Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” - John 20:24-25Thank God for Thomas. He's my hero.They say that the opposite of faith is not...
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Dear Son,Thank you for your letter dated March 21. It was good to hear about what you have been up to. You’ve always had a knack for telling a good story. Once again, you are doing everything being asked of you, and doing it so well, under such trying circumstances. Keep it up, my boy! I suspect that things are going to get more difficult, as you seem to be putting a fair few powerful...
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Did you know 2016 was pre-named 'The Year of Mercy'? I'm not sure who bestowed this title or what it inspired or even how we indeed review it. But a cursory glance at the news - local, nation or international you could easily conclude that nothing much has changed. The world is still tired and frayed at the edges. Good news still travels much slower than a sensational news headline. And peace for so much of the earth is still...
Read MoreRead More Here marks a creative break, a spiritual tangent if you will. I have been wanting to explore the art of meditative drawing. I realize this is really nothing new, for drawing has long been associated with spiritual thought and practice. However, I really believe there is something in this for contemporary life which is so fast and yet so image laden. So I'm taking a month to walk this tangent slowly to see where it leads. Below is...
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As I read around the gospel text this week I ache for the Incarnation of Jesus Christ to be visible in my life, in our lives. What is the Kingdom of God nurturing inside you? What is God storing away and hoping for you in secret? Whatever it is, you can be sure it is good, productive and abundant because the Father is pleased to give it to you.Read the whole story in Luke 12:1-34. Below is my...
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In the gospel Lectionary this week, we see Jesus returning from prayer and answering the request, "teach us to pray". I wonder what we would receive if we risked the same request of Christ today? Read the whole story in Luke 11:1-13. I have especially enjoyed the The Message translation. Below is my meditative poem. Jesus, God-in-work-boots When do you ever stop teaching? When do you ever cease listening for our good? Give us faith in asking, persistence in...
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The story of the Good Samaritan is one of Jesus' best known parables. It has become part of the fabric of western culture. It is held up to celebrate high ideals of humanity, brotherhood, sisterhood and community. Somehow though, we've stopped listening. We've heard that one before. We get it. Thanks.I wonder then, might Jesus want to use such a story to show us something new of himself today. With this in mind I revisit Luke 10....
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The Lectionary gospel text this week is from Luke 10:1-11, 16-20. In it we read that Jesus was making his way to Jerusalem. In the preceding chapter Luke describes Jesus' mood as resolute. He then sends 70 of his followers ahead of him, with very specific instructions. As I drew some meditative sketches about this scene, I was struck Christ's care for his followers. He had discerned that the time was right, so deliberately and carefully he sent...
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Over the past five weeks I have been writing somewhat of an extended book review of Henri Nouwen's 'The Return of the Prodigal Son - A Story of Homecoming'. Through it I have explored the story Jesus told in Luke 15 and Rembrandt van Rijn's depiction of the story's human landscape. At the risk of spoiling Nouwen's conclusion, or worse, not being able to do it justice, I offer my own reflection on what I've...
Read MoreRead More The story of the return of the prodigal son uncovers the heart of God the Father. God finds us at the edge and draws us into the centre. We are pursued in the best possible way. Relentlessly. Inexhaustibly. This is the nature of the father's love for each of us. Yet we all question this love. We would do well to examine our internal questions from time to time. Consider the insight of Henri Nouwen...
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