22nd, November 2020
St Barnabas 08:00 & 10:00
Readings:- Ezekiel 34:11-16 & 20-24, Ephesians 1:15-end, Matthew 25:31-end
Lord, may these words be your words and may your word remain in our hearts until we gather again. Amen.
I have told this story before but it fits in so well with this reading that I will tell it again. It is set in Russia, late in the nineteenth century and in a village a little way outside a large town.
Stephan is the local shoe maker and mender. Five years ago after his wife died he sold his little cottage and moved into his workshop in the village. He fell into a routine of getting up, laying and lighting the fire and putting on water for tea and such. Wash, dress and work and at around 11 o’clock the door of the shop would open and in would come Nicolai and Stephan would stop what he was doing and make tea. They would sit a chat for about an hour. Nicolai would leave and work would resume. Apart from customers coming in work continued until about six when he would shut up shop and get himself something for dinner.
Sunday he would go to mass and do no work at all. His shop was big enough, just, to have a bed sit at the back and his workshop/counter at the front. His work bench was under the only window at the front and he could see the feet of people walking by. He often recognised somebody from the shoe that he had repaired or made. In the summer the light was good, in the winter he had candles or a lamp to help him. His latest project was a pair of strong boots. Nobody had ordered them but with winter approaching somebody would need a pair and the money would see him through another cold spell.
He had to be very careful with his money and usually had a stew on the stove for his evening meal. There was some meat but a lot of vegetables and herbs. When he had a little money spare he would buy more meat for the pot.
One night he said his prayers and went to bed and fell asleep quickly and dreamed. In his dream a figure appeared and Stephan recognises Jesus.
“Hello Stephan! Do not be afraid I am just come to tell you that I will be coming to see you tomorrow.” Stephan remembers saying something like, “Yes Lord!” The following morning Stephan was worried, had he dreamed it was it true would his Lord and Master come to him, what should I do? He settle for the safe side, assume his Lord would come.
He was up and washed and dressed in no time. Fire grate clear and new fire laid and lit, just in case He came early. Down to the butcher as it opened and purchase a quantity of meat. Likewise to the greengrocer and fresh veg. bought. Back home he prepared all and added the meat to pot and again hope the hid visitor would arrive until the meat was cooked. Then to work. He polished the finished boots and placed them in the window then returned and began mending a pair of shoes.
Every now and then he would go a check on the food, give the meat a stir, and a taste. He would then return to work. On one occasion he noticed that it was darker than it should be and he saw that someone was huddled across the window that gave him light. He went out to move them on and saw a woman lightly dressed and enjoying the warmth from the glass on which she laid.
Stephan took her gently by the arm and said, “Come on. You cannot lie there I cannot see to work.” As she rose he notices that she held a bundle close to her, her baby. “I am sorry!” she said, “We will go.” Stephan still held her arm and said, “No, come inside it is warmer and you look so cold.” He led her in through the workshop to his bedsit area and sat her in his favourite chair. He put water on and said that he would make tea. She smiled and nodded but her eyes never left the bubbling pot of stew.
Stephan got her a bowl and a spoon and she ate gratefully. He warmed some milk for the baby and sorted out some warm clothes from his wives wardrobe. “These should fit you”, he declared as he left her to get changed. He went outside and looked up and down the road to see if he could spot his special visitor. On his return he saw that her shoes were in need of a quick repair so he mended them.
When she was ready he saw her to the door and waved her good bye with her grateful thanks ringing in his ears. He looked up and down the road and saw, no his special visitor, but his usual visitor Nicolai. He looked a little wearier than he normally did. “What is the matter, my friend? Come in tell me about it!”
In his “sitting room” Stephan made some tea and handed a mug to Nicolai then sat down to listen to his friend’s woes. Nicolai started talking about his sister and her children, his neighbours and various other matters that life throws up every now and then. Stephan listened and said “Why was that?” twice. He let out a long “Nooooo!” at one point but he mainly confined himself to a shake or nod of the head.
