Jesus and the Incredulity of Thomas.

11th Station of the Resurrection: 

Jesus and the Incredulity of Thomas. 

Today we hear once again those famous words from Thomas; “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hands in his side. I will not believe.”

Fair enough, you may think, well done Thomas for saying out loud what we and the disciples must all have thought at the time. 

I think that all the disciples needed a certainty about whether Jesus was alive and the fact that Thomas was absent when he first appeared gives them another opportunity to require that proof, that concrete physical proof as it were.

Once again Jesus offers the opportunity for the disciples to reach out and come to him. Scripture doesn’t say whether Thomas actually puts his fingers in the scars, or his hand into the spear wound, but this is a direct command from Jesus and tradition has assumed from Jesus’ words that Thomas did take this step. 

In the painting by Caravaggio, which is on our service sheet today, we graphically see Thomas’ forefinger entering the gash in Christ’s side. Indeed Christ is guiding Thomas’ fingers into the wound with his left hand, while his right hand pulls back the tunic that covers his chest. 

Christ’s calm expression contrasts with the intense and surprised reactions of Thomas and the other two disciples (the figure on the left is most likely Peter with John next to him). 

The dramatic tenebrist light further accentuates the moment in which Thomas encounters the bodily wounds of the risen Christ. 

Caravaggio’s figures, are painted in earth tones, and are meant to be representative of the common man. 

This painting by Caravaggio is most wonderful, he uses common people to show us this holy moment, no halos or angels bathed in light, just common folk, bathed in light and shade as is our life and in a very theatrical form, with simple and torn clothes. there’s a thought to ponder?

Notice the light on Thomas’ forehead, which gives us the insight that man receives enlightenment by Christs’ reflected light. 

Notice too that Thomas is almost scientifically examining Jesus’ body, Christ not wanting to withhold anything from him, that too should speak to us today.

This picture does seek to answer the questions we all have thought, from time to time. For me, it helps me navigate my thought processes, we must have the confidence to “ask, seek and knock” as Jesus says in Matthew 7:7

In doing so the door of understanding, of enlightenment will be opened to us and out of this enlightenment we can then, like Thomas, say. “My Lord and my God!” 

Whether Thomas makes this response on behalf of the whole group of disciples or it is his own personal insight is not easy to tell. What is true is that group of believers is growing, first Mary Magdalene, then John and Peter, now Thomas.

But for each of them it is only the start, for revelation is only a beginning; how you make it live and breathe in your own being is what counts. Thomas took his new found knowledge of Jesus into his heart and carried it across continents into the heart of India. 

Christ was his fuel for the journey, indeed the truth that Thomas told still lives on in India to this day. 

This Truth told then now lives with us; 

Where will we carry it, to our neighbours, our nation or perhaps even to our enemies?

One thing for sure is, this truth we cannot, must not and shall not keep it to ourselves.

Jesus Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed, Alleluia.

Let us Pray.

King of glory, while we doubt, we fail, we turn away, yet your faith in us remains strong.

May we experience that divine strength coursing through our souls and bodies and minds, so that our doubts may become the source of new knowledge, leading us to see you more clearly and be drawn into the heart of your love for all creation.

Amen

Sixth Station of the Resurrection: The Road to Emmaus 

(Just Walk in My Shoes)

Introduction

Through Lent and Passiontide there has been a long tradition in the Church of meditating on the events of the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, called the Stations of the Cross. In the latter part of the twentieth century a complementary devotion emerged, possibly from the Iberian peninsula, called the Stations of the Resurrection or the Stations of Joy. They provide much-needed resources for the celebration of the Great Fifty Days. All to often we forget the Easter story and its power and move on to through the lectionary.

As with the Stations of the Cross, we move from station to station, reading an appropriate Bible passage and meditating on it. By using the resurrection appearances as a focus for reflection and meditation we have an opportunity to appreciate and celebrate the Easter mysteries of the resurrection of our Lord. The resurrection appearances are more than just stories or history, they are a record of personal encounters with our risen Lord, so silence and space should be given to allow the liturgy to enable that encounter to happen today.

