31 August 2020

I came to you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling.
My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.
From 1 Corinthians 2: 1-5 (NRSV)

We begin readings from the First Book of Corinthians today – which also happens to be the feast of St Aidan and it is quite possible that he would have identified with St Paul’s sentiments here. After King Oswald won the Battle of Heavenfield, he asked the monks of Iona to send missionaries to help him to restore Christianity to Northumbria. The first came – and left in dismay – saying that the people were unteachable and barbaric. Aidan talked himself into the task and may well have approached it with fear and trembling. His trust paid off. His proclamation of the good news of Jesus through his words and his attitude towards the ordinary folk was full of power and over 1500 years later, he holds a special place in the hearts of many – especially in the north of England.

• • What might a conversation between Paul and Aidan about taking on the role of missionary have been like?
  • How do you feel when you try to talk about the good news of Jesus and God’s love for the world? 

Spend some time today imagining Paul, Aidan and others sharing their experiences of approaching situations in fear and trembling – and then finding that God did, in fact, give them the strength and words to fulfil their mission.