There is no Plan B

When Jesus had finished his work on earth and returned to heaven, the archangel Gabriel met him and said, “Lord, is it permitted to ask what plans you have made for carrying on your work on earth? “I have chosen twelve men and some women,” Jesus replied, “they will pass my message on until it reaches the whole world.” “But” said Gabriel, “supposing those few people fail you, what other plans have you made?Jesus smiled. “I have no other plan, “he said, “I’m counting on them.”

There is no plan B – Jesus entrusted his message of eternal love and salvation to a motley band of chosen people whose track record, to say the least, was questionable.

I wouldn’t dream, of course, of questioning my Lord Jesus’ arrangements to bring the love of God to a world increasingly in need but, because of that state of things on earth just now, I might be permitted to wonder if he might have regretted leaving things in our incapable hands!

The story of humanity is not always a good one and our reliability cannot always be taken for granted. Too often we allow despots, tyrants and self-absorbed groups to take over Creation and wage battle for power, self-interest and self-will.
At present I suggest that there are a small group of people who believe it is their right to make life impossible for others and who are responsible for many of the wars, pain, conflicts and the mess our world seems to be in. What is worse is that we are letting them do this either because groups of people are following a shared ideology or believe in a warped vision.

Yet, we know the truth that for evil to prosper, good people simply have to do nothing. That was never part of the plan of Jesus to build a world founded on mutual love, peace, truth justice or compassion.

At a House Group I am part of, it was suggested that in the face of the current violence, death and pain, we are called to stand up and be counted as each of us is part of God’s Plan. If the billions of believers in God, however their faith is expressed or practiced, were to stand up and collectively say, “No! This will not do. We don’t accept your false and demonic vision. You neither speak for us nor represent the Will of God for the World nor all that draw life from it – and that means the whole of Creation from the tiniest insect to the tallest tree. We are, after all, merely travellers through this world and at best, its custodians.”

Thankfully, in the face of the evil which afflicts our world, God does have Plan B and it is the same as Plan A – it rests on us. In many different ways, languages, environments, we who believe in God have the message of eternal love and salvation; of peace and justice; of compassion; of kindness and all those things which deepen the quality of life and fulfil the nature of what it means to be human ~ truly human which is a lot about developing Godliness.
God’s Plan, though often thwarted, is never abandoned and a major part of it is how he uses people to remind us of the true values of life, of love, of concern for others.

On February 7th the Christian Church celebrates the faith of a group of early Christian saints – St Felicity, St Perpetua and their Companions.
They were ordered to be put to death for their persistence in proclaiming Jesus Christ as their Lord, when the pagan rulers of the Roman Empire wanted to make an example of them, in order to warn others not to disobey the Emperor.
It all went rather wrong because this small group of women simply refused to live the lie of a corrupt society. One story of Perpetua is that her father begged her to renounce her faith and her reply to him was:

“Father, do you see this vase or water-pot here, for example , could it be called by any other name than what it is?” He said,” No,” and Perpetua replied, “Well, so too I cannot be called anything other than what I am ~ a Christian.”

Instead of renouncing her belief in God her words were to strengthen many, many others, in holding on to their Christian faith at a time when it would have been so easy to turn one’s back on God…

Throughout history, God has faced the wickedness of the world and counteracted its falseness through those who, like Perpetua, are unwavering in showing God’s truth and love, peace and justice – simply by being who they are, the beloved of God.
It strengthened people in dark times and goes on doing so still.
When the world is up against it, people are sent by God to lead us away from darkness into light. People who remind us that life can and must be  lived in a different way and with greater, purer, values.
Today, I detect that God has sent us just such a person in Pope Leo. He is speaking God’s words through his own prayer, spirituality and understanding of a world which needs leading back to God’s ways.
God is counting on him just as he is counting on all of us who take great strength from what God is telling us through him.

Comes the hour, comes the True messenger of God. We are bidden to hear God speaking through him.

I follow with deep concern what is happening in the Middle East and Iran in these dramatic hours.
Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats nor with weapons which sow destruction,
pain and death but only through reasonable, authentic and responsible dialogue.
Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions, I address both parties involved a
heartfelt appeal to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes
an irreparable abyss!
May diplomacy recover its role and may the good of people be promoted; peoples who long for
peaceful co-existence founded on justice – and let us continue to pray for peace.”

