Good?afternoon.?I remind members of? the Covid-related measures that are in place. Face coverings should be worn when moving around?the chamber and across the Holyrood?campus.
The first item of business this afternoon is time for reflection. Our time for reflection leader today is the Rev Sheila Moir, who is minister at Dryburgh District Churches, Scottish Borders.
Presiding Officer and members of the Scottish Parliament, thank you for the opportunity and privilege to share time of reflection with you this afternoon.
There is a hymn called “The Servant Song”, which I count as one of my favourites in the Church of Scotland’s hymn book. The second verse is especially relevant to where I live and serve my parishes in the Borders, in that it talks about being pilgrims on a journey. Let me read it to you:
“We are pilgrims on a journey,
and companions on the road;
we are here to help each other
walk the mile and share the load.”
Living beside St Cuthbert’s way means that we see pilgrims almost daily as they walk the familiar paths that have been walked for hundreds of years. On 20 March each year, St Cuthbert is celebrated as a Celtic saint. Cuthbert, who initially spent time tending sheep on the hills in the Borders, is said to have seen a vision of angels in the night sky and a light descending from heaven, and he is well known for prophecy and visions. He then went to Old Melrose, where he was guided and mentored by St Boisil, the prior at Old Melrose, who is less well known. The pair became good friends. Cuthbert went to Lindisfarne to continue his ministry of preaching and to spend time in reflection.
This is also the season of Lent in our Christian churches—a time of preparation and reflection as we journey towards the cross and Easter, celebrating our risen Lord. I am aware, too, as we all are, that it is a difficult time for the people of Ukraine and the countries around Ukraine, which are taking in the many refugees and tending to their needs.
“The Servant Song” hymn offers some hope. It is a prayer for all who are finding life difficult at this time, along with the journeys that they make daily.
“I will hold the Christ-light for you
in the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
speak the peace you long to hear.
I will weep when you are weeping;
when you laugh I’ll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow
till we’ve seen this journey through.”
The words resonate for me as I watch and reflect on what is happening in Ukraine. We live in a world that is very much in need of peace, hope and love. May we all seek to do whatever we can at this time for all who are in need, as well as show kindness to one another.
Thank you for listening.