I do hope you enjoy my reflection and perhaps listen to the track by Gladys Knight and the pips; Just walk in my Shoes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h30A8QU0NMs

Jesus is the resurrection and the life.

All   Those who believe in him shall never die. Alleluia.

Reading

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (24.28-35)

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognised him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Reflection or Meditation

The Church gathered together in many parts of the world today will hear this resurrection story of Jesus Christ once more. They will hear how lives are turned around, when the story of fear and disappointment is shared with a stranger on the road to Emmaus. 

This is one of my favourite passages in the whole of scripture, it is so rich with meaning, theological insight and I never tire of hearing it.

Our story tells us of two people who had been with Jesus, seen and heard him do marvellous, miraculous and wonderful things, surely this was the Messiah, surely this was the Saviour they had longed for?

But now he is dead, he had been executed; He didn’t say a word, when ,when we know that his words could unpick your soul and lift you to the highest heavens. Times were now too dangerous, time to move into the shadows and pick up the pieces of their old lives, time to go into lockdown.

My reflection today is centred around meeting and sharing your life with;

“The stranger walking on the road.”

The resurrection of Jesus asks as many questions as it answers, one thing I am sure of is that we as disciples need to be “On the Road” in order to have our eyes opened; 

• Opened to the probing questions Jesus poses.
• Opened to his disturbing and surprising presence.
• Open to hear his voice speaking to you from strangers on the road.

As many of you know over these passed weeks in lockdown each weekday we have had a ‘Thought for the Day’ posted on our social media forums and sent out as far and wide to the people we are connected with. 

I am grateful for the many contributions that I have been sent, as Editor in Chief so to speak I have slightly adapted and added a tweak here and there. 

I was sent this one earlier this week. I don’t think the author had in mind the story of the road to Emmaus at the time but the resonances of God’s voice in this reflection deserve to be heard, thought about and put into action.

“In the 1970’s I was invited to participate in a Duke of Edinburgh Study Conference. These conferences grouped people from three different occupations (Civil Servants,, Trade Unionists and Business leaders) and sent them to different parts of the UK to study local social and economic issues. I well remember the Plenary gathering in Birmingham, chaired by the then CEO of Chloride Group, Sir Michael Edwards, who was about to take on the running of British Leyland (but which had not been announced). 

In the round of self-introductions one guy stood up introduced himself by name, occupation, which was Trade Union convener at British Leyland, Longbridge., and blithely said ‘for those that don’t know – that’s the plant where the workers sign in using the Visitors Book’.  I can still see Sir Michael’s stony-faced stare!

My particular Group was dispatched to East Anglia, where we studied issues of economic stress caused by the decline of the Ports and the socio-economic issues of low-paid work in the agricultural industries. At each visit individuals were tasked with looking at the issues of the day from a particular point of view. We were there for 2 weeks and the amazing thing was to witness the change in attitudes as the course went on. By the end of the tour it was difficult to distinguish who was from which background.

That experience has stayed with me and I often wonder how our opinions would alter if we paused and deliberately thought about ‘how the world would look if we were in someone else’s shoes.’ It can be a sobering experience, and is particularly prescient in the current crisis when, apart from the obvious sacrifices being made by front-line workers, people in all walks of life have to confront unique challenges.”

The thought of ‘Walking in other people’s Shoes’ is not new, in fact the proverb is as old as the hills we walk upon. 

The point here is that we don’t ‘walk in others shoes’ our default is to;

‘look after ourselves,’ ‘Charity begins at home!’

Sometimes we can’t ‘walk in others shoes’ because we are too focussed on our concerns, our sorrows, our pain, our immediate situation.

Like the disciples our eyes are open but only on the next step, and that step is a step away from the situation, a footstep on the road West to Emmaus; usually out of town, out of reach, away from any connection with God, or any of his people. The thought in our mind is survival and self preservation. 

Thats why the Emmaus Road story is so powerful, two people whose lives, hopes and dreams have crashed to the ground, literally running for cover, for the safety of what they know, meet the Risen Lord Jesus, on the road and he changes their lives. 