-Pope Leo. March 5th 2026

Do these ‘Little things’

One of the emblems of Saint David ~Daffodils.
Photographed by Gill Henwood in their natural habit.

Today, March 1st, we celebrate St. David’s  day, though perhaps not as boisterously as some Welsh people may do!
I once had a memorable visit to St. Davids in Wales, an highlight of which was a cliff-top walk which led to St. Non’s Well. (St. Non was David’s mother). The well is reputedly where David was baptized and today it is still flowing gently and pilgrims strew flowers on its waters.
David himself was very fond of water – the only liquid he drank, except the wine of the Eucharist.
He and his followers were known by the Latin word Aquati  meaning ‘water drinkers’,because of this.

Through living simply with God and teaching of the Love of Jesus, David lay down a pattern of life for his own disciples to follow.
On his deathbed he reminded his monks of this in his final words to them (and therefore, to us):
“Brothers and sisters, be joyful Keep the faith and do the little things that you saw and heard from me.”

The little things which David taught included prayer, being present for the breaking of bread at the Eucharist; reading scripture; speaking only when necessary and helping the poor. He believed also that we should have a deep respect for others; that we should always be lowly, possessing a humility which never expresses itself arrogantly and which steers us away from pride. He also set great store on hospitality – always being ‘at home’ for others and for God – having time for both.
These ‘little’ things are the bedrock on which faith is built.
Neglect of them leads to spiritual deprivation. Attention to them leads to faith expressed joyfully.
It is the little things we do in Christ’s name which matter most.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta expressed much the same thing when she said that she and her sisters didn’t do great things but rather little things with a great love.  St. David would have approved of that.

During this season of Lent we might try to improve our understanding of faith and pay more attention to the little things which build it up. The obvious faith-building things of prayer, bible and worship combined with a concern for the poor need our attention as much as anything else. We also should pay more attention to others especially when there is disagreement and difference of opinion between people and groups. Learning to listen to each other with real love is a way towards greater understanding but it also leads to godliness. Allowing our hearts to be open to others is real hospitality, especially because, quite often, whenever we open ourselves to others, God can also slip into our hearts and feel ‘at home’ with us.

This is certainly much more to be desired than trying to impose our opinion and views upon others!

[Mr G. St David’s Day 2026]

For Ukraine

‘I invite everyone to join in prayer for the embattled people of Ukraine
and for all those who suffer due to this war,
that the long-awaited gift of peace may shine upon our days.’  
[Pope Leo]

“So many victims, so many lives and families shattered, such immense destruction, such unspeakable suffering!
Every war is truly a wound inflicted upon the entire human family;
it leaves in its wake death, devastation and a trail of pain that marks generations.
Peace cannot be postponed.
It is an urgent necessity that must find a home in our hearts and be translated into responsible decisions.”

Pope Leo

Almighty and Great God,

Accept our gratitude for your boundless mercy towards us.
Hear the supplication of our afflicted hearts for the land and people of Ukraine,
as they confront foreign aggression and invasion.
Open the eyes of those who have been overtaken by a spirit of deception and violence,
that they be horrified by their works. Grant victory over the powers of evil that have arisen
and bless Ukraine with your gifts of liberty, peace, tranquility, and good fortune.

We implore you, O Merciful God, look with grace upon those who courageously defend their land.
Remember the mothers and fathers, the innocent children, widows and orphans,the disabled and helpless,
those seeking shelter and refuge, who reach out to you and to their fellow human beings
looking for mercy and compassion.
Bless the hearts of those who have already shown great generosity and solidarity,
and those who prepare to receive their Ukrainian brothers and sisters in Ukraine’s greatest time of need.

Bring us together as your children, your creation, and instil in us your strength,
wisdom and understanding.
May you be praised and glorified, now and forever, and to the ages of ages.

