Category: Uncategorized

Fairness and generosity.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 20/09/2026

Vindemia Winery

Some thoughts on fairness and generosity from our archives: Today’s gospel is all about fairness and generosity. At the beginning of the day a landowner goes out to hire workers for his vineyard, offering them a fair price for the day’s work.

He goes out again several times later in the day, right up to the 11th hour, and still finding idle workers sends them to his vineyard offering them “a fair wage”.

At the end of the day he tells his bailiff to pay all the workers the same amount, starting with the ones who came last. This causes some consternation to those who have been working all day, and they grumble that it’s not fair as they have worked longer and should receive more.

They evoke our sympathy because we all know what it feels like to be treated unfairly. Yet, the vineyard owner takes a different view, saying to them:

“My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius?… Why be envious because I am generous?

His words turn the situation on its head, challenging his workers, and us, to look at it from a different perspective. He calls us to look at our motivations and to acknowledge that there can be a thin line between our desire for fairness and envy.

His generous action points out that generosity is a hallmark of the Kingdom. It compels us to reflect on where we can be generous towards those around us with both our material goods and our time.

Where is Christ calling you to act generously today?

Tags #Benedictine, #challenge, #Christlike, #Discipleship, #Fairness, #generosity, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #LandOwner, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #trust, #VineYard, #Workers

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Lectio Divina Scripture Uncategorized

People of love.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 06/09/2026

Photo by Karori Production on unsplash.com

Today I’m reflecting on St Paul’s letter to the Romans. Echoing Jesus in the gospels he tells the Romans that all of the commandments can be summed up in the call to love their neighbours as themselves. He goes on to say:

“Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.”

His words bring to mind St Benedict’s call to choose what is better for others over our own preferences. Our hearts recognise the truth of this call every time we hear it. We know it’s truth from both sides, from receiving love and from giving it to others.

Yet we can still so easily be drawn away from making that principle the basis of our actions. Our needs, our fears or a myriad of distractions can draw us away from focussing on showing love to each other, whatever our intentions.

I’m inclined to think that it’s one of those things we can’t remind of ourselves often enough. Sometimes it’s easier to remember when we encounter people facing challenging or painful situations. We seem to be able to put ourselves aside to show love when we face the big challenges of life.

I sometimes think it’s harder to do in the small, apparently unimportant things that make up the bulk of our daily interactions. I wonder how different our behaviour would be if we truly took Paul’s words to heart and allowed them to shape our daily interactions.

Where are you being called to grow in love today?

Tags #Benedictine, #challenge, #Christ, #Christlike, #Disciples, #Discipleship, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #Romans, #StPaul, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Divine Office Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Scripture Uncategorized

In trust and hope.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 15/08/2026

Photo by Elisa Photography on unsplash.com

Today as we’re celebrating the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary I’m revisiting Luke’s account of the Visitation. It’s a beautiful encounter of two women connected by family ties and by the unusual, miraculous circumstances they find themselves overtaken by. It shows us Mary at the beginning of a life’s journey that culminates in the Assumption.

The young Mary can have had no idea of where this journey would lead her. Yet, despite her trepidation she is already full of the Spirit. She has the courage to use the words that have been passed down through her faith sing of the greatness of the God who has transformed her life:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, and my spirit exults in God my saviour…”

It is easy to imagine that Mary knew how her life would unfold. We easily forget that she didn’t have our gift of hindsight. She had no idea of how her “yes” would shape her life and all our lives. She was a young girl stepping out into the unknown, hanging on to a promise from God that she didn’t fully understand.

It must have taken huge amount of courage and trust to take that step, singing God’s praises and trusting that the promise would be fulfilled.

In our own uncertain and challenging lives and times we are called to follow her example, trusting in dark times that God’s promise will also be fulfilled in our lives in ways beyond our dreams.

Where is Christ inviting you to step out in trust today?

Tags #Assumption, #Benedictine, #challenge, #gospel, #HolySpirit, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #Magnificat, #newlife, #promise, #Saviour, #trust, #VirginMary, #visitation

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Gospel Lectio Divina Prayer Prophetic voices Scripture Uncategorized

Being Courageous

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 09/08/2026

Photo by Giulia Veneziano on unsplash.com

There’s a resonance between the story of Elijah in the first reading and of disciples on the stormy lake in the gospel. They are a call to focus our whole attention on God without allowing ourselves to be distracted by the inevitable storms of life.

Elijah waits attentively in his cave through mighty winds, earthquakes and fire, until he discovers the presence of God in the quiet of a gentle breeze. On the storm tossed lake Jesus invites Peter to walk across the water towards him.

While Peter focuses his whole attention on Jesus everything is fine, but as soon as he is distracted by the force of the wind he begins to sink. As Jesus walked across the water to his disciples he calls out:

“Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.”

Both the story of Elijah and of the storm tossed disciples require courage and trust. It takes courage to sit out the storms of life, not letting them blow us off course. It takes trust and faith to keep ourselves focused on Christ when life is challenging, uncertain and frightening.

