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Showing posts from May, 2010

Trinity Sunday

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John 16:12-15 Jesus said: ‘I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come. He will glorify me, since all he tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: All he tells you will be taken from what is mine There are many challenges to Faith. We know that some of them come from outside; from those whose only faith is in what can be proved; scientifically, mathematically, logically. But the challenges within are even stronger; the challenge not to rely on science, mathematics or logic. To have faith; to believe in a God that contains all that but is beyond all that; who made us in His image but who cannot be imagined. An explainable God is really not a God at all. A God who named himself ‘I am’ (himself/herse

Catch 22

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Gospel John 20:19-23 In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. ‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ After saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’ We usually hear this Gospel as part of the Resurrection visitations. Although many of us may not hear it properly, as it is part of the Sunday reading where Thomas’ doubts are answered by the Lord’s appearance. The interplay between the Lord and Thomas tends to grab the attention and, just like witnesses after the event, we can be left wondering ‘What was that other thing that was said?’ ; and thinking may

God Mother

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We are the apple of our God Mother’s eye. Nestled outside Time in the velvet warmth of Her womb Our lives a filigree painted on the palms of Her hand Names forever on Her lips. We are the children She dreamed; before She dreamed of anything else. The Word spoke And the Word drew Creation out of Darkness A home for Her beloveds. Then God Mother saw that it was good And the Light of the Word Became light for Her children And shone even in darkness. So we would know She was near. Know She is near- In the breath of the morning breeze Feel Her caress In the dread of fear Feel her Wings around you In the sound of laughter Know Her joy In the release of tears Accept Her healing In the dark of being alone Bathe in Her light She will never leave us orphans God and Mother of us all beyond the counting of the stars Each and every one of us A god child. wordinthehand2010

Going Home

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Luke 24:46-53 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this. ‘And now I am sending down to you what the Father has promised. Stay in the city then, until you are clothed with the power from on high.’ Then he took them out as far as the outskirts of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. Now as he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven. They worshipped him and then went back to Jerusalem full of joy; and they were continually in the Temple praising God. You are witnesses to this It seems then, at last, the disciples have learn to listen; have got the message. The time spent with them after the Resurrection has been all worthwhile as the Lord is able to teach them how everything really had come together; how the pieces fit

Queen of the Holy Ordinary

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It’s Mother’s Day today in America and through some of my friends, I received Happy Mothers Day wishes - which I have gratefully accepted, two Mother’s Days a year seems like a very good idea to me. One of the good wishes was a prayer of blessing –from the Queen of the Holy Ordinary – Mary herself. A title that delighted me; because it reminds me of why Mary is so important to me. There is very little about Mary in the Gospels; how much do we need to know about the girl that became the Mother of God? There are some who believe that her only duty was to be the human ‘incubator’ and there is nothing else to thank her for. If this is the case, Jesus may as well have sprung fully formed, like Venus, from the sea. There is a lot more to motherhood than incubation! We have come to understand about the courage that Mary needed to say that first ‘yes’. How the culture and tradition of the time could have meant her death, or at least exile, there and then. This was not going to be a fairytale o

As I love you

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John 15:12 love one another, as I have loved you. To throw a quote back at you, Lord You do not know what you ask… To love one another as you love and to make it sound so simple – one law; one commandment. But Love, Lord? Truly, I don’t even know how you love me. And yet you say the Word And I am healed. So the least I can do Is try. Wordinthehand2010