Today is Holy Saturday. Traditionally, a day of stillness and silence between the devastation of Good Friday and the triumph of Easter Day. It’s interesting to wonder how the disciples would have felt. The whole world has changed, and yet life continues. Would they have been thinking back over the last few days, wondering whatContinue reading “Lent 2025: Through the lens of Grace”
Tag Archives: 40 day challenge
Lent 2025: “I Thirst”
Today, for a Good Friday service, we were exploring the last seven sayings of Jesus from the cross. I was assigned the fifth saying, “I thirst,” and asked to speak for five minutes on it. At first, I wondered how on earth I was going to talk for five minutes about just two words. ButContinue reading “Lent 2025: “I Thirst””
Lent 2025: Anointing, Abandonment and a Peace that holds
It’s been another busy day. This morning we held a Chrism Mass – a service where the oils used for anointing are blessed, and clergy and lay people have the opportunity to renew their vows of commitment to God. There were hundreds of people on site; the car park was full, the congregation sang withContinue reading “Lent 2025: Anointing, Abandonment and a Peace that holds”
Lent 2025: Spy Wednesday
Continuing my discovery of the additional themes of Holy Week, today is known, in some traditions, as Spy Wednesday – the day we remember Judas Iscariot making the choice to betray Jesus. A far cry from the glory of James Bond or Jason Bourne, here the term spy means to ambush or snare. It’s anContinue reading “Lent 2025: Spy Wednesday”
Lent 2025: Truth in the Temple
Today, I found out that traditionally on the Tuesday of Holy Week, we remember Jesus in the temple – teaching, challenging, confronting. It’s an interesting passage on the way to the cross. It shows a different side of Jesus. The tension is rising. The cross is coming. And yet, Jesus doesn’t back down. Combining theContinue reading “Lent 2025: Truth in the Temple”
Lent 2025: The Picnic Basket and the Cluttered Table
Yesterday’s reflection took me to a familiar verse—one I’d already chatted about last week in a conversation about prayer. Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heartsContinue reading “Lent 2025: The Picnic Basket and the Cluttered Table”
Lent 2025: Letting Joy In
Today marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final stretch of Lent. We’ve been preparing for this for weeks, waiting, reflecting, drawing nearer to God. Palm Sunday always feels a little odd to me. It’s a day of triumph, of Hosannas and palm branches waved in the air. Jesus enters Jerusalem to the cheers ofContinue reading “Lent 2025: Letting Joy In”
Lent 2025: Our Fruit
Some days, a passing comment can stay with you, nudging your heart, stirring a quiet reflection. In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he writes about life by the Spirit, and the fruit that shows in our lives as a result. It’s one of those Bible lists I learnt by heart growing up: “The fruit ofContinue reading “Lent 2025: Our Fruit”
Lent 2025: A Mixed Bag and a Merciful God
Phew! I’ve arrived at Friday evening.Do you ever have weeks that feel too full, like you’re not quite sure how you managed to fit everything in? That’s been my experience this week. A week that’s been rich and busy, a mixture of beautiful and overwhelming moments. And now I’ve reached the end feeling tired, butContinue reading “Lent 2025: A Mixed Bag and a Merciful God”
Lent 2025: If in doubt, give it a clout!
When I finished work today, I got in my car to drive home and found my seatbelt was stuck. No matter how hard or softly I pulled, it wouldn’t budge. This was slightly alarming – I can’t drive the car without a seatbelt, and I need to drop it to the garage tomorrow for aContinue reading “Lent 2025: If in doubt, give it a clout!”
The Reason for my Hope Blog 