A bridge of iron

Holy Week: a bridge from darkness to light

This morning’s reflection comes from Heather Thompson, a member of our Ministry Team.

I love this aerial picture of Ironbridge in Shropshire. The town grew up around the famous 18^th Century bridge, the first of its kind in the world. See how the southern bank of the River Severn is enjoying morning sunshine while the northern side is still dark and frosty. Staying there on a Spring holiday some years ago, we even noticed that the flowers were not so advanced to the north as those growing on the sunny side of the gorge.

In this pandemic, a cold shadow has fallen across the whole world. We may hear about the hope of Easter, even catch glimpses of its light, but how can we get to it from our present darkness – this frosty side of the river.

Jesus promised a new believer called Nathanael, “You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” (John 1: 51). In other words, Jesus himself, the ‘Son of Man’, would be the link, the new bridge, between the struggles of this earthly life and God’s joyful eternity.

The Iron Bridge cancelled its halfpenny toll to walk across in the 1950’s. Ever since the first Holy Week, access to Jesus the Son has been, and will always be free.

Meddai Iesu, “Myfi yw goleuni’r byd. Ni bydd neb sy’n fy nghanlyn i byth yn rhodio yn y tywyllwch, ond bydd ganddo oleuni’r bywyd.”

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Ioan / John 8: 12

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Prayer

God of all grace,

as so many in the world seek for hope and cannot find the way,

in your mercy reveal to them the hope that is in Christ. 

When we see the light of Christ: let it shine through us.  Amen.

 

Gweddi

Duw pob gras,

gan fod  cymaint yn y byd yn chwilio am gobaith, heb fedru dod o hyd i’r ffordd,

yn dy drugaredd datguddia iddynt y gobaith sydd yng Nghrist. 

Pan welwn Olau Crist: bydded iddo dywynnu trwom ni.  Amen.

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Click here for previous daily reflections from our Ministry Team.