Fear and Faith In many novels, plays and films there are storms. Characters look to grey skies and warn that a storm is coming. This is not just a weather forecast! In our own daily lives when we face difficult or painful situations we talk about ‘weathering a storm’ or ‘being all at sea.’ These recent...

When a little is enough The gospel today begins with Jesus hearing the news that John the Baptist has been killed. He goes to a lonely place where he can be by himself. He simply needs to time and space so that he can think and pray. There is something very ordinary and human about...

The Hidden and Buried Treasure One of my favourite television programmes is the Antiques Road Show. People bring their prized and personal possessions and have experts look at them to be valued. Some are worth are lot of money. They are, with other antiques often called ‘priceless work of art.’ When countries have collections of...

The tiny mustard seed and the yeast In the gospel last Sunday, Jesus spoke about the seed as the Word of God. Today we continue with this theme and message as Jesus carries on talking about sowing seeds among weeds. He also uses two other very important images; the tiny mustard seed and yeast used...

The seed is the Word of God Jesus was a great story teller. His words and parables astonished those who listened to him. In Mark’s gospel we are told, ‘the people who heard him were amazed at the way he taught… he taught with authority.’ (1.22). To use a modern phrase, he knew his audience...

Come to me all you who are overburdened The main invitation that Jesus offers us is the one to follow him; ‘if anyone wants to come with me, they must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.’ (Mtt. 16.24). This is simply an invitation, but it is also a very challenging one. In...

The challenge of being a follower of Jesus I share the following simply and honestly. I find it very easy to call myself a follower of Jesus when everything is going well for me. In short, when I am in control and can control what happens to me and around me, as best I can....

Do not be afraid Of what are you afraid? What fills you with anxiety and fear? Some people are afraid of spiders, others are afraid of dogs, and so much more. As a child, I was so afraid of the dark. Looking back now, it was not so much the dark itself, it was what...

The Body and Blood of Jesus – Corpus Christi Separated though we are from each other, we are still the Church, the People of God and the Body of Christ. Although we are still unable to go our local church to celebrate the Eucharist, we are united to each other and in communion with Jesus...

Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, the last day of the Easter season. Today we begin what is called ‘Ordinary Time.’ But today in fact is no ‘ordinary’ Sunday. Today is Trinity Sunday. Separated though we are from each other, today is the day to praise and experience the love and power of the Trinity.  We...