nowt nor summat  

There is a saying in the North of England (some say it originates in Lancashire, others Yorkshire but I know where my money is!) – it’s neither nowt nor summat.
For the benefit of those not familiar with northern English dialect, it means that it is ‘neither one thing nor the other’.

It is very tempting to say this is what it feels like after Ascension which the Christian Church celebrated last Thursday.
At the feast of the Ascension We were led to the end of the Gospel of St Matthew when Jesus  gave his last instructions and final blessing to his followers. Then, before their very eyes, he disappeared into the heavens.
Jesus had told them that they were his witnesses and the task before them was to proclaim His Good News to all Nations. (Matthew 28: 16-end)
In the nowt nor summat time they were to wait until they have been clothed with power from on high (Luke 24: 49).  Jesus was, of course, referring to Pentecost when the power of God’s Spirit came upon them in the dramatic way Christians will remember next Sunday.

So we are between the Ascension and Pentecost. We are caught up in what I call a mathematical moment . From Easter Day to Ascension Day is 40 days. The same length as Lent. But Easter is the great Festival time of the Church so it must be the longest season, the ‘jubilee’ season of great rejoicing. So it has been given 50 days. The extra 10 days are those between last Thursday and next Sunday. So we are still in Eastertide!
So this is not quite the negative time I’m suggesting.

According to the New Testament the disciples, together with the women who were special to Jesus, returned from Mount Olivet to the upper room where they devoted themselves to prayer. They also attended to the matter of choosing a successor to Judas. Matthias (whose feast day is May 14^th – today) was chosen by lot.
When I was younger I used to read in the Acts of the Apostles that the lot fell on Matthias! Not being familiar with this form of voting, I wondered, Did it hurt?

Through this sacred vote the disciples were thus ‘complete’ in the number of those who were destined to lead the infant Christian Church. (The sacred number 12 equating to the 12 tribes of Israel in the Old Testament.) The ‘ordination’ for this Leadership—their setting apart for the task, would come at Pentecost. For now they ‘waited’ and they prayed.
Those being ordained to the Church’s ministry today go into ‘retreat’ just before they are commissioned by the Holy Spirit.
The ‘nowt nor summat’  period is a time of getting oneself prepared. It is an inner activity in which God pours out his blessing. The importance of prayer as a time of being prepared by God for some work in His name cannot be over-emphasized. It is a time not of nowt nor summat but of expectant waiting. If God is to act through us, he needs us to be receptive to his Will, his plan. Which is why waiting in prayer is an important part of bringing a new and loving vision to a world (and a Church!) in great need.

I think in such moments of the lovely prayer of St. Teresa of Avila.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours;
no hands but yours; no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world.
Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good.
Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.

[Mr G]

PS>

There are a few versions of the prayer on YouTube under the title Christ has no body now but yours.
The one by the Exultate Singers is rather beautiful and there an interesting one featuring Josh Garrels.

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