revdrose

Dirty hands or defiled hearts?

Lectionary Readings: Song of Solomon 2:8-13 James 1:17-27 Mark 7:1-23 … Christ urges us to examine our own defiled hearts rather than our neighbours’ dirty hands. Dawn Ottoni Wilhelm, Feasting on the Word; year B vol.4 (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009) Introduction: When I was a student, I managed to try several different types of work, some more interestingContinue reading “Dirty hands or defiled hearts?”

Choices

Lectionary readings: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 Psalm 34:15-22 Ephesians 6:10-20 John 6:56-69 Choose this day whom you will serve… Joshua 24: 15 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God. John 6:69 Unconscious bias. Whether we like it or not, and whether we are aware of it or not, we receive andContinue reading “Choices”

Bring back the manna and quails.

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 Psalm 111 Ephesians 5:15-20 John 6:51-58 For the past few weeks, we have been working through John ‘s Gospel chapter six, and the focus this week is on Holy Communion. You’ve probably noticed that the three synoptic Gospels all offer an account of the Last Supper which includes the disciples sharing the Passover Meal together,Continue reading “Bring back the manna and quails.”

Taste and see

I Kings 19:4-9 Psalm 34:1-8 Ephesians 4:25-5:2 John 6:35, 41-51 Well-being The tears of Tom Daley, the withdrawal of Simone Biles from her first gymnastic event, the early exit of Naomi Osaka, who said “I feel like my attitude wasn’t that great because I don’t really know how to cope with that pressure” the disappointment of Bianca WalkdenContinue reading “Taste and see”

God’s gracious providence

Lectionary Readings: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 Psalm 78:23-29 Ephesians 4:1-16 John 6:24-35 This year I spent my holiday on the North coast of Cornwall with my daughter, and if you have ever been to Cornwall, you will know that delicious pasties and cream teas are on offer in every settlement along the coast. (And fish and chipsContinue reading “God’s gracious providence”

The vision & the thorn

Lectionary readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10 Psalm 48 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Mark 6:1-13 Wouldn’t it be brilliant if the Bible had an answer to every question you have ever asked or been asked? Especially on those days when awful stuff has happened and people ask ‘why me?’ or ‘why does God let it happen?’ In the letter to the CorinthiansContinue reading “The vision & the thorn”

Go in peace

Lectionary readings 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27 Psalm 130 2 Corinthians 8:7-15 Mark 5:21-43 My daughter recently got a new passport, ready for when restrictions to travel eased. Her old passport has all kinds of stamps and visas attached; mine, I am afraid, looks a little more prosaic with just one set of custom stamps inside.Continue reading “Go in peace”

Of scattered seeds and mighty mustard-shrubs

Lectionary readings: Psalm 92 Ezekiel 17:22-24 2 Corinthians 5:6-17 Mark 4:26-34 We hear a great deal about ‘building back better’ these days, and even that great repository of knowledge, Wikipedia, has an article on the subject (and no mention of the British PM). It’s all about reducing risk and increasing resilience. It sounds really good, and I am still reflectingContinue reading “Of scattered seeds and mighty mustard-shrubs”

God’s remedy for sin

Lectionary readings: Genesis 3:8-15 Psalm 130 2 Corinthians 4:13 – 5:! Mark 3:20-35 Ok, so I need to admit it – I love the Indiana Jones films and usually try to watch them when they come on the TV. In The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), we are taken deep into the Amazon Jungle, to in a templeContinue reading “God’s remedy for sin”

Pentecost

Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:24-34,35b 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 John 20:19-23 When Susan and Lucy arrive at the home of the Witch, in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, they are confronted by a daunting sight. All over the place Aslan the Lion was breathing on the stone statues bringing transformation and new life. But when CS Lewis describesContinue reading “Pentecost”