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Living Stones

The Cross on the East Wall, Bradwell Chapel
Taken by the author


I’m holding a large, heavy stone in my hand as I reflect this week. Just noticing its weight, its solidity, its integral strength, and its smoothness. Stones and rocks are a constant theme in our set readings for Easter 5 (Acts 7.55-60, Psam 31.1-5, 15-16, 1 Peter 2.2-10, John 14.1-14). Stones are a sign of durability, something you can rely on. In Psalm 31, the Lord is referred to as a refuge, a strong rock, crag, castle and tower; the writer wants the Lord to protect them and keep them safe. Large stones seem to have fascinated humans and had spiritual significance since the earliest times – think of all the ancient sites of standing stones. As humans we are subject to change and decay, so stones become to us signs of eternity. In the first Letter to Peter, the Christian followers are called to be ‘living stones’, which is a very striking metaphor. Humans are not stone; we are flesh and blood and we die. But, nonetheless, our faith roots us in an everlasting strength, it gives us durability and a power – in faith we are strong, we are like rocks that others can rely on, towers that bring refuge and safety.

The Chapel at Bradwell, St Peter on the Wall, is a wonderful place to visit, and it will be one of the first places I visit when we can all move freely again. I particularly like the altar in which three Stones are set; the three stones represent the three other communities involved in Cedd's ministry: the left stone is a gift from Holy Island, Lindisfarne from where he travelled to Bradwell; the centre stone is a gift from Iona, the place where Christianity first reached our isles from Ireland; and the right stone is from Lastingham where Cedd died after travelling there to build a monastery in 644 ad. Cedd died tragically of the plague as did his companions who joined him there at Lastingham.


Looking towards the altar set with the three stones, Bradwell Chapel,
Author's photo


Three stones set in a stone altar, placed within a small stone chapel, on the edge of the land, close to the sea-shore: a powerful and poetic symbol of the durability of faith and the risks that so many have taken to brings its message of hope and love to others.  Jesus says: ‘In my Father’s house are many dwelling places’ and ‘I go and prepare a place for you’. The rock of faith on which we build our lives, is the foundation stone of our inheritance, an eternal home in our heavenly city. As we are exposed, most brutally at the moment, to the fragile and precarious quality of all created life, so we cling ever more tightly to the promises we have received from Jesus: 


‘Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me’. (John 14)

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This reflection was broadcast as Thought for the Day, Sunday 10th May 2020, BBC Essex, Listen below:

 



























































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