Fishy tales from the Gospels of Saints Luke and John .........

The River Derwent represents the boundary between this parish and its neighbouring parishes. The Derwent flows from the North Penninnes through the Reservoir it gives its name and on into the Tyne. The Derwent also marks the boundary between Northumberland and Durham 'The Land of the Prince Bishops' and also the boundary between the Diocese of Newcastle and Durham.

So these are borderlands.

Snods Edge carries in its name the strong implication of being on the edge, at the edge, a border place but it is not an edgy place it is in fact a quiet and relaxed place.

I am looking forward to March 22nd when the fishing season in England opens and I can make my way down to the Derwent Reservoir and cast a fly on the water in the hope of landing that first trout of the season.

J M W Turner the painter though of fishing as a must relaxing and enjoyable sport and painted a number of fly fishermen into his lake and river scenes.

Fishing also comes up this Sunday in the Gospel set for the day.

The not quite yet disciples had been fishing all night when Jesus asks to borrow their boat to use as a pulpit. After he finishes teaching the crowd about the messiah he suggest to Peter and John and Andrew that they should set out.

Initially they refuse, they had fished all night, they were tired and ready for bed but Jesus insists and they agree.

They cast their nets on the 'other side' and are rewarded with a great haul of fish.

They leave their nets and follow him.

In John's Gospel this miracle occurs after Jesus resurrection and after the Disciples have returned to their fishing and in John the number of fish is recorded as 153.

153 is a significant number. It adds up to 9. The Beatles on the White Album had a mysterious, trippy track called Number 9. But in biblical terms the number is used to represent the fruits of God's Holy Spirit, which are Faithfulness, Gentleness, Goodness, Joy, Kindness, Long suffering, Love, Peace and Self-control (Galatians 5:22 - 23).

 It is also used to indicate divine completion and fulfilment.

 For the early Christians in the catacombs the Fish was a powerful symbol of their christian faith. There is a rather bitty slightly doggerelish explanation for this.

 The Greek word for Fish is 'icthus' the letters of the Greek word can then be transliterated as: i Jesus, c Christus, th theos, u Son , s Soterios. Giving us: Jesus Christ Son of God, Saviour.

 These days you don't see the fish symbol in Catacombs but generally on the rear windows of Volvos overtaking you at 90 mph on the motorway!

 So this weekend there is a shared lunch after our morning service, I'm not sure if fish is on the menu but I rather think that it should be.

 Meanwhile I will begin to oil my fishing lines, oil my reels, maybe tie a fly or two and practice my casting in ready for the season beginning.

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