Category: Resurrection

Stepping into obedience.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 16/04/2026

OBEDIENCE

Photo by Andreea Pop on unsplash.com

Obedience is one of the foundation stones of Christian life. There is never a time when it is not relevant. We are always called to listen and respond to the word God speaks to our hearts.

This is true in every aspect of our lives yet, I’m a little surprised to find myself writing about it in Eastertide. Central as it is it’s we are more likely to connect it to Lent or Advent than to Eastertide.

It’s possible that we mistakenly connect Eastertide with more positive ideas. Joy, awe, praise, thankfulness more readily come to mind in this season. None of these are easy, but, on a surface level at least, they feel a little more comfortable than obedience.

Yet, in today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles Peter puts obedience at the heart of the Easter message. When he is challenged by the Sanhedrin about why he has disobeyed them he replies:

“Obedience to God comes before obedience to humans…”

His words are an inspiration and a challenge. Obedience is hard work, though it doesn’t require that we risk our lives as those first disciples did. It will challenge us to put ourselves aside in real and costly ways. It requires a constant attentiveness to God’s word and to the needs of our times. It constantly calls us to discern where we hear the voice of God and to act on it regardless of personal preferences.

Where is the risen Christ calling you to take obedience seriously this Eastertide?

Tags #ActsOfTheApostles, #Benedictine, #challenge, #Christ, #Christlike, #eastertide, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #listen, #love, #newlife, #Obedience, #StPeter, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Scripture

Into the light

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 15/04/2026

Photo Barnabas Hertelendy on unsplash.com

LIGHT

Today’s word is LIGHT. Our times seem to be growing increasingly dark. In every direction it seems that life is getting harder. The cost of living crisis leaves people struggling to feed their families.

The disruption and suffering of war affects more and more people. The world order that we thought was stable & secure appears to be crumbling before our eyes, leaving life feeling unsettled and vulnerable.

In such times it’s hard to see how any light could penetrate the gloom. As the struggles of daily life get harder we can easily forget the light Christ brings us.

We can even be scared of what it might expose in our lives and relationships. Today’s gospel, part of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, speaks to this dilemma.

Like us, Nicodemus lived in precarious times. A wealthy man, walked a thin line between the Roman occupying forces and commitment to his own people and faith. Jesus challenges him to step away from the darkness into the light of God’s love:

“Those who live by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what they do is done in God.”

We too need and desire this love. We know that this is the light that will lead us through the darkness of our times to the new life offered by the risen Christ. It’s a light that will expose our darknesses. It’s also the light that will heal our wounds and allow us to grow and flourish in the presence of the light of the risen Christ.

Where is Christ calling you to come out into the light of his love this Eastertide?

Tags #Benedictine, #challenge, #eastertide, #Eastertide2026, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #light, #LightOfChrist, #love, #newlife, #Nicodemas, #resurrection, #RisenChrist, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Lent Resurrection Rule of St Benedict Scripture

United Heart and Soul.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 14/04/2026

Photo by Robert Bye on unsplash.com

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY is at the heart of the gospel, and of what it is to be human. We are created to be in relationship with one another, with creation and with God. We can live individualistic and isolated lives, but we thrive best when we live in relationship with others.

It’s hardly surprising then that the resurrection calls Jesus’s followers together after they were scattered. It’s from this regrouping that the early church is born. Today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes the ideal at the heart of this new community:

“The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for their own use anything that they had, as everything they owned was held in common.”

This ideal still lies at the heart of the Church. It underpins the life of our parishes, and is at the heart our concern for the excluded and the marginalised. It’s was the basis of the life lived by the desert Fathers and Mothers.

It was taken up by the early monastic communities and is one of the main foundations of Benedictine life today. As a Benedictine it’s a principle that’s close to my heart.

Yet, however much we value the principle we often fall short of the ideal. St Benedict gives us a very clear idea of why that is:

“They must compete with one another in obedience. They should not pursue what they judge advantageous for themselves, but rather what benefits others. They must show selfless love to the community.”

Living in community is hard work. It demands that we put love at the heart of our lives in very real and concrete ways every day. It calls us to accept people as they are and to put their needs before our own regardless of whether we agree with them or like them.

Where is the risen Christ calling you to build community this Eastertide?

Tags #ActsOfTheApostles, #Believers, #Benedictine, #challenge, #Church, #community, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #MonasticLife, #newlife, #RuleOfStBenedict, #service, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Prayer Resurrection Rule of St Benedict Scripture

An Eastertide Vocabulary.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 13/04/2026
Sticky post

Photo by Emmanuel Phaeton on unsplash.com

One of the most helpful books I’ve read is “Amazing Grace, a vocabulary of faith.” By Kathleen Norris. She describes it as “an exploration and record of some of the words in the Christian lexicon that most trouble and attract me.”

The book reminded me of an important Benedictine principle, that words matter. They shape us, form us, challenge us and help us grow.