Amen

[Diocese of Blackburn]

The Lord’s Prayer in Ukrainian (Cyrillic)

Отче наш, що єси на небесах,
Нехай святиться Ім’я Твоє.
Хай прийде Царство Твоє,
нехай буде воля Твоя
Як на небі, так і на землі.
Хліб наш насущний дай нам сьогодні.
І прости нам провини наші,
як і ми прощаємо винуватцям нашим.
І не введи нас у спокусу,
але визволи нас від лукавого.
Бо Твоє є Царство, і сила, і слава навіки.
Амінь. 

Transliteration (Pronunciation)

Otche nash, shcho yesy na nebesakh,
Nekhay svyatytʹsya Im’ya Tvoye.
Khay pryyde Tsarstvo Tvoye,
nekhay bude volya Tvoya
Yak na nebi, tak i na zemli.
Khlib nash nasushchnyy day nam sʹohodni.
I prosty nam provyny nashi, yak i my proshchayemo vynuvattsyam nashym.
I ne vvedy nas u spokusu,
ale vyzvoly nas vid lukavoho.
Bo Tvoye ye Tsarstvo, i syla, i slava naviky.
Aminʹ. 

Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison.

Господи, помилуй. Господи, помилуй. Господи, помилуй.

Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy

Witness to God

nastursiums with water droplets. Light transforming darkness.
photo: Mr G

Martyrs – God’s witnesses

We probably don’t get as excited and inspired by stories of Christian martyrs as did the early Christians. 
Of course, we in England, don’t have to face persecution for our faith in the same way that they did
—though many Christians throughout the world are imprisoned or killed for believing in Jesus Christ and living their lives as Christians. 

Last Monday, February 16th, the Church remembered Janani Luwum , Archbishop of Uganda, who died in a car ‘accident’ in 1977.  This proved to be no accident because his death was ordered by the dictator Idi Amin, the tyrant who found the opposition of the Christian Church to his harsh rule too much to bear.  Janani was a voice Amin decided to silence so his death was arranged.  He became one of the countless martyrs to the Christian faith in a century in which more Christians died than any other.

A martyrs’ death always inspired the Church in the past.  Not only did it remind Christians of the costliness of discipleship, it also stood as a witness to those who believe that we too are to stand firm in our faith against opposition. 
Today we may not live in a country where we shall be murdered for going to Church but there are many signs that Christianity no longer holds the place in British society than it did, nor is the Christian way of life all that popular.  In a sea of indifference, witnessing to God is as powerful today as it was in the face of active persecution.

One of the most inspiring stories of martyrdom comes from the early days of the Church.  In 155AD, St Polycarp was put to death by a Roman Governor because he refused to renounce his belief in Jesus.  He is remembered today, February 23rd.  He had been Bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor for 40 years when the Roman Emperor demanded that Christians turn away from Christ and swear that only Caesar was lord.  Polycarp refused and he made what has become a classic statement of faith:

“Eighty and Six years have I served Him and He has done me no wrong. 
How then can I blaspheme my King and Saviour.  I am a Christian.”

Polycarp paid the price for his witness to Jesus and the account of his martyrdom swept through the Christian world becoming a strength for many others who faced persecution.  He became what TS Eliot said in his play ‘Murder in the Cathedral’ – one of those who was used by God for his love of men, to warn them and to lead them, to bring them back to his ways.

Though we may not be put to death or imprisoned for our faith, it isn’t true for everyone today. There is plenty of evidence that people of faith suffer for what they believe and even in countries like the United Kingdom we are still called to a life of witness against a background of indifference, ridicule, unbelief , hatred and verbal opposition.
When we are up against it and our faith is under attack it is in the martyrs lives (and deaths) that we can find a strengthening of our own faith.  We are reminded that ordinary Christians with faith like ours refused to deny that faith even when it was costly to keep it.

During Lent, Polycarp can be our inspiration too.  We serve God because he has blessed our lives (and so done us no wrong but rather done us good!) and so we can be proud to call ourselves Christians.  If during Lent we meditate on just how much good God has done for us and resolve, therefore, to serve him as witnesses in the world, whatever the cost, then Lent will become a time in which our faith is made more strong and when we are led back to his ways—the way of self-giving Love.

[Mr G. 23rd Feb 2026]

PS> Though this article is written from a Christian standpoint, other religions are called to witness to God and also to lead costly and sacrificial lives. Let all who love and are loved by God share in showing the meaning of that love to a world so desperately in need of it, and of God.