We often think of the transfiguration as a one-off historical event, but by doing that do we exclude the chance that others have been transfigured as they follow in the footsteps of Christ? Mark 9:2‑10 2Jesus took Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. He was transfigured before …
When we say “nothing can separate us from the love of God” are we prepared for the implications? Romans 8:26‑39 26The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not even know how we ought to pray, but through our inarticulate groans that very Spirit is pleading for us; 27and God, who …
Those who read last week’s gospel, would have heard about wheat being sown in different soil conditions. This time Jesus looks at the seed, not the ground, and lays more challenges for us. Matthew 13:24‑30, 36‑43 24Jesus put before the crowd another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good …
When I first read Psalm 126 in preparation for this reflection I was reminded of Brahms’ “Requiem” with a beautiful chorus picking up on this psalm. Psalm 126 1When the Lord turned again the fortunes of Zion, Then we were like those who restored to life. 2Then our mouth was filled with laughter, …
The dysfunctionality of the Abraham dynasty serves to show us that God can take something riddled with problems and produce something which is good. Abraham’s role as a forefather of the Jews and Christians comes from God’s grace, not his righteousness. Genesis 25:19‑34 19These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father …
“Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest” Matt 11:15‑30 (15-19 and 25-30) 15If you have ears, then listen! 16‘To what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market‑places and calling to one another, 17“We played …
“Doubting Thomas” tends to get a bad rap, but is that fair? John 20:24‑29a 24Thomas (who was called The Twin), one of the twelve, was not with the others when Jesus came, 25so the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord,’ but he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the …
Would you take the life of your own child if you felt that God was calling you to do that? There’s far more to the story of Abraham and Isaac than that. Genesis 22:1‑14 21:34Abraham lived as an alien in the country of the Philistines for many years, 1after which God tested him. He said …
Romans 6:1‑11 1Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2By no means! How can we, who died to sin, go on living in it? 3Do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into His death? 4Therefore we have been buried with Him …
A female patient in her 90s arrived at the doctor’s surgery with a bad dose of hiccoughs. Within seconds of seeing the doctor she rushed out laughing loudly and with no hiccoughs. A colleague asked how the doctor had cured the lady, and the reply was “I told her she was pregnant.” Poor Sarah got …
Moses, Moses, what on earth did you do? Moses had been up Mt Sinai allowing God to inscribe on two tablets of stone the words we have come to know as the Ten Commandments, but when he descended, and found that the Israelites had begun to worship other gods, he threw down the tablets and …
John 20: 19-23 19When it was evening on the day of resurrection, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ 20After He said this, He showed them …
Psalm 68 To the leader. Of David. A Psalm. A Song. 1Let God rise up, let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee before Him. 2As smoke is driven away, so drive them away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God. 3But let the …
1 Peter 3:8‑22 8All of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9Do not repay evil for evil, or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called — that you might inherit a blessing. …
Acts 7:55‑60 55Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ 57but they covered their ears, and with a loud …
1 Peter 2:1‑10 1Rid yourselves of all malice, all guile, all insincerity, all envy, and all slander. 2Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation — 3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4Come to Him, a living stone, rejected by mortals …
Luke 24:13‑35 13Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing …
Acts 2: 14a, 22‑32 14Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the gathered Jews, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 22You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested …
John 20:1‑18 1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb, 2so she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have …
Isaiah 50:4-9a 4The Lord has given me the tongue of a teacher and skill to console the weary with a word in the morning; He sharpened my hearing that I might listen like one who is taught. 5The Lord opened my ears and I did not disobey or turn back in defiance. 6I offered my …