Word in the Hand

Opening Prayer Here I am Lord, Listening Speak to me within my heart and soul. I am listening. Romans 8:16 (The Message) We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. Reflection God’s desire is for us, all of us, to be with Him. The only thing we need to do is believe it too. We don’t have to listen to the man rules – we don’t have to make ourselves bad, guilty, ashamed – that is our judgement; not God’s. God knows we are human – we do human things – He made us – He loves us. With love, what parent has a child so perfect that they never make a mistake? With love, what parent disowns a child for a childish mistake? With love, what child does not learn from his mistakes? With love, what child does not expect to be forgiven? It is not making the mistake that is sinful, but the inability to admit our flaws or to ask for help. Because it is the helplessness, hopelessness of being in the wrong place that allows us to become that lost child who waits for God, our loving Fat...

Opening Prayer Here I am Lord, Listening Speak to me within my heart and soul. I am listening. John 1:36 ‘Come and See.’ Reflection I suppose I could have just answered the question but this is much more interesting. It’s a teaching method I picked up. My Father does it too. You are such curious children, so demanding, so full of questions. But there’s no point in giving you the answers because, lets be honest, most of the time you only want the answer that suits you. And I am not here just to suit you; to give you the higher ground; to make you feel superior. But I am here for you; to be your guide; your companion; your brother on the road. This invitation to come and see - it’s not like a travel programme on the television; filmed through a soft focus lens; a filtered blue sky; full of gorgeous images with a veneer of luxury to entice the eye. It’s not like a holiday brochure, photographed from the perfect angle; colour tinted to perfection. It’s not about image or imagery – pretendi...

Gospel 16 th January 2009 Mark 2:1-12 After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum , and word got around that he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren't able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, "Son, I forgive your sins." Some religion scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves, "He can't talk that way! That's blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins." Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, "Why are you so sceptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, 'I forgive your sins,' or say, 'Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking'? Well, just so it's clear that I'm the Son of Man and authorised to do either...

Opening Prayer Here I am Lord, Listening Speak to me within my heart and soul. I am listening. John 20:15-16 (The Message) Jesus spoke to her, "Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?" She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, "Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him." Jesus said, "Mary." Reflection Why was I weeping? It seems ridiculous. A person like me, supposedly adult, seemingly sensible, seemingly ‘together’, crying like a love-sick teenager. But that’s what it felt like Lord; Love-sickness; sick of being in love with an image; an ideal; a vision of a God who is supposed to love me too. But it never seemed like you were there; not really there. Who says that love is a two-way thing? Sometimes it isn’t – sometimes it’s sitting on the stairs at parties waiting for ‘the one’ to walk by, sometimes it’s pretending to be interested in football or music so that you can join in the conversation; sometimes it’s ...

Opening Prayer Here I am Lord, Listening Speak to me within my heart and soul. I am listening. 1 John 2:14-17 I have written to you who are God’s children because you know the Father. I have written to you who are mature in the faith because you know Christ, who existed from the beginning. I have written to you who are young in the faith because you are strong. God’s word lives in your hearts, and you have won your battle with the evil one. Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. Reflection I was an art student in the nineties, a mature student, but nevertheless…One of our trips to...