‘Do not hold on to me’

Easter Sunday 2020

What a thing to say. She thought she had lost him, gone forever. They thought so too. Everyone was inconsolable, terrified and confused. 

But here he is in the garden, standing next to her. 

She is overwhelmed with joy! He’s here! He’s back! 

And what does he say? ‘Don’t hold on to me’. 

I suspect that wasn’t exactly what Mary was banking on. For Mary, love comes with an unexpected response. 

But think for a moment what might have happened. Had she held onto him and not let go, she might not have gone to the disciples to tell them she had seen the Lord. 

Jesus might not have shown Thomas his hands and feet. Letting go was painful; but not letting go would have come at a greater cost.

We too have been challenged in recent weeks by having to let go of many of our relationships. Many of us have been starved of the beauty of touch.

This has been painful. Some have known Good Friday in ways no one should.

But perhaps like Mary and the disciples, we have also seen extraordinary acts of love come from unexpected places and people.

We have been swamped with offers of help to care for the vulnerable. Never have our phone and Zoom lines been busier! 

I love how many seventy and eighty and even some ninety year olds have been indignant when offered help! 

That’s not because they don’t want help – it’s because they already feel loved and want to share that love with others.

That feeling of love coming in unexpected ways is certainly one I can relate to. Today is my last day at St Mary’s as I start my new job. 

I’ve decided to return to teaching because my vocation is in the classroom with the most vulnerable children. 

But be in no doubt: I have been met with so much love at St Mary’s.

When I arrived, I confess I warned Marjorie about my vocation. I wasn’t sure I could stick at it for 3 long years. 

But how wrong I was. 

I put that down to Marjorie – I hope you know just how special she is. Marjorie is the kindest, hardest working and loving priest I have ever met. Simple as.

I put that down to Mark, to Lyndon (a survivor of my singing lessons), to Celyn and Cornelius, to all the extraordinary people who make St Mary’s the place it is. 

And I put that down to the other half of my time at St Mary’s, supporting our youthwork. You all know Jason Allen is a hero, as are his team, as are the young people who face danger every day.

This past year, our youthworkers have mentored 219 young people. All of them are at risk of school exclusion and gang violence. Jason and his team have intervened personally 23 plus times where there was a risk to life. They have taken 19 plus weapons off the streets. 

It is simply not possible to praise Jason highly enough. I only ask you: love him, and show your love by speaking up for him and at-risk young people. 

Headlines will ebb and flow; our life giving work will not.

So I put my unexpected love down to you all. 

You are a house of love, and one I will always call home.

Love may feel normal at St Mary’s, because it is so abundant. It permeates our worship, our work for social justice, our care for the young and the not so young.

But we cannot always say the same of the world. We must never grow complacent to love. 

So, like Mary, hold on to love – but be ready to let it go. If you do, it will shine in places and in people you never expect.

And it won’t be any the less strong with you.

It will beat all the louder.

Thank you – for everything.

***

The Reverend Nick Walters

12th April 2020