Friends, friends, have you met him?

Friends, friends, do you know he is walking with you right now, in the midst of all your pain, sorrow, distress and fear?

I am greatly comforted by these words of the Apostle Paul to the Roman Christians.

Romans 8:38-39 King James Version (KJV)

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This passage, informs us of enormity of what Jesus did, it brings comfort and hope amidst the worst times in our lives.

Our ‘thought for the day’ showed us an insight into what humanity can do when we listen and walk and work together. 

The Emmaus road story takes us further and restores not only our hope in humanity but shows us a loving saviour, healer and friend, and the length that Jesus will go to, to bring you home.

During this time of social isolation, lockdown, when we aren’t connected, our minds and sometimes our actions spill out, go on overdrive. The tension under the surface breakouts. Literally for most of us everything we have worked so hard and built looks like it could crumble. Our lives seem so fragile, we feel our mortality ever present.

What have we done with our lives?   

What have we built?

And yet, and yet; a stranger appears in our midst and He has the power to turn our life upside down. 

My prayer for us all is that we welcome this stranger in whatever guise, shape or form and allow Him to change and transform our life.

Perhaps this week you could set an extra place at your table for the stranger, placing some bread and wine there. in doing so who knows what will happen?

This week on your walk out into the highways and byways, may you bump into Jesus.

May his words soothe your soul and bring you home.

May he cause you to walk Eastward to the Son.

May you know Him in the sharing of your life, with others, just as our disciples knew Him when he broke bread in their homes.

Amen

Prayer

We praise you and we bless you, our risen Lord Jesus, King of glory,

for you are with us, even when our eyes are closed to your companionship.

Walk this day alongside the disconsolate and the despairing, open their eyes to your gentle illumination, and let their hearts burn within them at your invisible presence.

To you, Lord Jesus, walking by our side, be honour and glory, now and for ever.

All   Amen.

Easter Sunday Reflection April 12th 2020

http://parishofburbageandastonflamville.co.uk/news

Rev. Andrew Hall (Rector of St Catherine and St Peter in the Parish of Burbage cum Aston Flamville.)

The gospel for this Easter Sunday tells how Mary of Magdala arrives early in the morning and sees the stone has been rolled away and that the tomb is empty. Her first reaction is one of shock after the tragic and sorrowful events of Good Friday. 

She has come to grieve and spend some time with her beloved friend and try to make some sense of what has happened. It is only a week since Jesus had ridden into Jerusalem on a colt and the crowds had cheered and waved their palm branches.

Now she is greatly surprised to find that the tomb is empty and she runs off to find the disciples.

It isn’t always possible to predict how people are going to react. Some people who seem very ordinary and timid most of the time turn out to be superb in a crisis, while the person we all thought would be brave goes to pieces completely. 

Some people cope philosophically with sadness and loss but are totally thrown by unexpected happiness or good fortune; it’s as though it disturbs their own equilibrium of life.

What is for sure is that people are all different!

During Holy Week this year we having been reflecting upon the 7 last words of Jesus, our ministry team at St Catherines and St. Peters have given us all things to ponder and think about each day. May I take this opportunity to thank them for their words and pray that God would greatly enrich their life as they have enriched ours.

Thinking about the 7 last words of Jesus started me thinking about Jesus’ first words after the resurrection. 

I wonder if you know what they were?

Was it, “I have risen from the dead?” or “I have conquered sin and death?”

or perhaps, “I have opened the Gates of Glory, welcome my people?”

The actual answer is not quite what we would expect.

In fact the answer is different in all of the gospel accounts.

In Matthew, the women run from the tomb, having been told by angels what has happened and what it means. They then meet Jesus who says to them “Greetings”… do not be afraid: go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee, there they will see me.

Friends, Jesus will always greet us, he longs to be with us and in relationship with us, always.

In Mark, Jesus does not say anything (or at least in the more reliable early manuscripts) there is just silence, trembling and bewilderment.