We live in stormy & uncertain times. In the midst of those Christ calls to us not to be fearful, but to focus on his presence with us. As Julian of Norwich tells us that presence will not remove us from those storms, but it will prevent them from overcoming us.

Where do you need the courage to stay focused on Christ’s presence in your life today?

Tags #attentiveness, #Benedictine, #calmingthestorm, #challenge, #courage, #Elijah, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #listening, #love, #newlife, #Peter, #SheerSilence, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Gospel Lectio Divina Resurrection Saints Scripture Uncategorized

A warm hearted welcome

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 29/07/2026

Image by Pexels from pixabay.com

A post from the archives for the feast of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, friends of the Lord, an important feast for Benedictines because of its link to hospitality. Luke tells us that Martha:

“Welcomed Jesus into her home.”

She offered him hospitality, a safe place to relax and have a meal with his friends in dangerous and uncertain times. However, John takes the hospitality she offers to a different level. He shows us a woman of faith, used to the theological reflection and conversation, and already a follower of Jesus.

Even as she grieves for her brother she is capable of questioning Jesus and of allowing his response to transform her whole life It is through their hard, challenging conversation that Jesus is both revealed and recognised as Christ:

“I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though they die they will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

Central as this revelation is it is not enough by itself, and he requires a response from Martha, asking her:

“Do you believe this?”

The recognition of her response completes the revelation as she proclaims:

“Yes Lord… I believe that you are the Christ, the son of God, the one who was to come into this world.”

I don’t think it would have been possible for Martha reach this recognition if she had only welcomed Jesus into her home. To recognise him as the Christ she must also have opened her heart to him.

By welcoming him into the very centre of her being she was able to allow him to transform her whole life. We too are called to offer the risen Christ hospitality in the depths of our heart, allowing him to enter and transform our lives with light, love and hope

What would help you to invite Christ into your heart today?

Tags #Benedictine, #challenge, #Christ, #Christlike, #gospel, #Hope, #hospitality, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #MarthaMaryLazarus, #newlife, #resurrection, #RuleOfStBenedict, #StMartha, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Gospel Lectio Divina Scripture Uncategorized

Good News

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 08/07/2026

Photo by Annie Spratt on unsplash.com

In today’s gospel Jesus commissions the 12 Apostles, giving them authority and sending them out to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of heaven. He says to them:

“Go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the Kingdom of heaven is close at hand.”

His words bring to mind the image of the good Shepherd, calling his sheep by name, seeking out those who are lost to bring them back into the fold of his loving care. I imagine that as the apostles listened to his words they were very aware of the people around them who felt overwhelmed and lost in the face of their challenging times.

His words resonate with me particularly because of the many people in our times who are also lost, seeking meaning, security, love and compassion in our own challenging times.

Jesus knew he was sending the Apostles on a mission that would be dangerous, uncertain and challenging. It’s a call that’s as essential for us today as it was then. Listening to the gospel this morning I thought of the many women and men who have taken up that call through the ages, seeking to support the lost and marginalised of their own times.

We are called to carry on their work, the Good News to those who feel lost today, seeking them out, helping them find their way through the challenges of life, offering them the love and compassion of Christ.

How is Christ calling you to share the Good News with those you encounter today?

Tags #Apostles, #Benedictine, #challenge, #Christ, #Christlike, #Disciples, #Discipleship, #GoodNews, #gospel, #kingdom, #KingdomOfHeaven, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #proclaim, #trust

Christ Discernment Divine Office Gospel Lectio Divina Liturgy Prayer Rule of St Benedict Scripture Uncategorized

In the secret of our hearts

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 17/06/2026

Photo by Jon Tyson on unsplash.com

In today’s gospel Jesus warns us against seeking attention and admiration for our faith and our good deeds. It’s a message that very much goes against the wisdom of age, which encourages us to seek notice and attention in every situation. It’s a call to live humbly. Humility is essential in Benedictine spirituality.

It’s not easy, it requires self-knowledge, self-awareness, self acceptance and self-love. It calls us both to accept our limitations and our giftedness, to acknowledge that we are both made of dust and the beloved children of God. As I reflected on this I was touched by these words from the gospel:

“When you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.”

It seems to me that Jesus shows us the best way to learn to live humbly. He calls us to come alone into God’s presence, to spend time in a quiet, private, intimate space with God. It’s not an easy or comfortable place to be. Like the desert, it can be a place where we both wrestle demons and discover angels.

Entering that private place where God is we can come to acknowledge our weakness and our failings, learning to accept them lovingly as God does. We can discover the precious gifts that God has given us and discern how best to use them in the service of others. The secret place where we encounter God is a place of challenge, it is also a place of consolation, healing and encouragement.

How do you draw strength from your times alone in God’s presence?

