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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Saints Scripture

Disrupted by resurrection

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DISRUPTION

There’s nothing comfortable about DISRUPTION, yet, it’s a word that we can’t avoid in Eastertide. The very fact of the resurrection is a disruption of everything we know about the nature of life.

All of the resurrection appearances carry an element of disruption for the disciples. In different ways everyone who meets the risen Christ has their lives disrupted in lifechanging and unimaginable ways.

Today I’m reflecting on the conversion of St Paul. It’s hard to imagine a more disruptive encounter with the Risen Christ than Saul’s. As he dashes around the country persecuting Christians, his world is literally upended as he is thrown off his horse. The disruption continues after his fall when, Jesus tells him:

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

He is led into Damascus, blinded and shaken to wait until Ananias arrives to restore his sight and baptise him. Luke tells us he then begins to proclaim that Jesus is the son of God:

“Immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.“

Saul moves from persecuting Christians to proclaiming the gospel. It may be that such a transformation is only possible after such a great disruption. It’s not surprising that the new creation we become in the risen Christ requires a certain amount of disruption.

To welcome him into our hearts our whole understanding and experience have to shift. We have to surrender control and allow our lives to be thoroughly disrupted.

Where is the risen Christ challenging you to allow him to disrupt your life this Eastertide?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Cross Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Resurrection Scripture

The feast of St George

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UNITY

UNITY is central to the message of Eastertide. The resurrection gospel show as the disciples drawing into a new community that supports and protects one another. This means they have to learn to let their barriers down, and risk to others.

Our challenging times incline us to build barriers that we can hide behind. They draw towards protectionism, keeping ourselves safe at the expenses of others. The example of St George, whose face we celebrate today, shows us this is not the call of the risen Christ.

As a Syrian in the Roman army who is patron saint of at least England, Russia, Ethiopia and Georgia St George offers us the opportunity to expand our horizons. He reminds us that our common humanity extends beyond borders and nationalities. He shows us that our hope lies in breaking down barriers, reaching out to the stranger, not in building them higher and excluding people.

He had the courage to stand up to the evil of his day, slaying the “dragons” of his times wherever he could. This offers us courage and hope. In our own times we face plenty of “dragons” unleashed the wars, migration, economic, social and political challenges.

It’s not call without risks. In his second letter to Timothy St Paul writes:

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

As we celebrate the feast of St George it seems to me that we are called risk persecution to reach out others, seeking unity and reconciliation wherever we can.

Where is the risen Christ calling you to risk seeking unity today?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Scripture

Called to Rejoice

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JOY

Eastertide is a time for JOY. Today’s psalm calls the whole of creation to cry out with joy to the Lord:

“Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.”

This feels like a real challenge today When our world order faces so many threats and challenges the thought of being joyful can simply seem beyond us.. So much conspires to sap the joy out of life.

It’s drained away by the constant stream of bad news on our screens. It’s dissipated by the impossibly perfect lives presented on social media. That makes it very easy to dismiss JOY as only applying when life is good.

The Acts of the Apostles shows us that we can rejoice in the power of the risen Christ even when our lives are challenged and threatened. Facing a new wave of persecution, the young church is forced to flee even as it mourns the death of Stephen. It’s hard to imagine a situation less made for joy than that.

Yet, as they spread through the countryside they carry with them the Good News of the gospel, sharing it with all who are willing to listen. Philip’s preaching in the Samaritan town reminds us that even in the hardest situations the gospel can touch hearts and bring joy to people’s lives:

“There was great rejoicing in that town.”

This reminds however challenging our times are we can still share the joy of the risen Christ with one another

Where is Christ calling you to rejoice this Eastertide?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Cross Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Scripture

Trust in the Lord.

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TRUST

Today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles calls us to TRUST. It tells the story of Stephen, of the earliest Christian converts, and the first Christian martyr.

He is a man of faith filled with the Holy Spirit. Living in an occupied country in dangerous times he would have been aware there would have been risks involved in joining this new group. Yet, he stepped out into the unknown, trusting that the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit would lead him.

Trust is fairly straightforward when life is steady and secure. When we live in stable times, reasonably certain that we can meet our own basic needs trust seems so easy that it’s barely an issue. It becomes much harder when life is uncertain, challenging or even dangerous.

Stephen was able to trust God even when he was challenged and his life was threatened. He carried on trusting in God until the very end of his life when he hands himself over body and soul to the risen Christ. As he dies he says:

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Such trust requires an open heart. It’s hard to be openhearted when life is frightening and unstable. In such times all our instincts tell us to close ourselves away, to become less trusting and more suspicious of others.

Stephen’s example reminds us that our call to follow Christ compels us to trust even when life is hard, and trust is a costly choice.

Where is the risen Christ asking you to trust yourself to this Eastertide?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Scripture

Called to believe.

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BELIEVE

Throughout the Resurrection appearances Jesus is encouraging his disciples to BELIEVE. With each appearance he encourages and challenges them to believe that what he told them has come to pass.

