Word in the Hand

Easter Midrash  An imagined story of Good Friday  "The servant’s name was Malchus." John 18:10 The servant's name is Malchus. I am not dead yet, rather, far from it. I don't know how others felt when they were healed but the inside of a miracle is a place of light and clarity beyond any new dawn. The complex weaving of skin only reflecting the myriad unravelling of thoughts and memories below the surface. Paths of life's story being made straight. My name is Malchus. Named by my mother. Her bedtime tale that I was named after the appearance, in Jerusalem, of regal scholars from the East. Magi seeking a king who had not yet been born. A slave herself, she had stood holding a lamp as the temple priests and scribes argued amongst themselves; no-one wishing to tell Herod that the prophecy was not for his line. When I was born just a few days later, I became her little 'king'. That's what Malchus means. I didn't thank her for it. Growing up ...

The seven sayings of Jesus on the Cross are gathered from the four Gospels and form a meditation for the waiting...... My waiting...  Forgiveness –       'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do'  I wake up to the radio dj exhorting the promise of a four day weekend - opportunities for shopping and eating, long lie-ins and late nights. Two million people have already left the country for sunshine, sea and forgetfulness. The radio adverts tell of a local pub offering a Spring 'All you can eat' BBQ later in the day.  Salvation –       '' Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise'  Opening the front door of my house I am welcomed by the promising new birth colours of the cherry blossom against the perfectly blue sky. The gardens and fields on the way to church scream out in vivid yellows and acid greens. Runners in dayglow vests patrol the pavements and pathways at a stead...

I remember, Lord, the ‘Come and See’. Remember, I came; following, listening, learning. Full of joy, full of hope – the New Day was going to dawn, the Kingdom of God was near. I did not come to ‘see’ this, Lord; standing ankle deep in the waste of the city, tears streaming silently down my face, my mouth full of blood as I bite down on my tongue to stop myself from crying out. For I do not want these others to know that I know you. I don’t know you. The fear, the demons, the hopelessness is back and you are not here to save me. The crowd shouts out to you ‘Save yourself’ and I truly believe that you could – even now, you could. But it seems you are taking yourself out of this world. Your light is too bright for them and they have closed their eyes against it. What sort of plan was this? You had driven me here with the message of love and forgiveness. But who got the message? The plan has gone wrong. If not, how is it right? The meek were going to inherit but all I have is this hil...

Tenebrae2012  The seven sayings of Jesus on the Cross are gathered from the four Gospels and form a meditation for the waiting...... Forgiveness –   'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do'   Jesus; Through forgiveness we are saved from pride and resentment; through your forgiveness we are saved from ourselves. Salvation –                 '' Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise'   Jesus; you turn away from the challenge ‘save yourself’    towards the plea for mercy -and from your own suffering heart you speak the word  ‘yes’. Relationship –                     ' Woman, behold your son:  behold your mother  ' Jesus; even in your suffering you sensed the distress of Mary; your life with her echoed your desire for the world to become one family; you will not leave u...

John 18:1-19:42 “It is to the Cross that the Christian is challenged to follow his Lord: no path of redemption can make a detour around it.” ― Hans Urs von Balthasar window detail - Rhug Chapel I remember, Lord, the ‘Come and See’. Remember, I came; following, listening, learning. Full of joy, full of hope – the New Day was going to dawn, the Kingdom of God was near. I did not come to ‘see’ this, Lord; standing ankle deep in the waste of the city, tears streaming silently down my face, my mouth full of blood as I bite down on my tongue to stop myself from crying out. For I do not want these others to know that I know you. I don’t know you. The fear, the demons, the hopelessness comes cawing back and you are not here to save me. The crowd shouts out to you ‘Save yourself’ and I truly believe that you could – even now, you could.  But there is some other purpose at work here. You have nothing left; and nothing left to prove; your light is too bright for them and they...

Good Friday Impossible to know what to write on this day. The Gospel of so many words cannot hope to describe  the reality of this day. Better perhaps to keep silent. It is the keeping silent that I am going to share. At the death of a loved one, an almost immediate response is to revisit memory; the last time you met; the first time; remember; remember. Today just before three o'clock I was part of a service held at our sister church. The service understood the need for silence and there was the opportunity for meditation and reflection after the readings and prayers. The day was beautiful, the stones warmed by the days of sunshine warmed the air itself. There was a light and a peace that reminded me more of Assisi than our own housing estate - it was a moment in time - a sacred silence. Except for a young family with toddlers who had joined the service. I have a granddaughter myself- two year olds are not best suited to meditation. These children were regular church-com...