In touch	Check-in	Intercessions
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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

 

Slings, not arrows

“...I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts...” (I Samuel 17:45)

 

Context

• Alan Hansen, who at the time of writing is seriously ill in hospital, once famously said that “you can’t win anything with kids”. This was on Match Of The Day after Manchester Utd had lost their first game of the 1995/6 season. The quotation is famous because the ‘kids’ in question included David Beckham, the Neville brothers, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, and United went on to win the double that season. Hansen was able to see the funny side when 15 years later he repeated his famous line.
• It is said in boxing that a good big man will always beat a good small man. While this is generally true, it isn’t always the case. This was proved when Tyson Fury, who stands 6’9” tall was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk, who is a mere 6’3” tall. In heavyweight boxing, ‘small’ is obviously a relative term.
• The UEFA European Football Championship started last weekend and there may be some shocks involved as one of the smaller nations’ teams will likely perform better than expected against a more fancied team. It is 20 years since Wayne Rooney burst on the international scene at a previous Euro tournament as a brilliant forward who played with the fearlessness of youth.
• Lewis Grizzard was a comedian, born in Georgia, in the American South. He was known for talking about the part of the world in which he lived. One story was set at the time of the American Civil War and resonates with our Bible story today. If Grizzard’s accent is too hard to decipher, a transcript might help.

 

Reflection

Emma Raducanu is working her way back to fitness after a number of injury-hit seasons since she won the US Open in 2021. Ms Raducanu will be entering qualifying for Wimbledon in this coming week – unless she is granted a wildcard. It is not unknown for sports people to burn bright at a young age, but for their brilliance then to fade.

King David’s brilliance shone brightly at a young age. There are three occasions when he seemed to have been set apart for greatness – or perhaps had greatness thrust upon him. As well as the story in this week’s reading, he had shone musically when he entertained King Saul with his playing. He was also picked out by Samuel – at the Lord’s instigation – as a future king of Israel.

Yet this early promise that David showed was not the start of a career without its false steps. His relationship with King Saul was difficult, to say the least. He was guilty of adultery which he compounded with murder. Yet by most measures he was Israel’s greatest king.

I hope that Ms Raducanu goes on to fulfil the wonderful promise she showed 3 years ago. Wayne Rooney’s top level playing career ended when he was 33. He has not been weighed down with honours in his subsequent managerial career. We shall have to see whether his latest post – at Plymouth Argyle – will be more successful. Perhaps it is better to have been loved and later lost the spark that once shone bright, than never to have been loved at all.

 

Questions

• Do you feel that your best days are behind you or do you look ahead expectantly?
• Are there occasions when you have overcome a seemingly undefeatable obstacle?
• How does your church support the ministry of young people – not to be confused with ministry to young people?

Simon Carver is the Free Church Ecumenical Chaplain at St Albans Cathedral and a recently retired Baptist Minister living in Watford. He takes a particular interest in film, sport and politics.

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

Last weekend we heard that Alan Bates is to be knighted in recognition of his 23-year fight for justice for hundreds of subpostmasters. The ITV dramatization Mr Bates vs the Post Office, shocked viewers at the extent of the Post Office Scandal. Described as a David and Goliath battle, there is enormous imbalance of power in the dispute, reminiscent of 1 Samuel 17. The ‘Goliath’ of the Post Office refused to acknowledge responsibility or guilt in their use of a malfunctioning Horizon computer system, which led to over 900 subpostmasters being falsely convicted of theft and fraud. Their assets were usually seized, leading to bankruptcy, loss of jobs and homes, family breakdowns, rejection by their communities, and enormous mental health problems and illness. Many were even falsely jailed!

Alan had very little resources to take on the Post Office, but he organised a group of wronged subpostmasters like himself, and tried to sue the organisation. His  courage and immense perseverance are beyond inspiring, especialy as the Post Office had vast legal and monetary firepower; delayed investigations; and withheld evidence over two decades.

There is undeniable culpability in senior Post Office management but what struck me was the operators of the Post Office helpline and Post Office auditors who visited branches to close them, who denied that anyone else was having Horizon problems. What do you think they were telling themselves to justify these untruths? Imagine how differently this could have turned out if they’d looked on their fellows with grace, generosity and gratitude.

Sometimes we face difficult situations with people, and it’s hard to show grace. But we can ask God to give us a heart of grace for another. Who knows what blessings will flow!

Question: Are you in a situation that could be transformed by grace?  How might you change your internal narrative to see that person with generosity and love, as God does?

Dr Angela Mak is a Licensed Lay Minister in the Ecumenical Partnership of West Swindon and Lydiard Tregoze. She is also a school’s worker, and retired biology teacher.

 

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