He challenges them to believe the witness of their own eyes when what they see before them seems truly unbelievable. In last Sunday’s gospel he tells Thomas to move on from his doubting, saying to him:

“Doubt no longer, but believe.”

It’s a call to believe that he is the Christ, the Messiah, the son of the living God that’s echoed in today’s gospel. His popularity has increased as a result of the feeding of the five thousand.

Jesus knows that the crowds have been attracted by the food producing miracle rather than by faith in his message. Vital as that is he calls them to go deeper, seeking beyond the surface for the real meaning of his action, that brings life and hope. He says to them:

“Do not work for food that cannot last, but work for food that endures to eternal life, the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.”

His words carry a particular challenge for us. In our world that endlessly promotes image with little concern for truth it can be hard to discern what to believe. There is an answer to that dilemma in Jesus’ response to the crowd:

“You must believe in the one God has sent.”

The risen Christ invites us to BELIEVE in him even though, in our broken and damaged world, that is not always easy. He calls us to BELIEVE that he is with us, offering us new life in the midst of our brokenness.

How is the risen Christ inviting you to deepen your belief in him this Eastertide?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Scripture

Rediscovereing Hope.

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HOPE

HOPE is central to Eastertide. Today, we get another opportunity to revisit the Emmaus gospel. I’m glad to revisit a story that is so full of riches that it always offers us something new to reflect on.

At the beginning of their journey the disciples are despairing and hopeless, so drained they can barely drag themselves along the road to their home. We can almost feel the hopelessness from Luke’s description, we may also recognise it from our own experience.

It’s hard to see how they can move from this draining hopelessness to the energising hope we see at the end of the gospel. When a compelling stranger draws alongside them, asking what they are discussing their hopelessness overflows. Full of sadness they tell him:

“They stopped short, their faces downcast…Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free.”

Jesus gently unfolds the truth for them, challenging but never forcing, moving at a pace they can cope with. Some small spark of recognition is kindled in their hearts, and a tiny shoot of hope takes root.

It compels them to invite Jesus to stay with them when they reach home, and enables them to recognise him as he blesses the bread. As they recognise him their hope begins to blossom again:

“Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?”

In our dark times when hope feels impossible, the risen Christ also walks alongside us. If we allow him in, he can rekindle a hope that will set us free and give us the courage for these times.

Where do you need the risen Christ to help you rediscover hope this Eastertide?

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Benedictine Spirituality Discernment Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Resurrection Scripture

With Fears Calmed

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FEAR

FEAR is another word we don’t often connect with Eastertide. Yet there is a plenty of fear in the resurrection gospels as the disciples try to process all that has gone on. Today’s gospel reflects the disruption of that time. Our own stormy times make it easier to identify with the disciples response to the unexpected storm that threatens them.

I imagine them longing for rest and the opportunity to process some of the strange events they’ve witnessed over the previous days. As darkness falls and they climb into the boat they must have been hoping for a quiet, peaceful crossing to Capernaum.

It wasn’t to be, as they get further from the shore the wind and the waves get stronger and a storm blows up. They find themselves buffeted on all sides as wave after wave threatens to overwhelm their small boat.

Struggling to control the boat they see Jesus walking towards them across the water. Initially his appearance seems to do little to help their situation. The strange sight of him walking towards them over the stormy lake only increases their already mounting fear. Then Jesus speaks to them, and everything changes:

“It is I, do not be afraid.”

His words offer them consolation and calms their fears and they reach the shore safely. As we face our own stormy times we too need to hear Christ’s voice calming our fears and assuring us that, with his grace we will come through our storms.

Where do you need to hear the risen Christ calming your fears this Eastertide?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Scripture

Co workers with Christ

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COLLABORATION

Reflecting on John’s account of the miracle of the loaves and fishes I’m struck by how Jesus involves the disciples in what he plans to do. I’m sure Philip thought it was crazy to be expected to feed such a large crowd.

Andrew was uncomfortably aware that the five loaves and two fish were not going to go very far with such a crowd. Yet, having trusted Jesus and followed his instructions they witnessed the miracle of everyone getting what they needed:

“Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted.”

Jesus didn’t need to involve his disciples in this. As is so often the case in John’s Gospel Jesus knows exactly what he’s going to do. Instead he chooses to invite them to work with him to meet the needs of the people, regardless of their lack of understanding.

He shows them, and us, a model of discipleship based on collaboration and sharing. He wants his kingdom to be a collaborative one where people share their gifts and talents freely with others. He wants no one to be without, and no one to be overburdened by having to meet every need by themselves.

In our own challenging and often brutal times he invites us to work with him and with those around us to continue building his kingdom today. He challenges us to use our limited and often meagre resources so that no one is left without the basic necessities of life.

Where is the risen Christ calling you to work collaboratively with him today?

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

Stepping into obedience.

OBEDIENCE

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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?

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Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Scripture

Into the light

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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?