In Luke there is no record of Jesus saying anything until he meets the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and what an encounter that is; that is for another time!

In John’s account, the one we have heard today, Mary finds the tomb empty, fetches Peter and John, she then lingers at the tomb. She is the first person to see the risen Jesus (though she mistakes Him for the gardener). 

Jesus days to her, “Why are you weeping?’ and then, “Who are you looking for?” and then her name, “Mary.”

These are astonishing words:

• First Jesus speaks to the sadness within her
• Second Jesus speaks to her lostness
• Then he calls her name, “Mary.”

He addresses her personally, acknowledging her feelings, touching her emotions and dealing with her thoughts and calls her by name.

Friends, listen to this account, this is how God would deal with us all. sensitively, lovingly and by name. Thus enabling a new relationship with Jesus, a new relationship with God. 

This is the Easter Day message, a new start, new beginnings, new life!

These first words Jesus spoke on Easter Day, aren’t as dramatic or powerful as such, but they do deserve to be thought about, to meditate upon. 

The words for the Tomb can speak to us as powerfully as the words from the Cross.

They give us new insight into the resurrection life, speak to us in our condition and loss and give us hope that our name, Mary, John, Peter, Andrew, are on His lips. 

Do you hear them? 

Just like words from the garden in Genesis 3:8-9; Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and woman, “Where are you?”

Today, my prayer is that you would hear his voice calling you.

Today, may you respond to his call, as he speaks into your situation, giving you hope and addressing your needs, and indeed calling you by name.

Today, beloved of God, it is Easter Day, a new start, a new beginning and a new life.

Amen  

The Third Word

Jesus said to his Mother, “Woman this is your Son.” 

Then he said to the disciple: 

“This is your mother.”

John 19:26-27

Rev. A. D. Hall 

April 2020

This is the first time that Jesus speaks from the Cross in Johns’ gospel account, and it isn’t what you would expect, for we have just been told about the abuse and the mocking of Jesus by the soldiers. There is a life choice in this one point alone.

You can see that Jesus’ mind is on other things; the scene is a juxtapose between Soldiers of the empire and the woman and the devoted keeping vigil at the cross. So my first question is; Where are you in this picture today?

The group keeping vigil includes the two other Marys and Jesus mother (still unnamed) and “the disciple whom he loved.” Jesus concern for his mother is very evident within this narrative, his concern for her vulnerability is real. Women left alone in this patriarchal society didn’t fair well at all. The words he then utters are ‘family forming’ and reflect his deep concern for his mother to be placed within a family. 

These words should console us too, as they show Jesus’ heart for all those who are vulnerable and alone - for them to be placed within the context of God’s family. In our world today in the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak, we are more than ever called to care for those who are in need, to help them get through this period. Acts of loving kindness towards our neighbours and those in distress can bring people back from the brink of despair and isolation and literally home and into the family fold of humanity. these acts are very powerful.

Thus my my second question; Can you help someone today?  

With these words Jesus provides a son for his mother, something that was hugely important in his patriarchal world. A son could help to provide, both home and food for his family in those days. Just recently, Sylvia Whitworth posted a picture of the Burbage workhouse on the facebook page, which has haunted me. 

These places were in every town and village right up until the recent past, they were the places that people had to go when they had no-one to provide for them. 

These places still hold many painful memories for people in our wider families, memories that many choose to forget.

Friends we are entering into a new world, another epoch, all the preconceptions that we held are changing and reforming. From a world that valued money, prestige, the banker, the hedge fund manager, the sports star, we suddenly value the nurse, the van driver, the post man, the teacher, the refuse collector, the cleaner and our neighbour. Kingdoms come and go; Could it be in these last words of Jesus we see glimpse into our future?

A future where we are to value family, where we are to ‘form family,’ where we can change the world for good by loving your neighbour as yourself?

Now then this is a good point to leave this reflection and I do so by asking my final question/task. 

Loving your neighbour as yourself is found eight times in the bible, not once, not twice, eight times; answers on a postcard to Fr  Andrew at the Rectory please!

