Category: Scripture

Categories
Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Scripture

The peace of Christ.

Photo by James Lee on Unsplash.com

In today’s gospel Jesus offers his disciples the gift of peace:

“Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.”

We always need this gift of peace. We can sometimes lull ourselves into a sense of false security, accepting a surface status quo as peace, ignoring the conflicts that lie beneath it. In reality, however much we disguise it, there is always some situation in our personal lives or in our societies that needs the healing touch of peace.

Having said that there also seems to be times when our need for peace is more obvious and urgent. There are times when those conflicts and disagreements that have simmered under the surface breakout bringing violence and destruction in their wake. We are living in such a time now.

There are so many places today facing war and conflict. We can no longer ignore the huge costs of these conflicts to ordinary people. The destruction they bring to ordinary lives and communities is truly horrific.

This gives Jesus’ offer of peace a new and deeper meaning. When our own fragile attempts at peace making feel our only hope is to trust in the peace he offers. His peace is universal; it is offered without judgement or partisanship. If we are to have any hope of healing our war-torn world, we each have to open our hearts to accept the peace he offers. We have to it to shape our life, and share it with others in ways that change and rebuild broken relationships.

Where is Christ challenging you to accept and share his piece this Eastertide?

Categories
Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Holy Spirit Lectio Divina Liturgy Resurrection Scripture Uncategorized

A promise & a hope.

Photo by Emma Harrisova on unsplash.com

Eastertide a dynamic season. From Easter Sunday onwards there’s lots of movement, disciples running to and from the tomb, setting out on journeys as soon as they reach home to share the news of the resurrection, moving around the area sharing this Good News with anyone who will listen.

All this activity is grounded in their intimate, personal and life changing encounters with the risen Christ. For several weeks the risen Christ has revealed the resurrection and deepening our understanding of who the he is. Now, approaching Ascension there is a new movement. Jesus says to his disciples:

“I have said these things to you while still with you; but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.”

Jesus is beginning to prepare his disciples, and us, for another departure. Once again he is leaving them, this time to return to his Father. As we move towards the Ascension he makes it clear that he’s not leaving them emptied handed.

As well as their own personal experiences of him he has broadened and deepened their understanding of who he is. Now he promises them the Holy Spirit, the Advocate.

The Spirit will be with them to teach and support them, to give them the courage to face the challenges that will come. The Spirit will remind them of all Jesus said, all those things that might be forgotten in the emotion of the moment.

This is equally true for us today. In all the challenges we face Jesus promises us that the Spirit will be there with us.

What is your hope for the action of the Spirit in your life this Eastertide?

Categories
Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Scripture

People of Love.

Image by Petra from pixabay.com

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?

Categories
Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Scripture

New Horizons.

Photo by Sonika Agarwal on unsplash.com

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?

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

The Way, the Truth & the Life.

Photo by Fallon Michael on unsplash.com

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?

Categories
Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Prayer Scripture

Welcoming Christ.

Photo by Ricky Turner on unsplash.com

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?

Categories
Benedictine Spirituality Christ Eastertide Gospel Lectio Divina Saints Scripture

Held in the love of Christ.

Photo by Gianna on unsplash.com

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?

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

Into new life.

Image by Annette Meyer from pixabay.com

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?

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

Shaped by and for Love.

Photo by Robinson Recalde on unsplash.com

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?

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

Staying with Christ.

Image by BnB from pixabay.com

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?