Last year I made a Lent lexicon. This year I’m aiming to make an Eastertide one. I’ve chosen words that attract and sometimes scare me. They also both shape and challenge my experience of Eastertide.

I’m including words that are particularly connected to Eastertide, and words that, though they’re connected to other seasons might have a different resonance in this Eastertide.

Tags #Benedictine, #BenedictineSpirituality, #challenge, #eastertide, #Eastertide2026, #EastertideLexicon, #gospel, #Grace, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #resurrection, #trust, #Vocabulary

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Divine Office Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Resurrection Scripture

Believe and Doubt

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 12/04/2026

Photo by sayrmund (aka Oleg Cloes) on unsplash.com

All week we’ve seen the risen Christ appear to the disciples in slightly different way. Each appearance is tailored in some way to touch the heart of a particular disciple, and this gives them their deeply personal and intimate quality. Today’s appearance to Thomas follows the same pattern.

He comes to his encounter with the risen Christ after what I imagine was a hard week. There’s nothing worse than being the one person in a group who missed a significant event.

It must have left Thomas feeling isolated and on the fringes. His directness and honesty prevent him from taking their account on trust. He knows himself well enough to know that he needs to see this for himself, saying to the disciples:

“Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.”

I’m touched by how open and vulnerable Thomas is prepared to be about this need. Jesus’ response when he appears to Thomas is focussed on giving Thomas what he needs.

He doesn’t judge or criticise, instead he invites Thomas to reach out and touch him in exactly the way Thomas said he needed:

“Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer, but believe.”

Jesus’ acceptance of Thomas with all his doubts and uncertainties leads him to the light of truth, freeing him to make his profession of faith, acknowledging Jesus as the Christ:

“My Lord and my God!”

What would help you to recognise the presence of the risen Christ in your life today?

Tags #Belief, #Benedictine, #challenge, #Disciples, #doubts, #eastertide, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #resurrection, #RisenChrist, #Thomas, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Scripture

Good News for dark times

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 11/04/2026

Image by Ulrike Mai from pixabay.com

Mark’s account of the resurrection is quite stark; it’s always left me feeling uneasy. There’s little joy of celebration in it, rather it seems full of doubt and recrimination.

With very few details he describes Jesus’ appearance first to Mary Magdalene who rushed to tell the disciples only to be disbelieved. Later, the disciples who encountered Jesus on their way to Emmaus bring the same news and are also met with incredulity.

The response is understandable, these first disciples don’t have our gift of hindsight or two thousand years of belief and theology to fall back on. Even with all Jesus told them before his death, the idea of resurrection would have seemed completely incredible.

When Jesus does appear to to eleven he berated them for their incredulity and then immediately sends them out to proclaim the good news to the world, saying to them:

“Go out to the whole world; proclaim the good news to all creation.”

Mark’s account challenges us to look honestly at the doubts we harbour about resurrection. He compels us to look at those dark corners of our lives and our world that feel beyond redemption, those places that we suspect new life will never reach, never transform.

He calls us to allow the light of the risen Christ to shine on those dark corners, offering the possibility of new life. Even in the presence of those dark corners of doubt he challenges us to proclaim the Good News to the world in whatever way we can.

How is the risen Christ challenging you to share the Good News of resurrection today?

Tags #Benedictine, #challenge, #Disciples, #eastertide, #Emmaus, #GoodNews, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #light, #love, #newlife, #proclaim, #resurrection, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Divine Office Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Scripture Uncategorized

The gift of peace

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 09/04/2026

Image by Tapani Hellman from pixabay.com

Listening to today’s gospel I’m struck by the alarm and fright that the disciples feel when the risen Christ appears among them I sympathise with their feelings.

Unlike us, they don’t have the experience of hindsight, tradition and faith telling them that the resurrection is already a reality. I’m touched by Jesus’ response to their reactions. His first greeting to them is:

“Peace be with you.”

From that moment, for the rest of his time with them his concern is to calm and reassure them, explaining how the Scriptures, the Law and the Prophets refer to him and opening their hearts to understand his teaching.

There’s much in life today that can leave us fearful. The wars that are threatening our world order, the growing uncertainty in areas that we thought were certain can all engender fear even before we begin to think about more personal situations.

Our fear can leave us feeling just as locked in as the disciples were in those first few days after the resurrection. We think of Eastertide as a time of rejoicing, that can leave us feeling guilty if our response is less than joyful.

The Easter Gospels remind us that Jesus doesn’t criticise his disciples for their fearful response to his appearance. Instead he calms their fears, reassures them and sets them free to embrace the new life of resurrection. Whatever we face he offers us that same reassurance and freedom.

Where do you need the risen Christ to reassure you and calm your fears this Eastertide?

