All ye that are heavy-laden

Available for 19 days

Spiritual reflection to start the day with Fr Philip Blackledge of Holy Trinity Scottish Episcopal Church, Melrose. Script: Good morning. I hope you’re having a good bank holiday weekend. When I was growing up there was something kind of magical about a bank holiday. I remember thinking how important banks must be, that everyone else stopped working when they stopped. And in those days they did - banks and shops and almost everything was shut. Because of that, activities were simpler; going out on bikes with friends, or a family trip in the car to see a local ruined monastery or place where you could sit and have a picnic. Long into the past, Holidays or Holy days were times of celebration and rest. A time for communal eating, singing together and worshipping God, much of which we still do in a more ritual form in church, and in a more relaxed way at home. And even now in a world where everyone seems to need more and more stimulation and interest, that word, embedded in our language, holiday - holy day, is a reminder of the God who says “come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”. We often have burdens to bear, real and difficult troubles. But that makes it all the more essential that those of us who are fortunate enough, should savour those Holy Days, when we may be at rest from the world, and where we have space to quiet our minds. Almighty God, your son called us to come to him, that our yoke may be easy and our burden light. Give us the wisdom to remove from our shoulders the weight of anxiety and worry, the fear of the future and the regrets of the past. Take from us the heaviness of this world, and put upon us the lightness of your love. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, whose burden was borne for all of us. Amen.