The Bishop’s Blog: Seeking the Light

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

‘The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ These reassuring words from the Gospel of St.John find clear expression on the Feast of the Lord’s Presentation, Candlemas.I restrict this week’s Blog to two invitations I received for that Feast Day, both taking place on the Fylde coast. Every invitation I receive holds an element of excitement. I don’t always know what I am ‘letting myself in for’. This was never more true than accepting to join Faith and Light for their annual Mass and get-together at Our Lady Star of the Sea, St.Anne’s. This would be my first experience of Faith and Light, and it was delightful. Mgr Aiden Turner acted as guide.How misleading to describe these people as having learning disabilities, as though the rest of us don’t. When it comes to celebrating the Mass with whole-hearted reverence and joy they left me standing. What a moving re-enactment of the Lord’s Presentation. What enthusiastic singing, and what a tangible spirit of faith in the Lord of Life. Caring for those less able to care for themselves will draw out of us depths of love and self-giving we did not know we possessed.Tea and cakes following the Mass meant that we were nourished in body and soul.My second invitation was to St.Cuthbert’s parish, South Shore, Blackpool, for the opening of a Novena of prayer in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes (Patroness of the Diocese together with St.Cuthbert). The Novena prayers were followed by Solemn Benediction. In the company of Our Blessed Lady we knelt to worship the Lord of Life.My thoughts were full of those special ‘Faith-and-Light’ people whose company I had enjoyed just a little earlier. A darkness crept into my mind as I reflected how our present culture is inclined to place such lives at risk. We can eradicate such disabilities, judging them to be defective or an unwanted burden on families. It can be couched in terms suggesting we are doing everyone a favour by preventing or disposing of such ‘less than perfect’ people. But when we do that we dispose of something of ourselves. Christ teaches us another way of measuring life’s value, the way of love.Guard against being led by the norms and trends of society which can be so inconsistent. And yet, we are reminded all too often of the inconsistencies and imperfections within the Church herself. There is no room for complacency in our efforts or boasting of our achievements. We need a Saviour. To find and defend Life we must follow the Light!