Ray's Blog: April 2020
No Retreats? On-line Resources Emerge
On Tuesday we completed a four-week Zoom course on soul friendship for both a morning and evening group. It was led by Scott Brennan, Simon Reed and myself. Our final discussion was ‘What next?’ Two things were pointed out.
1) For a thousand years soul friendship has barely figured in...
Heaven's Flavours During Isolated Days
Isolation can become one long, sterile yawn or it can become a glorious procession of heavenly flavours. During these weeks after Easter we can look with fresh 'resurrection eyes' upon familiar life. Sally has been my sister for a life-time, but only yesterday did she tell me that for her...
Easter Sunday
May the candles we light this Easter Sunday help us to know that light is stronger than darkness, goodness is stronger than evil, and life is stronger than death. Alleluia! #EasterDay
Easter Eve
EASTER EVE – THE DAY OF MOURNING AND FORGIVENESS
Today a grave holds him who holds creation in his hand. A gravestone covers him who covers the heavens with glory. Life sleeps. Hell trembles. The human race waits with bated breath.
We have been buried with Christ through baptism. In faith we...
Good Friday
FRIDAY OF HOLY WEEK – JESUS DIES ON A CROSS
During the hours he hung in agony he uttered seven sentences at intervals:
Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.
I thirst! John 19:28
Truly, I say to you, today you will be with...
Thursday In Holy Week
In order for there to be good beginnings there have to be good departings. On his last full day on earth Jesus gives love. He gives it exquisitely. In his tiredness he washes the tired feet of faithful friends. In his generosity he gives bread to his betrayer. In...
Wednesday In Holy Week
WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK: JESUS IS NURTURED AT BETHANY
WEDNESAY IN HOLY WEEK
Although Jesus gave and gave, he was human. Humans, like the Three Loves in God’s heart, need to receive as well as to give nurture. So the fourth day in Jesus’ last week was...
Tuesday In Holy Week
In 1994, nineteen famous preachers were invited to contribute to a book entitled If I Had Only One Sermon to Preach. That concentrated their minds. Imminent death also concentrates the mind. Tuesday in Holy Week was the last whole day of teaching that Jesus gave. Each thing he said,...
Monday In Holy Week
An extract for Monday in Holy Week from my book Reflective Services for Lent:
On Monday Christ throws out the money-seeking money-changers from the temple:
In answer to the question, ‘What was it that made Jesus so angry?’, most scholars agree that it was not financial extortion, it was...
What Is God Saying Through This Pandemic?
What is God saying to the world through the Corona pandemic? ‘Creation sings and its time to listen’ says Paul Gutteridge of Initiatives of Change. His friends and colleagues tell how they receive fresh insights as they garden, and others comment on how, now human frenetic activity is stilled, they...