After a time Nicolai said, “Thank you Stephan. I feel much better now I have some answers.” The old friends embraced and Nicolai departed with a smile and a slight spring in his step. Stephan went back to work. At around three o’clock a pair of sandaled feet stood on his window. On closer inspection they were not sandals but cardboard tied to the owners feet with strips of cloth. It’s Him thought Stephan and rush to the door, only to be greeting by a soldier in full uniform, except for the foot wear.
“I am sorry,” he said, “am I blocking your light?” “Yes,” said Stephan, “but do not worry about that. You look hungry would you like some stew?” The soldiers eyes light up and he nodded as he said, “Yes please! But I do not want to rob you of your meal”. Stephan explained that there was enough for him to have a bowl or two. In the end the soldier had three bowls of food.
During the meal he explained that three nights ago he had been robbed of his boots, while he slept and had put together the makeshift sandals so that he could get home. Home was a further four days walking, maybe more if his foot wear failed. At home were his wife and three children who he had not seen for nearly a year.
Stephan looked at the soldiers feet and said try these on. He disappeared and fetched the new boots that he had in the window. They fitted the soldier perfectly and he protested that he had no money to be able to pay for them. “Next time you are passing the shop,” said Stephan, “you can pay me then! Now get on your way home to your family.”
As he finished his prayers Stephan reflected on the eventful day and fell asleep wondering why Jesus had not come along. As he slept he dreamed and there walking towards him was Jesus. “Why did you not come to me as you said you would?” Stephan questioned. Looking at Jesus Stephan saw his face change and he saw the baby, the mother, Nicolai and the soldier and the Jesus. “I was there Stephan and I thank you for your welcome and your generosity.”
That is the story and it does not matter whether you see Jesus in the giving or in the receiving because He did both. Not from some lofted position bestowing on His people various trinket or receiving expensive gifts with a wave of the hand. No! He gave and received right here on earth, He walked among us and the Gospels record some of His life. This is why I believe He is Christ the King.
He set us an example, a simple pattern of life, Love God and love others as yourself. His love for others led Him to the cross to die for our sins. I feel a loss to explain what I feel in my heart but I know that when this life is over I shall be with my King. In the mean time I must do all I can to follow His example and Love God and other people as I love myself. AMEN
St Barnabas 08:00 & 10:00
Readings:- Ezekiel 34:11-16 & 20-24, Ephesians 1:15-end, Matthew 25:31-end
Lord, may these words be your words and may your word remain in our hearts until we gather again. Amen.
I have told this story before but it fits in so well with this reading that I will tell it again. It is set in Russia, late in the nineteenth century and in a village a little way outside a large town.
Stephan is the local shoe maker and mender. Five years ago after his wife died he sold his little cottage and moved into his workshop in the village. He fell into a routine of getting up, laying and lighting the fire and putting on water for tea and such. Wash, dress and work and at around 11 o’clock the door of the shop would open and in would come Nicolai and Stephan would stop what he was doing and make tea. They would sit a chat for about an hour. Nicolai would leave and work would resume. Apart from customers coming in work continued until about six when he would shut up shop and get himself something for dinner.
Sunday he would go to mass and do no work at all. His shop was big enough, just, to have a bed sit at the back and his workshop/counter at the front. His work bench was under the only window at the front and he could see the feet of people walking by. He often recognised somebody from the shoe that he had repaired or made. In the summer the light was good, in the winter he had candles or a lamp to help him. His latest project was a pair of strong boots. Nobody had ordered them but with winter approaching somebody would need a pair and the money would see him through another cold spell.
He had to be very careful with his money and usually had a stew on the stove for his evening meal. There was some meat but a lot of vegetables and herbs. When he had a little money spare he would buy more meat for the pot.
One night he said his prayers and went to bed and fell asleep quickly and dreamed. In his dream a figure appeared and Stephan recognises Jesus.
“Hello Stephan! Do not be afraid I am just come to tell you that I will be coming to see you tomorrow.” Stephan remembers saying something like, “Yes Lord!” The following morning Stephan was worried, had he dreamed it was it true would his Lord and Master come to him, what should I do? He settle for the safe side, assume his Lord would come.