Tags #Benedictine, #challenge, #Christlike, #discernment, #Discipleship, #Gift, #gospel, #Hope, #humility, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #prayer, #secret, #trust

Benedictine Spirituality Christ Discernment Gospel Lectio Divina Prophetic voices Scripture Uncategorized

Treasures, new and old.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 10/06/2026

Photo by Vardan Papikyan on unsplash.com

We are fascinated by novelty. There is a particular attraction in something new, something we’ve never come across before. Novelty is often captivating and exciting. Without it so much of human development and flourishing would have been impossible.

However, there is another side to this that is particularly pertinent in this age of ever-increasing technological development. Sometimes as we are caught up whatever the next new thing is we lose sight of the value of what we already have. We seem to think that something new invalidates all that went before. In today’s gospel Jesus warned his disciples against this very attitude:

“Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved.”

In the excitement of listening to Jesus’ preaching of the kingdom it would be easy to think that the Law and the Prophets, are no longer relevant. Instead, Jesus tells them that his kingdom is built on the teaching of the Law and the Prophets that they already know and love. It’s not either/or, it’s both/and.

It can be hard to hold those two together. It’s so much more exciting to abandon the old and rush forward to embrace the new. That is not the way of the Kingdom. It requires a slower approach, one that allows us to reflect on what can be let go of because it no longer serves us well and what we need to carry forward as we embrace the challenges of our present age.

What part of our faith heritage do you most need to to help you embrace the challenges of the present?

Tags #Benedictine, #challenge, #Christ, #Christlike, #gospel, #Heritage, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #Law, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #promise, #Prophets, #Tradition, #trust

Ascension Benedictine Spirituality Christ Divine Office Eastertide Holy Spirit Lectio Divina Pentecost Prayer Prophetic voices Resurrection Scripture Uncategorized

The abundant generosity of the Holy Spirit.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 24/05/2026

ABUNDANCE

My final Eastertide word is ABUNDANCE. All of Eastertide expresses the overflowing abundance of God’s love for us. That’s especially true as we celebrate the ABUNDANCE of gifts the Holy Spirit showers on us at Pentecost.

This comes to mind when I reflect on our Pentecost tapestry and how it highlights the themes of the feast, listing our hopes for the coming of the Spirit into our lives:

“Come, cleanse, renew, heal, guide, fill, strengthen.”

I often find myself thinking that it seems a little bit crowded. The words seem to be jostling for space, almost overflowing the narrow hanging. This thought was in my mind as I read the first reading from St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. He tells us:

“There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them.”

In the light of his words I it seems hardly surprising that the words on the tapestry seem to burst out of the available space. Pentecost is a feast overflowing with a generosity and energy that are impossible to contain. The variety of gifts God pours out at Pentecost cannot be contained.

They overflow, just like the words on our tapestry, insisting that we use them in all sorts of different ways to help, support and nurture the people of our times.

Just as the disciples were compelled to reach out to the world by wind and fire the Spirit demands that we burst out of whatever upper room imprisons us to share her gifts generously with our needy world.

What gift of the Spirit do you want to overflow in your heart this Pentecost?

Tags #Abundance, #Benedictine, #challenge, #eastertide, #Eastertide2026, #EastertideLexicon, #GiftsOfTheSpirit, #gospel, #HolySpirit, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #Pentecost, #trust

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

Out of the shadows.

Post author By Sr Judith
Post date 01/05/2026

Photo by D. Jameson RAGE on unsplash.com

SHADOW

Today’s Eastertide word is: SHADOW. It doesn’t comfortably sit with Eastertide, the season of light and new life. Yet, there are plenty of shadowy moments in the Easter gospel, the Acts of the Apostles and our own Eastertide experiences. The light of the risen Christ can make as even more aware of our shadows.

Today is the feast of St Joseph the worker. In many ways it’s hard to imagine a more shadowy figure. He is always in the background, supporting Mary and the child Jesus, bringing stability and respectability to difficult situation.

Yet, if we look beyond that image we find a different story. I’m reflecting on these words from a hymn for his feast:

“His love was humble, flame of God’s own fire,
A light to guide the path he trod alone;
Like Abraham, like Moses he believed,
And went in faith to find a land unknown.”

They speak of a man of great faith who is not afraid of the shadows. He allows them to guide him into God’s light following in the footsteps of his ancestors, leaving everything to follow God into the unknown. It can’t have been an easy choice, it will have required both humility and courage.

It’s impossible to think of this without reflecting on the ever-darkening shadows that overwhelm our world today. In such shadowy times St Joseph can be a valuable role model for us.

In this challenging Eastertide St Joseph reminds us that however dark shadows seem the risen will be with us, leading us into new life by the light of his love.

What are the shadows that you need the risen Christ to dispel in your life this Eastertide?

Tags #Benedictine, #challenge, #eastertide, #Eastertide2026, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #RisenChrist, #Shadow, #Shadows, #Stjoseph, #StJosephTheWorker, #trust