As we approach the holiday season and look forward to either a break away, or some quieter and more restful time over the coming weeks, we may well be feeling rather weary and fraught.

In the Gospel today, we hear Jesus, sounding a little fed up and weary himself with people who seem to be impossible to please.

Last week we celebrated our Patronal Festival at St John’s but already this week – the focus of our attention is moving on. The people Jesus is speaking to were interested in John for a while, and then Jesus came on the scene and suddenly he was the flavour of the month. But now they are full of complaints about both of them – John was too gloomy and Jesus – well there’s a bit too much partying and why does he spend so much time with all these undesirables? 

It seems the people don’t really know what they want! Perhaps a bit like over-tired, sulky children, they sit with their arms folded and frowning – saying in effect – I don’t like this game – I’m not playing!

The trouble is, its not much fun being sulky and sitting out for too long.

I can remember being like this myself as a child, and certainly as a young adult and probably, sometimes, if I’m really honest– even now!

And what we really need of course, is someone to come and gently sit beside us in our misery and confusion, someone to gently lead us to where we need to be.

This is so simple – but needs a childlike trust in the one who leads us – that is why sometimes our adult selves can get in the way – these mysteries are not available to us in our adult wisdom and intelligence – but touch the deepest most vulnerable childlike parts of us – are revealed to the infant that is still inside us longing for love and acceptance and yearning to be in the presence of our heavenly Father.

The final verses of the Gospel today, and the words we have sung to ‘I heard the Voice of Jesus say’ to the beautiful folk tune, Kingsfold, give us the answer to all this.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, come unto me and rest.

I’m not very good at resting! Always preferring to be doing, and preferably several things all at the same time, whilst thinking of another one! But I do get tired, and sometimes, so much so that I don’t know what to do with myself. Then I need someone to say, stop, slow down, sit down, rest, come to me, someone who recognises that sometimes I am weary and worn and maybe sad.

In all the busyness of our lives, it is so easy just to keep on going and going – until we become no use to anyone, and certainly not to ourselves. Then we need to be gently led to that resting place, where we find again what really matters, and are restored to ourselves, to one another and to God.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, behold I freely give, the living water, thirsty one, stoop down, and drink and live.

We all know that longing that is so deep it is like a thirst – the thirst that only this living water can quench – it is a longing for God and sometimes we try to find other ways to quench that thirst, but nothing will work for long until we recognize what it is we are really longing for. Then our soul revives, like flowers blooming in the desert, and we find the source of true life.

I heard the voice of Jesus say, I am this dark world’s light.

When I was ordained priest, a very talented textile artist and friend from the parish where I was a curate, gave me a print of Holman Hunt’s ‘The Light of the World’ to which she had added my name and date of priesting underneath in exquisite cross stitch. Jesus stands knocking on the door of our lives, carrying a lantern which will light our way through this life, especially when the way is dark and frightening. That light never goes out, can never be put out, not even by the deepest darkness of death. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it. Like the place of rest, like the water of life, this light guides us and protects us, and is, in itself the sign of life, of new life.

But its not just an image, a metaphor, a comforting picture or idea. This light is a person – Jesus. It took me a while to come to know Jesus as a person who I could have a special relationship with. But once I did, everything changed – and now he is my might, my star, my sun – I navigate my life through his words, by his leading and walk every day in his love. 

To come to know that we walk in that light of life is the greatest joy and comfort, and to know that when all is ended, when our travelling days are done, he will bring us home rejoicing, to our home in heaven where there are many dwelling places and where we will find perfect peace and freedom, is the truth that transforms our lives.

Service: Reverend Michelle Dalliston. 9th July 2023. (St John The Baptist Church Peterborough UK)

Readings: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45