Category: Benedictine Spirituality

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Scripture

People of Love.

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In today’s gospel Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure by leaving them a blueprint for how to live by his example. He says to them:

“My little children, I shall not be with you much longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

He not talking about love in any abstract way, but as an action that changes our behaviour and our lives. He has just washed his disciples’ feet, showing them what love might look like in practice. He knows Judas is about to betray him, and Peter to deny him.

Yet he neither judges nor blames. Instead he chooses to remind them that their lives are grounded and held his love. and shows them how to allow that love to shape their lives and relationships.

He wants his disciples to be recognised firstly as a people who love one another. It’s a call to put the needs of others before our own, to put the common good before personal gain. We might be called to a myriad of small, hidden acts of love throughout the day. It might be something as simple as opening a door, offering a cup of tea or smiling at a passing stranger.

Or it might be that we’re called to love in some bigger way, sacrificing something that really matters to us for the sake of those we love. Either way our love is grounded in the love of Christ, and that gives us the courage and strength to be recognised as people of love.

Where is the risen Christ calling you to reach out in love today?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Scripture

New Horizons.

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All through Eastertide the gospels show us Jesus revealing himself to his disciples. Each revelation begins where the disciples are. It then takes them beyond that into new, uncharted and challenging territory. Jesus starts with their current understanding uses that to lead them to a deeper understanding of who he is.

Today it’s Phillip’s turn. When Jesus tells the disciples:

“If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.”

Phillip responds:

“Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.”

Phillip’s response reflects dissatisfaction and desire, he wants more. Jesus doesn’t criticise him for that, instead he offers another, deeper revelation, telling Phillip:

“To have seen me is to have seen the Father…”

Jesus opens Phillip’s heart to the possibility of a new way of seeing God. He offers us the same opportunity. If we allow him to open our hearts, we will discover he is present with us in the midst of human life. We will find him alongside us in the midst of our daily activities, however mundane, frustrating or challenging we might find them. This is a promise full of hope, joy and encouragement.

This new understanding is also a challenge. If we are to discover God’s presence in the midst of daily life, we have to pay attention in a new way. We have to be alert and attentive. We have to risk being open and vulnerable to allow that presence to be revealed, and to respond to it.

As we move through Eastertide where is Christ opening your heart to his presence in our midst?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Prayer Resurrection Saints Scripture

The Way, the Truth & the Life.

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St Thomas is one of my favourite disciples because he is so direct and has the courage to ask awkward questions. He asked the questions that other people didn’t quite have the nerve for.

There are many reasons why we avoid asking the awkward questions. Maybe we don’t want to be seen as troublemakers, or appear uninformed or unintelligent. Maybe we are scared that there will be no answers, or that they will be too challenging and hard for us to cope with.

Thomas doesn’t seem to have such qualms. When Jesus says something that puzzles him Thomas takes the risk of asking for clarification. His question:

“Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’”

Allows Jesus to clarify who he is and to deepen the disciples understanding of who he is:

“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

Far from being a distraction or a nuisance Thomas’ questions gives us a deeper insight into who Jesus is. Jesus’ answer leaves us with some questions of our own. Thomas’ example gives us the courage to acknowledge those and to reflect on them, asking Jesus to show us their significance for our lives.


He gives us the courage and maybe even the “permission” to ask who Jesus is for us. It allows us to ask ourselves what Jesus’ words mean for us, and to reflect on how it might shape our lives.

How does your understanding of Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life shape the way your life?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Prayer Scripture

Welcoming Christ.

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All through Eastertide the risen Christ invites us to follow him. In his actions and words, he shows us how what that means, how to live as Christians. In today’s gospel he calls us to be open and welcoming:

“I tell you most solemnly, whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.”

His words are, of course, a call to open our hearts and welcome him into our lives. It’s a call to allow him to allow him to form us in his image.

But that’s only one part of the call to be welcoming. There’s another aspect to it. He calls us to be open to the circumstances we find ourselves in. He speaks these words at the last supper, already aware that Judas is about to betray him.

In that painful and frightening situation, he doesn’t run away. Instead, trusting in his Father, he opens himself to welcome this most painful situation, accepting all that it brings.

