From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:16
One of the interesting things about the fledgling Christian movement is the strong belief that we were all one in Christ. That the differences of race, nationality, gender all start to fade when we focus on Christ and share a common belief in Him and His way.
John Donne (1572-1631), one of my favourite poets, he was an English scholar, poet, soldier and secretary born into a Catholic family, a remnant of the Catholic Revival (believed in Salvation through Christ), who reluctantly became a clergyman in the Church of England because he was ordered to by the King. He was Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral in London (1621-1631). He is considered one of the pre-eminent metaphysical poets. John Donne was also known for his sermons and writings which are very dense and require you to pause and work your way through them.
John Donne wrote Devotions upon Emergent Conditions when he was particularly ill and this covers a wide range of topics particularly relating to illness and death. Meditation XVII (17) speaks very eloquently on how we are all connected and we are all part of the Body of Christ particularly through baptism.
We need to see the current situation as an opportunity to remind people of why we have Easter and the need to repent and turn to Him. It is an opportunity for all Christians to take the extra time they have to spend it in prayer and reading the Bible.
‘No Man is an Island’
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man’s death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
MEDITATION XVII, Devotions upon Emergent Occasions by John Donne
Godspeed
Rev Steve Neuhaus
Eagles Rest Ministries