Tags #Benedictine, #challenge, #Christ, #easter, #EasterOctave, #EasterThursday, #eastertide, #Gift, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #RisenChrist, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Eucharist Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Prophetic voices Resurrection Scripture

With hearts aflame.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 08/04/2026

BACKGROUND READING LUKE 24: 13-35

Mary is the wife of Cleopas. A follower of Jesus, she witnessed his death. After the crucifixion, she sets out with her husband to return to Emmaus. They feel so heartbroken and hopeless that they can barely drag themselves along the road.

Before they felt they’d heard the other women’s story of the empty tomb. Initially it rekindled Mary’s hope, but it died again when they saw nothing had changed in the world around them.

As they walk along, Mary reflects on how her expectations of Jesus turned out to be so different to what happened. As she argues with Clopas about all that has happened a stranger joins them and asks what they are talking about.

They pour their hearts out to him, sharing their pain and disappointment. His response begins to heal their hearts, allowing hope to be rekindled:

“He told my story – all my hopes and my dreams – in the words of scripture. My heart leapt and burnt within me.”

As they approach their village and the stranger makes to leave them, Mary realises that she wants him to stay:

“All of a sudden, I couldn’t bear the thought that this stranger might leave us. It seemed that Cleopas felt the same, and so we begged and cajoled, pleaded and persuaded him to eat with him.”

When he takes the bread and blesses it, as he’d done day in day out on their travels, she recognises him and her world is transformed.

The sadness and hopelessness vanish. Their tiredness disappears, and they practically fly back to Jerusalem to share this great news with the others.

However hopeless life might feel the risen Christ walks alongside us. He is always looking for an opening to help us discover our own story in the scriptures.

Where are you aware of the risen Christ walking alongside you this Eastertide?

You can listen to Mary’s story here:

Tags #Benedictine, #challenge, #EasterOctave, #EasterWednesday, #Emmaus, #Eucharist, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #resurrection, #RisenChrist, #Scripture, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Easter Sunday Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Resurrection Scripture

Space for Christ

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 07/04/2026

Image Photo by Ryan Byrne on unsplash.com

By Easter Tuesday the mixture of adrenalin and energy that carried me through the Easter Vigil is waning, and I start to feel the need to slow things down. It’s rightly an energetic season, full of rejoicing, celebration and proclamation. While that delights me, I’m also aware that I need space in the midst of it all to pause and reflect.

In Christmastide we have the example of Virgin Mary taking space to ponder the events in her heart. She reminds us that we too need time to reflect on our encounters with God. We need a similar model in Eastertide, someone who will remind us to slow down, to allow the momentous event that is resurrection to really sink in.

Listening to today’s gospel, the appearance to Mary Magdalene, I noticed a stillness in the account that I’ve missed on other occasions. After her journey through the dark and the rush to find the disciples Mary is left alone. She stops and is still, waiting in her grief for something she can’t possibly understand. It is in this moment of stillness that she encounters the risen Christ. It brings to mind part of my favourite hymn:

“She awaits a new creation in the shadow of the tomb. Hope and trust and expectation, from it will a vision come.”

Pondering this I realise that I too need a still, quiet moment to encounter the risen Christ as she did in the garden, remaining alone and quiet in his presence, allowing the new creation to take root in my heart.

Where are you finding space to encounter the risen Christ in the depth of your heart?

Tags #challenge, #eastertide, #Encounter, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #ponder, #Reflect, #rejoice, #resurrection, #RisenChrist, #StMaryMagdalene, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Divine Office Easter Sunday Easter Vigil Eastertide Good Shepherd Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Resurrection Scripture

Called And Named

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 05/04/2026

BACKGROUND READING JOHN 20: 1-18
AND JOHN 10 1-6

Mary’s story is about being lost and found. She met Jesus when she was completely lost. “Possessed by evil spirits” she was wandering the countryside, too disturbed to be still.

When she heard Jesus teaching by the lake, a wave of peace washed over her. he became his follower. She sat at his feet with the other disciples, listening, learning and being changed by his words.

The crucifixion was another overwhelming loss. She tried to get the disciples to come and anoint Jesus’ body, but found them too devasted and scared to leave their rooms.

She gathered the other women to help her instead. When they arrived at the tomb, they found the stone rolled away and a young man waiting inside. They dropped everything and ran away.

Mary went back to the other disciples, telling them that, on top of everything else, Jesus’ body had been taken. Peter and John ran with her to the tomb to see for themselves. She arrived after they left, and stood weeping by the empty tomb, overwhelmed again by the loss.

Initially mistaking him for the gardener she recognised Jesus when he called her by name. It’s a moment that takes her back to the first story she heard him tell, the good shepherd:

“The good shepherd had called my name, and I knew his voice with every fibre of my being.”

In our lost times we too need to hear the risen Christ, calling us home to live in the light of his love.

Where do you hear the risen Christ calling you to live in his love this Easter morning?

You can hear Mary’s story here:

Tags #Benedictine, #Called, #challenge, #EasterEve, #goodshepherd, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #MaryMagdalene, #newlife, #Recognition, #resurrection, #RisenChrist, #trust