Reflections

Greatness of Soul

It’s sometimes said that if you want to gain a better perspective on life – especially if you’re a bit down in the dumps – then the best thing to do is pay a visit to the children’s ward of the local hospital. ++

Reverence: Tagging along with Jesus

I have the greatest of sympathy with couples preparing for their marriage these days. But considering the sheer amount of advance planning, the attention and effort that goes into it all (not to mention the cost) I do sometimes wonder, “Whatever they will have to talk about after the ceremony?” since this ‘project’ has absorbed so much of their time and attention for so very long? ++

Faith Has a Focus

Among the stories my Father told me about his National Service was his account of what happened when his group of recruits reported for duty. The Officer in Charge decided that he would sort them out according to their religious affiliation. Apparently, it was very simple. Firstly, there were the Catholics. Then there were the Jews; and anybody else, (no matter what they said!) were automatically categorized as ‘Church of England’. …

Pentecost: What’s going on?

A couple of young mums, a retired council worker, a podiatrist, a couple of teachers, a musician, a job centre employee- just some of the people I interviewed a little while ago. And the one thing they all had in common was that each had put their heads above the parapet and said, “I just get the sense that God is calling me to ministry in His Church”. ++

Ascension: A Bigger Horizon

Jesus said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God. 
Luke 24.44-53

Ascension Day, being on a Thursday, is one of those moments in our Christian Calendar which can easily get overlooked, …

Interfering God

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.  John 15.9-17  ++

A Convenient God?

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’

Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.  John 14.1-14

Last Wednesday I was talking with the children of our school about St. Thomas. Although he’s traditionally known as ‘doubting’ Thomas, his real gift to the Church is his honesty; +++