Frugal Lunch

 Frugal Lunch Reflection 8.12.15 (1675)

Before I begin can I ask that at the end of this we have 10/15 seconds of silent reflection.

The year 2003 was a significant one for me. It was in July of that year that I became Club President. Then in August I was ordained deacon. Three or four weeks before ordination my wife Jo and I were invited to take tea with our Bishop Brian at his home. We talked about various matters both personal and to do with my future ministry whilst enjoying a cup of tea and one, or two, of his home-made scones. One of the leading questions he asked Jo was to comment on whether I had any faults. I cringed! Her swift retort was, "He doesn't know when to say ‘No’!" I squirmed! Bishop Brian was not best pleased. Anyway, the reason why I mention this is that when some months ago President Rod asked me if I would deliver a 15 minute Christmas message I reverted to type and immediately said, "Yes". It was only later that the consequences of my foolhardy yes caused me, and possibly you, some reason for concern. I think President Rod suggested something, "short and punchy". You’ll have to settle for someone short and paunchy!

When I was in training I recall having to deliver a practice homily with my preaching hero, Father Denis McBride, in the congregation. I realised that today I could be speaking to a group with varying degrees of belief and including three members who are vastly more experienced at this than I am. Why should I feel petrified? But then I realised that one doesn't have to be an erudite, articulate speaker to relay the Christmas message of peace and love, compassion and good neighbourliness. And so I hope and pray that although I may not have the oratorical skills and my delivery may not be as polished as my fellow Rotarian clergymen perhaps my words will nevertheless have some meaning for some of you.

I am, what people used to refer to as a cradle Catholic. When I first came to England and to Nantwich almost 60 years ago sad to say it was my Catholicism and not my bronzed complexion that elicited a little bit of prejudice. Fortunately times have changed.

When in 1993 I was eventually able to say yes to joining Rotary and survived the rigorous vetting procedure I realised that the Objects of Rotary were totally compatible with my Christian faith and beliefs.

So, too, the Four Way Test:-

1   Is it the truth?

2   Is it fair to all concerned?

3   Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

4   Will it be beneficial to all concerned? 

And then there is the fundamental motto of the Rotary movement: Service above Self.

I see so many similarities between the community that is a Rotary club and a parish, which is a Church community.  Both are rooted in service with humility and compassion. At this time of year there are so many comparable events and undertakings with similar objectives in Christian churches and in Rotary clubs certainly in GB and I. I acknowledge that Rotary International and Rotary clubs are non-religious non-political entities. I also acknowledge that although compassion and concern are basic and fundamental to Christian ethos they are by no means exclusive to Christianity.

All of you have been or are successful in your business or vocational and altruistic community lives. This has enabled you to become effective Rotarians. Christians and so-called do-gooders including Rotarians attract scorn, contempt and worse. At the heart of this is ignorance, arrogance, misunderstanding and maybe jealousy and envy. The word "do-gooder" has itself become a word synonymous with ridicule.

Listen to these words of Jesus from Matthew's Gospel. "For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me."

I don't need to explain to you how Rotarians of every race, colour or creed fulfil those words. It takes time, effort and sacrifice. Time is a very precious commodity. Giving time can be more painful than giving money particularly on a cold winter evening with the float or standing freezing on The Square with a bucket, or sweating in an itchy polyester beard. But the feel good factor at the end of the stint is a great feeling isn't it. And I'm sure you've all noticed how generous people can be in very many different ways at Christmas time.

When visiting the sick with communion I invariably read the Gospel passage for the day. A couple of weeks ago as I read the passage about the widow’s mite to a widow lady I became aware of some strange sounds. When I had finished reading and looked up she was scrabbling around in her purse and handed me several coins. I couldn’t stifle an audible chuckle. Imagine my reaction when this happened again later that morning. I think I may have inadvertently stumbled onto a new way of fundraising.

Wars and disasters are part of human history and now, just days before Christmas, we are at war again. Jesuit priest Fr. Anthony De Mello, of Goan extraction like me said, "These things will destroy the human race: politics without principle, progress without compassion, wealth without work, learning without silence, religion without fearlessness, and worship without awareness.” Slightly tongue in cheek I could add, so to a world without Rotary. In our relentlessly turbulent world I can’t remember any periods of sustained peace. It is individuals who start and sustain both good and evil movements. Somehow individuals like us must foster tolerance and love to overcome religious fundamentalism and hate. As we know Rotary International sponsors Peace Scholars. Whether rich or poor, godly or ungodly, tolerant or intolerant, everyone we encounter has to be treated with equal dignity and love. The emphasis today must be on compassion, mercy, peace and love. As Rotarians we all choose to follow the path of peace and love by our actions and our words. Like the puppy, it is a message not just for Christmas.

There is a slightly selfish streak in me that acknowledges that when I help others I feel better as well as helping them feel better – a win-win situation. This seems to me to be a psychological human tenet irrespective of whether one is Christian or atheist.

These powerful words were written by clergyman Edward Everett Hale: ‘I am only one; but still I am one. I can’t do everything; but still I can do something: and because I can’t do everything, I will not refuse to do the something I can do.’

There are individuals from every walk of life, from business, from sport, from Rotary who started and fostered great projects. Polio Plus is but one example. And then there was Jesus of Nazareth. The Power of One.

On Monday last week I read a story about a competition between two men to decide who could fell the most trees in a day. One man was older and experienced, the other younger but less experienced. The younger man hacked and chopped for eight hours solid and felled 25 trees. “I'm stronger and fitter”, he thought, “I’ll win”. The older man took a 10 minute break every hour but still felled 40 trees. And the older man explained to the incredulous young man, "Every hour I sat down for 10 minutes and did two things. First, I took time to rest and recharge my batteries. Second, I took time to sharpen my axe." During this hectic time in preparing for Christmas take time for rest and renewal. Good works and God’s work take time, effort and sacrifice only properly achievable with periods of rest.

It is not my intention to embarrass any of you. But before I finish I would like to challenge us all. I'm sure that you are all familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Of how two clergymen walked past the wounded traveller but it was a Samaritan, a sworn enemy of the Jews, who stopped to help. And so I ask, am I priest or Levite Rotarian or Samaritan Rotarian? Do I find excuses for avoiding helping others, avoiding helping with a project, avoiding helping when volunteers are needed? I have to say that as a Catholic Christian I have an advantage of being very familiar with the concept of guilt!

For the last few years I have received a calendar from Graham Tresidder with a motto for each day of the week. One such motto read, "Every man is guilty of all the good things he didn't do”. When I read that I had another Catholic guilt trip.

It is customary for the proceeds of the Christmas lunch to be given to a charity or charities of the speaker’s choice. If there is anything left after paying for our sumptuous lunch I intend to donate some of it to a young man called Thomas Selby who, during the next few months, will be making trips to India and Uganda to teach English and to help build classrooms. Thomas’ school suggested that he contact a Rotary club for financial help and after discussing this with our President he made the splendid suggestion that some of today’s proceeds be used in this way. The larger part will be donated to a children's charity operating in Cheshire and the Wirral, working for children who need fostering, and for related activities.

May I now wish each of you and your families a happy, a healthy and maybe even a holy Christmas. May your homes be havens of peace, boom with laughter and overflow with love. May we never forget what is and who is the focus of our Christmas celebrations.

It is said, "People need loving the most when they deserve it the least." For me personally It’s tough, but great, to be a Christian. It’s also tough, but great, to be a Rotarian. Deo gratias.

 Rev Pete Mascarenhas