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I returned to St Martin’s yesterday from a holiday during which I visited in Chennai in India. Absence they say makes the heart grow fonder. There is truth in this. Yesterday I came into this church in the morning hungry not only for the quiet and beauty of this place but, disorientated and tired after my long flight and the experience I had been through

“If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.”

That ‘if’, is a powerful word.  It’s the word that has underscored the covenant that God has with Israel. A covenant based on a relationship of trust and fidelity.  But Israel has decided it wants to be ruled by kings.

Anger is back in fashion. The Trump supporters are angry. The Trump opponents are angry. The Brexiteers are constantly angry: angry with Europe, angry with Remainers, angry with mild Brexiteers, angry with each other. The Remainers are angry that more people don’t seem to be angry enough about it all.

The story of David and Bathsheba comes at a crossroads moment in the Old Testament. Before this story come the calling of Abraham, the descent of Israel into Egypt under Joseph and its dramatic escape under Moses, the 40 years in the wilderness, the entry into the Promised Land under Joshua, the era of the judges, the anointing of King Saul and the zenith of Israel’s favour under David

Jesus takes the child’s five loaves of bread and two fish, blesses them by giving thanks for them, breaks them for distribution by his disciples to the crowd, then asks his disciples to gather up the broken fragments of the meal in baskets so that none is wasted.

On Friday I was at my mother’s house. She needs full time care now, as she has dementia and no mobility and my younger brother who cares for her like a saint is away on holiday.

In the October November issue of the St Martin’s Review 1996 there is an article about Sibyl. The title of the article is “If in doubt ask Sibyl” That I think would be a very fitting epitaph for a woman who became a St Martin’s legend. Sibyl’s family connections with St Martin-in-the-Fields go back to 1910 when her mother Rose Saxby first began attending services here.

I live my life at something of a rush, and often more in the future than the present.  Even as I’m doing one thing at least half my mind is occupied with the next thing, or the one after that. But, occasionally, I get interrupted.

It’s going to be hard talking about weakness just after England won their World Cup match against Sweden yesterday. But then for those who know, in our home we also support Croatia, so as someone’s got to lose in the semi final they play on Wednesday, I think I can safely stay with the theme. Although with two horses in the race I also can’t lose!