Bernard Mizeki's hidden messages

Bernard Mizeki, born in Mozambique and martyred at the age of 35 has become one of the most popular African saints in recent times. Remembered for his devoted teaching, linguistic talent and his help with translating the liturgies of the church into local dialects he is rightly celebrated in the Anglican churches calendar. He is also, probably less famously known, as a relative of two of our long standing St Chrysostom congregation members. 

Legend has it that Bernard would go around carving crosses into trees, as can be seen on his icon. This act seemed only to anger local tribe leaders and made no apparent difference to the success of his teaching. However I think this somewhat insignificant act of graffiti is actually an incredibly powerful way of spreading the gospel message. 

It reminds me of something I encounter everyday on my way to church. “£97 billion on new nuclear weapons, what idiot is going to pay for that?” 

A sticker on a lamppost just outside church at the crossing which like Bernard’s crosses probably gets missed by most people. But what about those who do see these tiny symbols or messages.

What appear at first, to be very little symbols, a simple two line carving or a small message actually hold incredibly powerful messages behind them.

The cross of Jesus symbolises his death, resurrection and life, the greatest message anyone can receive. So by carving his crosses Bernard was actually spreading the gospel in the simplest and easiest way imaginable.

It is hard to think of a simpler image that hides behind it such a powerful message.

But how can we spread this huge message in simple ways in our own lives? 

Through simple actions that make big differences to those that receive them. A hand shake or smile with a stranger, wearing a badge or slogan on your clothing, boycotting certain shops offering help to those in need.

Little actions that will often go unnoticed but convey powerful messages. Messages of hope, peace, love, reconciliation and acceptance. 

The kind of message that Bernard Mizeki was spreading through his tiny crosses, the same message that the still small voice of God is speaking through people every day. The most powerful message in the world.

Thoughts in prayer at 2:46am

So had my first 24hr Prayer vigil this week was a nice experience and would do it again, though probably not for a while. 

Some thoughts came to me over the course of the day and I thought I'd jot them down to preserve them for the annals of time.

First of all this passage, which is one of my favourites, stuck in my head and sort of set the theme for night.

Isaiah 6

A Vision of God in the Temple

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.’
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!’

 Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: ‘Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.’ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ 

And I said,

 ‘Here I am Lord; send me!’ 

2:46am - My faith is anger and passion. Anger at the way Christianity is used to justify hate, violence and oppression. Anger at the reluctance of the church to make a change, to stay silent and put down.
Passion to make a change - to proclaim sight to the blind, to set the captives free and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour. 
Two others join me, brothers in Christ, silently pray with me. One is new to faith, one is close to me. We are all different, have different relationships to God but are united here. 
I start to ask God does he still want me as a priest as it's no longer clear to me the thoughts turn round to me desperately wanting to be a priest and i end up no longer asking but screaming like Isaiah "Here I am lord; send me!"

5:00am - The birds start to sing and the sunrises, I start to repent.
I pray alongside 3 of my sisters. This is a different kind of relationship to that with my brothers, tea is made love is shared and support is acknowledged as opposed to the stern, unspoken love between brothers. I pray for equality between people, Gender, sex, race and class. "There they are Lord; send them!"

7:00am - More people come to pray. We make each other cups of tea and one brings in vegan sausage sandwiches for breakfast. There is laughter, love and fellowship. We experience Joy in our shared faith. The silence and stillness brings us together. "Here we are Lord; send us"

8:50am - I am joined by an old colleague, some one I cared incredibly deeply for. She has received some bad news, and her life feels like it is being held back. I share in her pain. "here she is lord; send her!"

2:46pm - Funny how spending so much time in silence can bring you closer to each other as well as God. We each have expereinced the call from God to do something about the world, no matter how big or small a change we wish to see we all want to do it.

"here I am lord; send me!"