From Rev Jane Willis

 

We’ve introduced a box for ‘wondering’ questions for assemblies at Dorchester St Birinus CofE Primary School – the children post their questions in the box, and then I or one of our Abbey assemblies team pick a question and then base our assembly on it. You might be amazed at the range of questions! A couple of weeks ago I chose ‘Why are people in charge of the world and not octopuses?’

 

Researching in preparation I discovered some remarkable octopus facts (which it turned out the children already knew!) – including an Oxford scientist who argues that if the human race became extinct, through wars or climate change, octopuses are a likely species to evolve to become the dominant species on our plant. As we say, every day’s a school day!

 

All this led us on to think about what is special about human beings, and our responsibility for our world. As we reflect on the deeply concerning developments in our world, what model of leadership do we find in the Bible? What does greatness look like through the lens of the scripture? The Bible speaks of a saviour who has come ‘not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’  (Mark 10:43-45) The Bible gives us a picture of the ‘downwardly mobile’ God – of Jesus, our saviour and our example of true greatness:

 

6 who, though he was in the form of God,

    did not regard equality with God

    as something to be exploited,

7 but emptied himself,

    taking the form of a slave,

    being born in human likeness.

 

And being found in human form,

8     he humbled himself

    and became obedient to the point of death—

    even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him

    and gave him the name

    that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus

    every knee should bend,

    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue should confess

    that Jesus Christ is Lord,

    to the glory of God the Father.  (Philippians 2:6-11)

 

So as we approach Holy Week, Good Friday and Easter – may we pray for our needy world, and fix our eyes and our hope on Jesus.

Every blessing,

Rev’d Jane