He shows us that even in the most challenging, painful and unlikely of circumstances we can open our hearts to Christ. He challenges us to welcome the painful situations we face. He asks us to welcome him in to even the darkest areas of our lives, and allow him to be there with us.

There’s also more to it than that. It’s a call to be open to others, to offer them the same welcome and acceptance that we would to Christ. Even, and maybe especially, when we find them challenging.

Where is the risen Christ inviting you to be open to this Eastertide?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Saints Scripture

Held in the love of Christ.

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Today we’re celebrating the feast of St Matthias, the disciple chosen to replace Judas. I often wonder if that was a particularly uncomfortable position to take up. I imagine that there was a lot of emotion and distress around whole situation. People would have been feeling betrayed and hurt by Judas’ actions.

In one sense the choosing of Matthias would have felt like a new beginning, but it would also have carried some pain. When new beginnings grow out of painful circumstances it’s not always so easy to walk away from the hurtful baggage.

It may be that in those times of mixed blessings it’s particularly important to hear these words from John’s farewell discourses. Jesus tells the disciples:

“Remain in my love.”

So often in painful situations we are tempted to walk away from love. When we are hurting all our instincts tell us to put up barriers to protect ourselves. Yet, those are the very times when we need to find the courage to do the opposite, to allow ourselves to remain open to the possibility of love, even if that is a costly and risky prospect.

If we desire to embrace the new life the risen Christ promises, we can’t afford to walk away from love. We have to take the risk of allowing his love into our lives, letting it shape and change is, moulding us into the new creation he calls us to be.

How is Christ moulding you into a new creation this Eastertide?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Divine Office Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Resurrection

What’s in a name?

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The Acts of the Apostles are very dynamic. The Apostles travel far and wide to share the Good News of the resurrection. They’re full of hope and delight even as they face challenges disagreements and persecutions. This is not the action of an established Church with centuries of tradition behind it. I

t’s the action of a disparate group trying to make sense of a deeply life changing experience. As they begin to preach to the Greeks in Antioch they don’t even have a name for their group. The writer of Acts tells us:

“It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’

We don’t know if they gave themselves the name or if it was given by others. We’re not sure if it was complementary or derogatory. We do know that it has come to define us ever since. So I’ve been reflecting on what this name means for us today.

The gospel gives us the answer. In today’s Jesus says:

“The Father and I are one.”

This gives us the foundation stone of our Christian identity. We are Christian because through our baptism we are united to Christ and the Father. That foundation has to be built up through practical action in daily life. The gospel makes tells us how to do that too. In Johns gospel Jeans says:

“I give you a new commandment: love one another; you must love one another just as I have loved you. It is by your love for one another, that everyone will recognise you as my disciples.”

Jesus’ love is inclusive, practical and non judgemental. The call to be a Christian is a call to love. It is love that defines us and is as people of love that we seek to be recognised.

Where are you called to show love today?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Good Shepherd Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Psalms Resurrection Scripture

Into new life.

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The Eastertide readings call us into the new life in the risen Christ. They open us to new horizons and possibilities. This call is especially clear in today’s readings. In the 1st reading Peter shows us how it stretches and challenges our boundaries as he explains his vision:

“I had scarcely begun to speak when the Holy Spirit came down on them in the same way as it came on us at the beginning, and I remembered that the Lord had said, “John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” I realised then that God was giving them the identical thing he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; and who was I to stand in God’s way?“

This encountered changed his worldview, showing him that the good news of the gospel was to be made available to everyone. It leaves no room for outsiders, because it welcomes everyone in. The responsorial psalm speaks to another element of this truth. It reminds us that, however challenging we might find that call we long for it to be a reality from the depths of our hearts:

“Like the deer that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God.”

We can try to fill that yearning with money, possessions, career or success. For a while we can feel fulfilled and satisfied by those things, but soon we realise that it’s not enough. Underneath the apparent satisfaction we become aware of a niggling feeling we want something more regardless of how well we are meeting the goals we set for ourselves.

