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The Rural Dean Writes…

I can’t honestly claim to be a great fan of The Beatles – even though their music formed much of the soundtrack of my early years. If I’m honest, I tend to prefer Paul McCartney’s post-Beatles offerings, and I’ve never really thought much of John Lennon as a man or as a musician (yes, I do realise that’s tantamount to heresy!). I have always admired George     Harrison – the man and his music – and consider him the very best of the Fab Four. Ringo Starr, on the other hand, is, if I’m honest, a bit of a mystery to me! A lot of unkind things have been said about poor Ringo over the years – especially about his supposedly limited abilities as a drummer, songwriter and singer – but who wouldn’t be overshadowed by the      immense talents of the other three?

And one thing I really like about Ringo is the way in which he always signs off every            interview, conversation, post or message with the words “Peace and Love” (Strangely, as I write those words, I’m hearing them in a deep Liverpool accent!)

I came across an old interview with Ringo the other day in which he was asked about this  oft-repeated mantra / motto / greeting. He freely confessed that it wasn’t original to him, but that it was a phrase he heard and adopted from the Californian hippie culture of the 1960s – both peace and love being the touchstones of that remarkable, if short-lived, youth movement. 

Whilst Ringo Starr might have picked up his “Peace and Love” mantra in the 1960s, it is of course considerably older than that, and those twin touchstones have been in circulation for many, many centuries. They are, indeed, the twin touchstones of the teaching of Jesus of Nazareth and they are the two graces Jesus was constantly wishing, praying, commending and commanding for his followers.

Jesus often spoke about peace. He frequently greeted people with the words Peace be with you! or sent them on their way, saying Go in Peace! He came, lived, died and rose again to make peace between God and his people. He wanted peace of body, mind and spirit to be his legacy for all who follow him. When he rose from the grave and met with his friends he calmed their fears with words of peace. When he left them to return to his Father in      heaven, his last prayer for them was that they should live in peace.

Jesus constantly taught his followers about love. He commanded them to love God, to love each other, to love themselves and to love their enemies. He made love - for all - the true test of genuine religion, faith and practice. He lived in love himself and taught his friends to do the same – to live their lives in serving, self-giving, accepting, forgiving, reconciling, boundary-crossing love – just like his love for us.

Peace and love are at the heart of the Gospel. They are at the heart of God. They must be at the heart of everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ.                                                             In a world which seems depressingly and increasingly devoid of either,

I wish you peace and love – received and given…

Stephen 

Readings from the Gospel

Sunday 26th July 2026

31He told them another parable; “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” 33He told them still another parable; “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Matthew 13. 31-33. NIV

44”The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy sent and sold all he had and bought that field. 45Again , the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46When he hound one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

47”Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down in to the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48When it was full the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51”Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked. “Yes,” they replied. 52He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Matthew 13. 44-52. NIV

Sunday 2nd August 2026

13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdraw by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17”We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18”Bring them here to me,” he said. 19And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

 Matthew 14. 13-21. NIV