clergy responsible for the spiritual growth in the parish but do also pray more for your clergy and help to grow the Church.

The month of October concludes with Michaelmass and the wonderful reminder that not only at the Eucharist, but every day, we are united in the endless hymn of praise that is offered to God by “…angels and archangels and all the company of heaven…” We can so easily become arrogant and believe that the world is at our disposal and we are in control. Not so, says Scripture, we are co-workers and stewards for God, caring for our natural environment and being accountable to those who come after, because this planet is all we have. The task of the angels are various but their only purpose is to live to give God the glory. In this they inspire us as they protect us daily from all evil and harm. But in October itself we begin the month with celebrating St Francis and thankfully we remember that Francis was not concerned with animals alone but with all creation. Last year we observed a month-long celebration of the Season of Creation with the hope that we would all grow in finding God in all creation and working to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Talking to someone recently from another parish, it was encouraging that after their celebration of the month of Creation, the parishioners paid more attention to the church gardens and litter is no longer a problem around the church. It could be as simple as that.

Midway through October we celebrate the feast of St Luke and are reminded that it is from his Gospel that so much of our knowledge of our Lord’s teaching comes. In the month of August, we try as a Church to focus on Compassion and our reading of St Luke can sustain that gift throughout the year. There we encounter the generosity of the Samaritan whose compassion puts the religious people to shame for ignoring the one fallen on hard times. There we encounter God’s compassion for us as Jesus tells us “There was a man who had two sons…” because both the younger and, more particularly, the elder are recipients of the Father’s prodigal love. Often it is the elder one who sits in our pews, zealous to “work like a slave and never disobeying the commands…”, who is also unable to be open to God’s generosity, God loving us in our very brokenness. Many of our people live in places where brokenness is expressed in violence, while others live in homes where brokenness is expressed in indifference. Parish boundaries are artificial constraints and we should constantly remind ourselves that Baptism makes us sisters and brothers of one another in Bontehuewel, Langa and Wynberg. Just imagine, I know it is wild, if the income of all our parishes was held in a joint fund and all our expenses paid from one central point, there would not be any parish with an accumulated debt, because we would all be caring for one another. Why can we not dream or think outside the box? St Luke encourages us to follow the example of Jesus, whose ministry was to the poor, the outcast and the marginalised and who says to all of us “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10 v 37)

God grant His holy angels to watch over you each day and to be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit to work to establish the kingdom of justice, peace and love.

Your fellow pilgrim,

The Dean of Cape Town