In the gospel Jesus, the Good Shepherd shows us what we need to do to fill that gap:

“I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.”

He promises that if we listen to his voice, and follow him, our yearnings will be satisfied and we will discover the fullness of new life in his presence.

Where is the risen Christ inviting you to follow him into new life this Eastertide?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Divine Office Eastertide Good Shepherd Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Rule of St Benedict Scripture Uncategorized

Shaped by and for Love.

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Today is both Good Shepherd Sunday and vocations Sunday. The Gospel with it’s call to listen makes the link between the two very clear:

“Jesus said “the sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and the follow me…They will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from me.’”

It takes me back to the heart of Benedictine spirituality and so of my vocation, the call to

“Listen with the ear of your heart”.

There’s no shortage of voices trying to attract our attention in today’s world. We’re exposed to a constant cacophony of voices drawing us in opposing directions. It can be confusing, unnerving and debilitating.

In the midst of all those voices there’s another one, gentle and persistent that calls to us. It’s the voice of the Good Shepherd reminding us that we are made for love, and are held in being by love. It’s a voice that calls us back to our true selves.

It tells us that however uncertain or chaotic our times the love of Christ will never let us go. The Good Shepherd calls us to allow his voice to silence the confusion of the myriad voices around us and to focus on the one really matters, the one that can lead us to a life shaped by and for love.

Where is the Good Shepherd calling you to respond to his love today?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Prophetic voices Resurrection Saints Scripture

Staying with Christ.

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We can easily forget or brush aside the real challenge at the heart of the gospel. Centuries of familiarity and tradition have removed most of the shock that Jesus’ first followers would have felt when they heard his words. Today’s gospel brings us back to just how shocking his teaching was, and still is if we allow ourselves to really hear it. In today’s gospel Jesus has challenged his listeners so much that they say to themselves:

“This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?”

At that point many of them left and stopped following him. Faced with their departure Jesus does nothing to tone his message down. In his conversation with his disciples he even seems to increase the challenge asking them:

“What about you, do you want to go away too?”

He gives the Twelve complete freedom to walk away like the others. Having learned something of his teaching, each of them has to face and answer his question for themselves. It’s the same question that each of us has to face and answer.

Simon Peter’s answer sums up the situation for all of us. Turning the question round he says:

“Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe, we know you are the Holy One of God.”

His response brings us to the heart of our faith. Once we’ve recognised Jesus as the “holy one of God” however challenging it is to walk with him it becomes inconceivable to walk away from him.

What helps you to stay with Christ in this challenging Eastertide?

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Baptism Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Lectio Divina Liturgy Resurrection Saints Scripture Uncategorized

Bearing the light of the risen Christ.

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Today’s first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles recounts the conversion of St Paul. I’m reflecting on Ananias, the Christian from Damascus who was told in a vision to seek out Saul of Tarsus to restore his sight. The instruction was clearly a shock to Ananias who, already knowing of Saul’s reputation, protested:

“Lord, several people have told me about this man and all the harm he has been doing to your saints in Jerusalem. He has only come here because he holds a warrant from the chief priest to arrest everybody who invokes your name.”

We’ve just heard how resolute and thorough Saul was in persecuting Christians. I imagine his name is enough to strike terror into the heart of these new Christians who are still struggling to come to terms with the resurrection. In such a time Ananias’ action would have seemed at best foolhardy if not downright reckless. Yet, despite his reservations, he accepts God’s call. He goes to Saul and says to him:

‘Brother Saul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on your way here so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’

The result is that Saul has his sight restored and, filled with the Holy Spirit, is baptised.

Ananais’ action requires courage and faith. Ananias reminds me that we too are called to be courageous in sharing our faith. We’re called to carry the love of the risen Christ to those who need it. The risen Christ calls us to share the light of his love in the darkness of our challenging times.

Often I think that call comes in a myriad of small, seemingly insignificant encounters through the day. It’s in those little things that offer a glimmer of brightness in a challenging day… a smile to a passing stranger, the offer of a seat on a bus, holding open a door for someone struggling with bags or pushchairs…A endless list of small kindnesses…


Where is the risen Christ calling you to bring his light to those around you today?