Fr Andrew

He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey

He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey

‘Hosanna to the Son of David’

Palm Sunday

April 2020

Rev. A. D. Hall

He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey

‘Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord’

Thank you for navigating to this page, I do hope this short reflection about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday leaves you with something to think about and helps you begin your journey into Holy Week this year

We have probably all heard, said or sung the phrases - ‘Hosanna to the Son of David” and ‘Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.’

But what do they mean, just what was Jesus saying to the people in His day and How do they relate to us today in our world?

A good way of understanding  Jesus’ ministry is by focusing on what he did rather than what he said; and even when he does speak, his words are reflections on his actions.

His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey is so often seen as a sign of his humility, his majesty clothed in meekness. When actually it was a deliberate, politically and religiously provocative act. a statement to those in the crowd that day who knowing the scriptures would be able to directly relate this to the prophecy in Zechariah; they knew what Jesus was saying. 

Take time to meditate upon the image above, try to imagine yourself in the story.

Jerusalem was in a fever like state, people were shouting, screaming, singing, noise, noise, noise, like never before. At the same time knives were being sharpened, loose tongues were wagging, fingers were being pointed.

All around people were saying, - “He is coming, the Messiah is here!”

As our Palm gospel reminds us, two of his disciples had gone on ahead as instructed and found a donkey tied up with a colt, they untied them and brought them to Jesus. All they had to say was “The Lord has need of them.” 

As this drama began to unfold, again his disciples were learning the lesson, “Do as he tells you!”

Receiving the animals Jesus smiled, this was something he often did, smiled. 

It made such an impact on so many occasions, his smile was able to convey, a calmness and surety, as often the Disciples were at sixes and sevens, not knowing, what, how, why or when they needed to do things. Perhaps just like us now?

What was in Jesus’ heart as he rode along on a donkey? 

For sure he knew the shallowness of much of the praise, he also knew the holiness of it all too. He was fully aware that the people who were proclaiming him king, included a range of people; the devoted, the zealots, pharisees, and the religious types, simple everyday folk, people who just happened to be going to Jerusalem, almost by accident?

He also knew that this ride of triumph was in fact a ride towards his death, and that this same crowd who praised him would in a few days’ time be shouting for his crucifixion, with just the same ignorance and lack of understanding. 

The majesty and triumph of this moment were laced with fear and sadness for him, each step forward a crushing blow to his flesh and spirit. Perhaps on one level that’s why he chose the colt, an innocent unbridled, to help him journey into the darkness that awaited him. 

But there was no turning back, his mind was set, firmly fixed on the task at hand. Love compelled him forward, love was the reason, he was willing to go into the place where he was to be despised, misunderstood and rejected.

His love for us; a “Love that never ends, but bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” was his reason.

Friends, let us take hold of Christ’s love for us this week, let it take root in our hearts, so that as we follow Christ’s journey to the cross we may experience his true resurrection when we celebrate Easter.

I leave you with the words of  George Herbert 

Love

Love bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,

            Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack

    From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning

            If I lack’d anything.

‘A guest,’ I answer’d, ‘worthy to be here:’

            Love said, ‘You shall be he.’

‘I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,

            I cannot look on Thee.’

Love took my hand and smiling did reply,

            ‘Who made the eyes but I?’

‘Truth, Lord; but I have marr’d them: let my shame

            Go where it doth deserve.’

‘And know you not,’ says Love, ‘Who bore the blame?’

            ‘My dear, then I will serve.’

‘You must sit down,’ says Love, ‘and taste my meat.’

            So I did sit and eat.

Time to Blossom

St. Catherine’s Parish Church 

Blossom Project

The Environment Group of St. Catherine’s Church are working towards making the Churchyard and The Rectory Garden into a Therapeutic experience for the Community of Burbage to enjoy. 

They have taken up the Bishop of Carlisle’s challenge to use parish land as therapeutic gardening spaces for their community:  

Churches should offer their green spaces as gardening projects for people with mental health problems, a senior Church of England bishop has said.

