Sunday's coming!

This was such a long reading that I broke it up a little with reflections between the readings...    John chapter 11 from v 1 - 16 We’re hearing part of John’s gospel, so this isn’t just a travelogue of where Jesus went or a diary account of what Jesus did. John wants us to know who Jesus is – he is telling us his account of one of the ‘signs’ of Jesus’ identity as the son of God. Lazarus is sick. Jesus loves him, but he delays travelling back to Judea, to Bethany, which is very near Jerusalem. His disciples are clearly concerned about the journey – but Jesus has told them that they are going to see God’s glory revealed. Let’s read on…   From v 17 - 31 When Jesus meets Martha he says the words “I am the resurrection and the life”. These are words you might well have heard at a funeral service. They are words of comfort – and we’ll come back to those words in a while….     From v 32 - 37 Mary echoes her sister’s words   “Lord ...

Psalm 23      John 9: 1 - 17  Today we recognise that it’s Mothering Sunday and we’ve heard our readings of Psalm 23 and the healing story from John’s gospel. If there is one phrase that links those things it is this   -   “You are loved”. I know Mothering Sunday is not everyone’s cup of tea – there is perhaps too much of a tendency to talk about mothers in a way which feels a bit over the top. I prefer the term ”Mothering Sunday” over “Mothers’ day”, because it widens out our understanding of what we’re celebrating. Yes, we might be lucky and be able to show our appreciation of our mother today. But we can also celebrate others who do ‘mothering’ – who care, who provide, who love   – we can even celebrate our   ‘mother church’ on this day – as medieval servants and apprentices used to do. Wherever someone helps a person know they are loved, we can celebrate that on Mothering Sunday. I hope this mothering Sunday you know   You are loved. ...

John 4: 1- 29 For just over a week now we have been hearing of the attacks of the US & Israel against Iran, and Iran’s retaliation in the Middle East. The BBC have reported that since the first wave of strikes killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the air attacks have shown little sign of relenting. An eye-witness has said "Each day has felt like a month, the volume of attacks is so high." Most people are staying indoors, only venturing out for supplies. The regime appears to have increased its security presence on the streets, which Iranians have seen as a response to the dissent shown following the ayatollah's death. "There are checkpoints everywhere. They're scared of their own shadows," says one 25-year old student in Tehran. The price of staples like eggs and potatoes has also sky-rocketed, he said, and the queues for petrol and bread "are unbelievable". Another resident of the capital has told the BBC that mos...

                                                            St David's Cathedral   Reflection 1 on    Psalm 121   We have heard the story of David healing Paulinus – helping him to see again. ( A video of the story can be seen  here ) How wonderful if St David could help us to see our scripture readings in a new way! Well, perhaps he can.   We have very little recorded of what David actually said except the words, said to be from his last sermon to the brothers in his monastery: “Be joyful, keep the faith and do the little things you have heard and seen me do”.   It’s not surprising that we have so few of David’s words – he lived in the 6 th century and his biographer wrote down the stories of David 500 years later.   But what a man David must h...

 Matthew 17: 1-9 In the first part of the service I am telling the Godly Play story "The Mystery of Easter" - this short sermon then follows on, after the Gospel reading. If you want to hear the story, it is  Here   Reflection   This has been a good week to think about transformation – things changing – the way sadness and celebration can belong together.   The weather has given us days when we have glimpsed the daffodils, snowdrops and crocuses in a little sunshine and started to dare that Spring might be just around the corner – and then we’ve suffered days when the cold wind and driving rain have sent us scurrying back indoors.   The news has stories that can leave us feeling appalled and depressed – and yet even in the darkest times there are stories of amazing heroism or stunning compassion.   The mystery of Easter   - that purple and white jigsaw puzzle - reminds us of the reality of sadness but also the trut...

Isaiah 58:1-9a and Matthew 5:13-20   What are you here for?  What a dangerous question to ask people who have come to worship. You might all suddenly slap your hand to your forehead & say ‘well, now you come to ask, we have no idea – there are so many other things we could be doing this morning – having  lie-in, reading the Sunday papers, washing the car .. the list is endless’.   And if it’s not bad enough to have to face up to self-doubt, we hear a gospel reading in which Jesus says to us “ you are the salt of the earth, you are light for the world” – and we all know that salt isn’t mean to sit in the pot on the table, any more than light is meant to be hidden, it is meant – salt and light – to be spread around, to bring savour and illumination to the whole world.   So why come to this – or any -   chapel building?   Jesus makes it clear to his listeners that the law is there to help people to live lives of righteousness, wor...