A jubilee mass was held at St Paul’s Cathedral in Nicosia on Saturday—the feast of St Ambrose—to celebrate with former bishop of the Diocese of Cyprus and the Gulf the Right Reverend Michael Lewis the 25th anniversary of his ordination as bishop; the 45th of his ordination as priest. The service included a collection for Ras Morbat Clinic, Aden.
Bishop Michael’s sermon was thought-provoking, moving and—as is his way—warmly witty.
Reflecting on the Gospel reading (John 21:15-19), Bishop Michael described the sermon preached at the service of his ordination as bishop in York Minster, in 1999, which had a similarly “agricultural” theme.
The preacher, he said, had grown up in Ireland “deep in farming country”—and selected the image of a ring of cattle circling the trough, “huffing, puffing, rumps exposed, chomping on their food”: an image of warning, said the preacher, for bishops who, while of course having the right to eat, must consider how others might perceive them. Bishops, he said, must “look up, turn around, roam” to learn what’s out there.
Bishop Michael reflected, too, on the regular observation of his wife, Julia: “It’s not all about you.” Indeed: “Eucharists,” he said, “are about the churches, and the churches are about Christ.” But this was a particular day on which this bishop “gave thanks for his call to Ministry”—and he was joined by the people of this diocese and beyond.
Julia, who was unable to attend the service due to illness, was much missed. Bishop Sean asks all to hold in their prayers Julia and Bishop Michael.
(Bishop Michael was ordained as deacon on 2 July 1978; as priest on 1 July 1979 by Mervyn, Lord Bishop of Southwark in Southwark Cathedral; and as bishop on 7 December 1999 by David, Lord Archbishop of York in York Minster)
(Click on images below to enlarge photo)
