The last Sunday of the Church Year, the Feast of Christ the King and the beginning of Advent are two very important times for church members. Like all "ends of the year" there is a strong compulsion to look back and see what went right or wrong with the year past; in effect to do a stock-take!

For me, there is a special significance this year because the 30^th November was also the Feast of St Andrew and the 44^th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood, so I have been taking stock of the past 44 years! 

Some task!  If I were honest, I would join the good company of many politicians and just say, "I can't remember!" This is because there are really many things I don't remember; but when I get together with someone I have known for many years lots of things are brought up and I say, "O, yes!  I do remember that!' or, more often, I deny the charge altogether! They remember some strange things!

However, I really do look back with a great deal of mixed feelings.  There are some things I would prefer not to remember but they remain with me like a wound. I cannot remember who spoke on the subject, but I do remember the point being made that the really unpleasant happenings in our life give us grief and often leave scars which never fade away.  We were reminded that the scars on the body of Christ are the scars from the wounds on the cross bringing us salvation.  So, sometimes we have to come to terms with sad memories or regrets which never leave us. The scars remain as symbols of past battles we have endured; the winning or the losing of those battles is in a sense irrelevant; what remains is that we have lived through that experience and by the grace of God we are here today.

However, some of those experiences leave us with bitterness, which is very difficult to erase. I find dealing with this myself or trying to help people come to terms with this, is exceedingly testing. Bitterness robs us of peace of mind and eats into our very souls, sapping our spiritual strength. It needs facing and dealing with.

But, there are also happy and joy-filled memories whose recall gives us great pleasure. The love of family and friends; the great fellowship with other Christians who have shared their triumphs, grief and failures; these all leave us with a wonderfully rich legacy.

This is the overwhelming feeling I have of my time in the ministry. (Indeed of my whole life!)  

I recall someone close to death saying to me, "So what happens if, when you die you find that all the "stuff" you have been talking about all those years is not true?  What will you do then?"

My response was pretty quick in coming.  I replied, "Well if it is not true, then I will always be grateful for my life in the church because it has given me great opportunities of service, good fellowship, great friends and many, many happy times."

I then asked him the question, "The big question for you is, what happens to you, if all the things I have been talking about are true?"  There was just a baleful stare and no response.

But this year, the 30^th November, the Feast of Christ the King, in the Gospel Jesus challenges all Christians about our response to those in need, the hungry, the poor, sick, in prison, and so on. I always find this unsettling because it is not just a question for the church, but it is also a personal question.   "The church," I say, "has many institutions for dealing with the poor and others in need, I do not have to be in contact with them.  There are experts who deal with that".

This, I am afraid is commonly called a "cop out". We all have neighbours who are lonely, sick, poor, and even imprisoned in some affliction or another.  We will be held accountable for our neglect of them too.

So looking back challenges us to look forward. If we have learned anything from our past, how are we going to put it into practice in the future? 

Advent asks us to look at our selves as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, and in the expectation of the great gift of God's Son and the salvation he brought into the world.  What am I planning as a gift in return? This is the essence of the Advent challenge. Christ gives his all for us; what do we give in return?

Ordination is a life-offering. It has had many pitfalls and many challenges, but it has brought many companions on the way.  We all know that the word "companion" comes from two Latin words meaning "com - with" and "panis - bread".   This speaks of our eating the "bread of life and drinking of the cup of salvation" in our Eucharistic worship, and equally of our eating and drinking with our companions who share with us, both in our human priestly journey and in our Christian journey. 

I am always grateful for my companions who have shared with me in all parts of my life journey.

I especially give thanks at this time for the journeying with you all in this parish over the past fifteen months.  I thank God for every remembrance of you all, and wish you God's richest blessings in your own personal journey and in your journey in the parish with Tony and Robyn White in the years to come.

The Lord be with you.