JESUS - MY LIFE

Three days ago, on my birthday, I was touched by all who sent kind messages. But I also found myself immensely grateful, at 74, to have come to know Jesus and to be a Christian.

I know terrible things have been and are done in His Name for, created in the image of God, once that image begins to become corrupted it can become very dark and life-denying. Yet as I look at Him, I realise that He invites us into a way of life far richer than anything offered by our consumerist society. The early Christian writer, St. Paul, put his finger on it when he talked about being called to ‘knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.’ That ‘knowledge’ isn’t just about something that happens in the head but in the heart of who I am, and we are. And as I look at what’s happening in our world, once I listen beneath the corruptions of Christianity spouted by some for their own ends I begin to wonder – who else but Christ can show us what it really means to be human? He realised the way our humanity can become perverted and pointed us to what we can become - and he showed the way. Shows me that suffering can be overcome, sin redeemed, and death is not the end. Shows me that ‘blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.’

As I wrote in 'The Mystery of Faith':
'Being a Christian is to be on a journey, a pilgrimage, which like Abram in the Old Testament (Genesis 12) involves saying that ‘yes’ to something or someone who invites us to step out from the confines of our known world into a new world where we are gazed on with the eyes of Love. It’s a way walked by saints, known and unknown, who journey with us and whose prayers aid us. We begin where we begin and gradually set our sight on what has been called the heavenly City, the ‘New Jerusalem’, which is above and beyond us.' (xviii)

THE MYSTERY OF FAITH (copy of review appearing in the ‘franciscan’, May 2020)

'The Mystery of Faith is a worthy successor to (John-Francis’) highly acclaimed previous book, Enfolded in Christ.  This book explores a wide range of topics to do with how we grow in the understanding of our relationship with God.  It addresses head on many of the issues of Christian discipleship that can puzzle both newcomers to the faith and believers of many years standing.  Bp. Nicholas Holtam sums up the scope of the book very well in his foreword, by quoting St. Augustine: ‘People travel to see the world and pass over the mystery of themselves without a thought.’  (p.xvi).  This book is a chance to start to redress the balance.  

The Mystery of Faith is intended for anyone interested to know more about the Christian faith and how it relates to them.  A glance at the list of chapters gives an idea of the sheer range of topics covered, though the length may prove a little daunting to some. (John-Francis) is constantly calling us back from our daily occupations to consider how these affect our inner life.  An example is when he says: ‘We begin to retreat behind barriers rather than learning how to reach out to the other who requires respect because they too are made in God’s likeness.’  Fortunately, each chapter is divided into small, manageable sections, and the author draws on an impressive range of writers from the early days of the church up to the present day to support his arguments.  These quotations are often supplemented by prayers.  At the end of each chapter or group of chapters there are some practical suggestions for taking the topic's further. 

The book is written from an Anglo-Catholic perspective then some evangelical and non-conformist readers may feel uncomfortable with or struggle to engage with some of the  concepts raised.  For example, the chapter on the Seven Sacraments or the one on the Virgin Mary. 

This is a book that could be used as Lent reading, as a basis for group discussion or for private devotion and will provide opportunities to expand the readers experience of and thinking about their Christian faith.'

Beatrice King

Salisbury