It is interesting to ponder upon the significant part played by rivers in our lives and how they influence us.  Indeed - the very word "influence" comes from a Latin root meaning to flow, nowadays the word is more associated with the sense of the "power to produce effects".  So, when you think about rivers what kind of thoughts and effects do they produce in you?

Here in Kelvedon and Feering our two villages are divided by a river - the Blackwater.  Any city worth its salt surely needs a river.  Can you imagine London without old Father Thames flowing through it?  What would Paris be like without the Seine.  Think about those campanologists who had rather too much vino to drink on a recent visit to Paris and falling into the river with their precious handbells began to sing - "I'm ringing in the Seine, just ringing in the Seine, what a glorious feeling, I'm happy again".  Or can you imagine Rome without the Tiber?  Venice and Birmingham may have their canals - the latter famously having more than the former - but a city really does need a river.  What would Liverpool be like without the Mersey?

Coming originally from the North East of England the area is dominated by three great rivers - the Tyne, the Wear and the Tees.  What a vast influence they have had on that area over the years.  My favourite walk in all the world is along the wooded banks of the River Wear - looking up to see Durham cathedral - that great Zion of the North - appearing majestically from the trees.  Indeed when I am but dust I would like my ashes tipped into the Wear from Prebends Bridge so that they flow past my spiritual home and out into the North Sea.  Yet, while I am still here - there's nothing quite like a neet out on the toon in Nyurcassle upon Tyne (how splendid that even the BBC have instructed their reporters to pronounce the name of that great northern city - the way that Geordies themselves do).  To walk down Gray Street past all that splendid architecture uplifts the spirit as one descends to the river - there to discover all those splendid bridges which join Newcastle to Gateshead.  Yes we would all be so much to poorer if all the rivers of the world were to suddenly dry up.  I'm sure that Willie Waggledagger - the Bard of Avon, was greatly influenced by the flow and the vibrancy of rivers as he sat by them and contemplated what play or sonnet to write next either in his native Stratford or in the taverns of Southwark.

Yet, surely of all the rivers of the world - even the mighty Ganges, which the Hindus regard as both sacred and divine - none can have had a greater effect and influence on humanity than the River Jordan.  If you've ever seen it - you will know that it's hardly a river at all - a mere trickle - simply a beck.  Yet that stream of water has been highly influential in human thinking.  I've seen that river on a number of occasions in the past.  It was a marvellous experience to stand on its banks and meditate upon the Lord's baptism by John.  My absolute favourite painting in the National Gallery is by Piero della Francesca and depicts that scene.  How calm and serene our Blessed Lord looks within it as John the Baptiser pours the water upon him.  Over the Lord's sacred head (which three years hence will be surrounded by a crown of thorns) hovers the white dove - symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The last time I saw the River Jordan was during a trip to the Kingdom of Jordan, a couple of years ago.  I stood where Pope John Paul II and Moses had stood before me on top of Mount Nebo and looked over the desert to see a little ribbon of green which marked out the course of the holy river.  From that vantage point you can also see Jericho - the city of palms - after 40 years of wandering in the wilderness Moses was granted a sighting of the Promised Land - though he was not allowed to enter into it.  The task of leading the Hebrew people thereafter fell to Joshua.  More to the point, when I took out my binoculars I could quite clearly see on the distant hills the spires and towers of Holy City itself - Jerusalem the Golden.  The spiritual significance of the River Jordan is surely that it marks the boundary between the earthly and the heavenly kingdoms.  The ancient Hebrews crossed the Jordan to enter into the Promised Land - Christians, when they die, spiritually cross the Jordan to gain access to the Kingdom of Heaven - the New Jerusalem.  That's what all those Negro Spirituals on crossing "One more river - that's the river of Jordan" are all about.  I recall the evangelical preacher giving a sermon against the demon drink.  "I'm going to take all the whisky and pour it out into the river, I'm going to take all the gin and pour it out into the river, I'm going to take all the brandy and pour it out into the river. . . .  We shall now sing hymn number 345 - 'Shall we gather at the river?'"

This year we have a significant number of baptisms to look forward to.  When we stand around the font, as baptisms are taking place imagine yourself not in St. Mary's Kelvedon or All Saints' Feering but in the Holy Land beside the River Jordan.  Yet, even more so - imagine yourself in Jerusalem in the Garden of Resurrection with Mary of Magdala, beside the Empty Tomb.  Jesus was baptised in order to identify himself completely with us.  We are baptised in order to identify ourselves completely with Jesus.  But we are baptised not because Jesus was baptised - we are baptised because Jesus died and rose again in order that we too may share in his glorious Risen Life.

All Blessings to you,

FATHER DAVID