Isaiah 7:10-14,8:10Luke 1:26-38 ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.’ Do you ever stop and wonder how different our faith might be if Jesus …
Category Archives: Monastic
Second Sunday of Easter
John 20:19-31 There’s nothing worse than being with a group of people who are talking about an experience that you haven’t had. There’s only so far that you can go in trying to understand what they are saying and feeling. It’s easy for me to understand how Thomas might be feeling when the disciples say …
Easter Saturday
Mark 16:9-15 There’s shift in tone in today’s Gospel text. After the intimacy of Mary’s encounter at the tomb with Jesus and then the breakfast on the seashore, today’s Gospel shifts our focus. It reads as a recap of themes we’ve heard during the week: refusal of the disciples to believe, the journey of the …
Women of Holy Week, Mary, wife of Cleopas’ Story (8)
Listen to Mary’s Story Read: 24:13-35 Mary and Cleopas are heavy hearted as they begin their journey. Have you known times on your own faith journey when what you hoped for hasn’t materialised? Mary and Clopas find themselves sharing their hopes and fears with Jesus. Imagine yourself doing this too. That simple act of breaking …
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Women of Holy Week, Mary Magdalene’s story (7)
Listen to Mary Magdalene’s story Read John 20:1-18 As you listened to Mary Magdalene’s story were there words and images which struck you? Mary and her companions beg, borrow and buy all the spices that they can. What lengths might you go to in showing honour to someone? Jesus says Mary’s name and in that …
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Women of Holy Week, Holy Saturday
Scroll back through the posts and revisit one of the Women of Holy Week. What stays with you? How have these women’s stories deepened your engagement with the drama of Holy Week? Images © Ally Barrett (http://reverendally.org) and used by permission.
Women of Holy Week, Salome’s Story (6)
Listen to Salome’s story. Read Mark 15:1-41 and John 19:17-37 Salome speaks about the teaching of Jesus ‘making sense of the world’ and making ‘sense of me’. What are the parts of Jesus’ teaching that help you to make sense of the world and sense of yourself? Salome and her companions draw together when they …
Women of Holy Week, Joanna’s Story (5)
Listen to Joanna’s Story Read Mark 14:12-25 Joanna pays a fisherman to take her to the place where Jesus was preaching.What lengths have you gone to in your own life to find Jesus? How does Joanna’s telling of the meal in the Upper Room speak to you? Joanna speaks of Jesus allowing you to ‘grow …
Susannah’s Story (4)
Listen to Susannah’s Story Read Matthew 26:6-13Mark 14:3-9Luke 7:36-50John 12:1-8 When Susannah’s father gives her an alabaster jar he says: ‘Something precious for the most precious person I know. Open it on a special occasion, dear one.’Have you ever been given something precious? Have you ever kept something for a special occasion? When you picture …
Women of Holy Week, Anna’s Story (3)
Listen to Anna’s Story Read Luke 2:22-38 and Mark 12:38-44 Anna talks of visiting her great aunt and listening to old stories of her faith. Who are the storytellers in your own life? Her great aunt tells her ‘It’s your story, too- never let them paint you out.’ Which Biblical women have inspired you? Image …