Studies had established the therapeutic benefits of gardening, said James Newcome, the Bishop of Carlisle and the C of E’s lead bishop on health issues.

He said: “Churches should look at the land they have around their buildings to see if there’s any possibility of people who are homeless or have mental health difficulties or who are lonely [getting] involved in hands-on gardening.

“In urban areas there is a real shortage of green space, and churches often have the only green space in a neighbourhood. In rural areas there are real problems of isolation and loneliness. There are all sorts of benefits – therapeutic, meeting up with others, finding a sense of belonging and purpose. [This idea] is not complicated but it can make a huge difference.”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/05/free-up-church-land-for-therapeutic-gardening-says-bishop-of-carlisle

Over the next five years the main outcomes will be Raised flower beds for easy access to planting, a scented garden area for the visually impaired to join in the project and paths & walkways for young and old alike to wander through at their leisure. This will add to our wonderful existing wildlife garden and quiet area.

The Rectory is already part of the Quiet Gardens in Leicestershire and Fr Andrew has quiet days throughout the year in it. Plans are afoot and ground has been cleared in anticipation of building a covered area for social functions, visitors will be able to enjoy the gardens in all weathers.

Over the next five years sponsorship and volunteers are needed to turn this into the Social and  Therapeutic Haven envisaged by its forward thinking Group. 

The Environmental Group already organise litter picking up teams around the village, now they want to encourage and envision young and old alike to get ready for Spring. 

We are also planning a series of Table-top gardening sessions, watch out for details.

Here’s to the future, let’s see our village BLOSSOM; please consider joining our group and supporting it financially too. 

Scan to QR. link to donate, please give generously. 

Reflection for Harvest

 Harvest Reflection

“I thought of this: I Thought of how every day each of us experience  few little moments that have just a bit more resonance than other moments - we hear a word that sticks in our mind - or maybe we have a small experience that pulls us out of ourselves, if only briefly… a stranger gives us a piece of bread to feed the ducks, say; a small child starts a conversation with us.

And if we were to collect these moments in a notebook and collect them over a period of months we would see certain trends emerge from our collection, certain voices would emerge that have been trying to speak to us. We would realise that we have been having another life all together, one that we didn’t even know was going on inside us.

And maybe this other life is more important than the one we think of as real - this clunky day-to-day world of furniture and noise and media. So just maybe it is these small, silent moments which are the true story making events of our lives.”

D. Coupland, Life after God.

I would ask you to consider this passage this coming month, as the seasons change and life takes another turn, consider, pause, ask of yourself; 

“What are life’s voices saying to me?”

If I tell people I hear voices won’t they think less of me or even worse? Perhaps; but I am convinced that God though his grace, mercy and love for us, longs to speak to us, to be with us, is interested in our life story. 

He loves us, we are his Beloved. Lovers are intimate with each other, completely together, ‘entwined,’ to quote Captain Corelli; ‘of one heart and mind.’ They often know what the other says, wants or desires before they speak.

So, as we celebrate this season of Harvest, reaping quite literally what we have sown.

How about preparing your life now for the next season; to sow seeds within your soul?

Have you noticed as soon as the harvest is in the famers are busy sowing for the next season? To this end place yourself in the right setting, spend time listening to and receiving from the Lord, our Churches of St Catherine and St Peter are not only wonderful spaces and places to be in, they are places that provide the space to hear ‘His Voice.’  

But where and when you may ask? Why not join us for one or more of our services, outside of the usual Sunday service at 10:30am, there is so much more you could gain from attending one of our other services.

Times of Services: 

Sunday 8:00am, 10:30am Holy Communion and 6:00pm Evensong

Wednesday 10:30 prayer and 11:00am Holy Communion

Thursday 6:30pm Evening Prayer

The one thing that has impacted my life over the years has been the rhythm of the daily offices of Prayer and Holy Communion - putting myself in that place enabled my soul to be refreshed, for me to hear the Lord’s voice, realising that “I have another life all together” as our reflection states. 

Please do consider joining me, you may be surprised in what you hear!

Fr Andrew