It was a homecoming. On 22 June 1535 after 14 months imprisonment John Fisher left his prison to be executed - I quote - ‘glad to die for the truth of Christ’s Catholic Faith’. Earlier he had been made a Cardinal, something that did not help his cause. Henry VIII scornfully commented ‘let the Pope send him a hat – I will so provide that whoever wears it shall soon have no head to set it on’.
Five centuries later we witnessed the solemn act of welcoming a Cardinal back to the Tower. A congregation of 200 packed into the Chapel Royal at The Tower saw Richard Chartres, Bishop of London embrace the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster over the tomb of the martyr Cardinal after the two bishops had jointly dedicated the memorial.
Bishop Chartres went on to remind us that true ecumenical dialogue involves facing up to the different perceptions of history. Addressing a largely Roman Catholic congregation he admitted the ‘fascinating yet terrifying’ reality of King Henry VIII whilst affirming the continuity of the Church in England through the troubled period that included Fisher’s courageous martyrdom along with that of Thomas More with whom he shares today’s commemoration.
Richard Chartres praised both the courage and discernment of Fisher ‘miscast as an unbending champion of an old order’ though himself a vigorous reformer as Bishop of Rochester. Saint John Fisher had no time for externals and peripherals. He discerned and concentrated on what were to him and to many essential issues. This led him to witness the parallel between the incarnation and the real presence in the Eucharist as expounded in John 6 and also to champion the ecumenical role of the Papacy. On account of these convictions held so courageously Fisher was unable to accept the Act of Supremacy for which he was sentenced to death.
I remember the then Cardinal, Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, praising the generosity of spirit exemplified by the ecumenical hospitality of that day. The forces bringing about disunity in the 16th Century, as today, reflect sin and pride as well as the failure to witness to the truth by living it out. Nevertheless the road of ecumenism whose end is unity, is one way – there is no exit, only completion. The Cardinal warned us against letting perfection become the enemy of that of which we are capable, a comment exemplifying an almost Anglican way of thinking. As Holy Trinity knows well we are schooled in live and let live, be our formative influence sacramental or evangelical, catholic or sacramental, liberal or conservative in churchmanship.
As we look towards the Lambeth Conference later in the month St John Fisher and St Thomas More are a reminder of how the well being of Christianity rests on a generous response to the movement of the Holy Spirit - as shown in that service - and upon the courage of those in dialogue to speak the truth. Bishop Chartres invited us to reflect ourselves on the question ‘what are we as Christians prepared to die for?’ and went on to say that answering this question involves discerning occasions when we need the courage to say ‘No’ as both men did faced with the bullying of King Henry. That courage is now celebrated by their place in the Calendar of Saints of both the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches.
Today’s saints are an unfashionable reminder of the Church’s most powerful resource which is holiness, the courage associated with it and its foundation in truth. Our days are different to those of John Fisher, our stresses and strains as Christians, real as they are, seem a long way from those experienced by a martyr saint in the Tower of London. Nevertheless the issues of keeping our nerve and the courage of our convictions whilst remaining gracious seem as real for Christians in England today as they have ever been. They are also issues that demonstrate how much we need one another as Christians and as ecclesial communities – the power of apathy and unbelief around us seem too strong for our churches to tackle alone.
Father, we pray for the visible unity of Christ’s Church. Mindful of past sin and division we pray with your Son, ‘that we may all be one. As you, Father, are in your Son and he is in you, may we also be in you, so that the world may believe that you have sent your Son, Jesus Christ’. Give wisdom to Justin our Archbishop and the Lambeth Conference, Pope Francis, Patriarch Bartholomew and leaders of the Evangelical Churches. Lord, hear us…
We echo, Lord, the prayer and aspiration of the book of Revelation, that ‘the kingdom of this world become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ’ as we recall the varies troubles the world faces, especially in Eastern Europe. Give world leaders courage, prudence and integrity at the prayer of John Fisher and Thomas More. Lord, hear us…
Lord we pray for our Church in its pastoral vacancy, especially for the Churchwardens and priests helping out. Grant heavenly wisdom to Bishop Martin and all involved in the appointment of a faithful priest to serve here in Holy Trinity in succession to Fr Michael. Lord, hear us…
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