He was up and washed and dressed in no time. Fire grate clear and new fire laid and lit, just in case He came early. Down to the butcher as it opened and purchase a quantity of meat. Likewise to the greengrocer and fresh veg. bought. Back home he prepared all and added the meat to pot and again hope the hid visitor would arrive until the meat was cooked. Then to work. He polished the finished boots and placed them in the window then returned and began mending a pair of shoes.
Every now and then he would go a check on the food, give the meat a stir, and a taste. He would then return to work. On one occasion he noticed that it was darker than it should be and he saw that someone was huddled across the window that gave him light. He went out to move them on and saw a woman lightly dressed and enjoying the warmth from the glass on which she laid.
Stephan took her gently by the arm and said, “Come on. You cannot lie there I cannot see to work.” As she rose he notices that she held a bundle close to her, her baby. “I am sorry!” she said, “We will go.” Stephan still held her arm and said, “No, come inside it is warmer and you look so cold.” He led her in through the workshop to his bedsit area and sat her in his favourite chair. He put water on and said that he would make tea. She smiled and nodded but her eyes never left the bubbling pot of stew.
Stephan got her a bowl and a spoon and she ate gratefully. He warmed some milk for the baby and sorted out some warm clothes from his wives wardrobe. “These should fit you”, he declared as he left her to get changed. He went outside and looked up and down the road to see if he could spot his special visitor. On his return he saw that her shoes were in need of a quick repair so he mended them.
When she was ready he saw her to the door and waved her good bye with her grateful thanks ringing in his ears. He looked up and down the road and saw, no his special visitor, but his usual visitor Nicolai. He looked a little wearier than he normally did. “What is the matter, my friend? Come in tell me about it!”
In his “sitting room” Stephan made some tea and handed a mug to Nicolai then sat down to listen to his friend’s woes. Nicolai started talking about his sister and her children, his neighbours and various other matters that life throws up every now and then. Stephan listened and said “Why was that?” twice. He let out a long “Nooooo!” at one point but he mainly confined himself to a shake or nod of the head.
After a time Nicolai said, “Thank you Stephan. I feel much better now I have some answers.” The old friends embraced and Nicolai departed with a smile and a slight spring in his step. Stephan went back to work. At around three o’clock a pair of sandaled feet stood on his window. On closer inspection they were not sandals but cardboard tied to the owners feet with strips of cloth. It’s Him thought Stephan and rush to the door, only to be greeting by a soldier in full uniform, except for the foot wear.
“I am sorry,” he said, “am I blocking your light?” “Yes,” said Stephan, “but do not worry about that. You look hungry would you like some stew?” The soldiers eyes light up and he nodded as he said, “Yes please! But I do not want to rob you of your meal”. Stephan explained that there was enough for him to have a bowl or two. In the end the soldier had three bowls of food.
During the meal he explained that three nights ago he had been robbed of his boots, while he slept and had put together the makeshift sandals so that he could get home. Home was a further four days walking, maybe more if his foot wear failed. At home were his wife and three children who he had not seen for nearly a year.
Stephan looked at the soldiers feet and said try these on. He disappeared and fetched the new boots that he had in the window. They fitted the soldier perfectly and he protested that he had no money to be able to pay for them. “Next time you are passing the shop,” said Stephan, “you can pay me then! Now get on your way home to your family.”
As he finished his prayers Stephan reflected on the eventful day and fell asleep wondering why Jesus had not come along. As he slept he dreamed and there walking towards him was Jesus. “Why did you not come to me as you said you would?” Stephan questioned. Looking at Jesus Stephan saw his face change and he saw the baby, the mother, Nicolai and the soldier and the Jesus. “I was there Stephan and I thank you for your welcome and your generosity.”
That is the story and it does not matter whether you see Jesus in the giving or in the receiving because He did both. Not from some lofted position bestowing on His people various trinket or receiving expensive gifts with a wave of the hand. No! He gave and received right here on earth, He walked among us and the Gospels record some of His life. This is why I believe He is Christ the King.
He set us an example, a simple pattern of life, Love God and love others as yourself. His love for others led Him to the cross to die for our sins. I feel a loss to explain what I feel in my heart but I know that when this life is over I shall be with my King. In the mean time I must do all I can to follow His example and Love God and other people as I love myself. AMEN