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 …
Category Archives: Monastic
Easter Friday
John 21:1-14 Just after my A levels I was able to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Our visit to the Sea of Tiberias stands out for me as a time of grace. In what was a fairly packed itinerary, there was suddenly time to sit and watch the water. It was a relief …
Easter Thursday
Luke 24:35-48 Today’s Gospel invites us to stand with the disciples as Jesus appears among them. They are startled and Jesus reassures them with his greeting of ‘Peace be with you.’ Understandably they think he is a ghost and he reassures them again: ‘Touch me and see for yourselves.’ If I imagine myself among the …
Easter Wednesday
Luke 24:13-35 Luke paints the picture of the disciples at the end of an emotional journey where crucifixion has dashed their hopes. As they walk they talk to each other. There is a sense in which the journey is a time of healing as the disciples verbalise the experiences of the past days. A stranger …
Easter Tuesday
John 20:11-18 ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ‘Oh, it’s okay, don’t cry.’ It’s surprising how often as I primary teacher I was urging children not to cry. It seems to be one of the first things you say to a child to reassure them when something upsetting has happened. First you try to get them …
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 …