asadmin As we’ve enjoyed the last of Jesus’ seven ‘I am’ statements – I am the true Vine – let’s spend a few days revisiting the other I am statements in John, beginning with the first: Who are you? Or rather, if you were asked to describe yourself, what would you say? Studded throughout John’s gospel … Read more
Over the winter I’ve been clearing a lot of dead ivy off the trees in my garden. Ivy is an incredibly efficient plant. It seems to be able to grow at will, usually quickly, and it wraps itself around whatever other objects – be they trees, shrubs, posts or walls – are at hand. But … Read more
In April 2013 we had a week’s holiday near Toulouse in the South of France. It was bitterly cold – that freak winter which didn’t really end until later in April – and the landscape was striking. Field after field was full of rows of small stumps, hacked down to little over a foot above … Read more
To end our week, a second day to reflect upon this great Psalm! ‘Heavy is the head that wears the crown.’ This quote (or rather slight misquote!) from Shakespeare’s Henry IV is a great observation about the challenges of leadership and responsibility. Such things weigh upon us. Indeed, a literal crown for most monarchs is … Read more
A brief pause in our reflections on John, to reflect upon another great Psalm: ‘Bless the Lord, my soul!’ This joyful beginning to one of the most famous psalms is both much loved and also sometimes causes a little head scratching: surely God blesses us, and not the other way round? The fact that most modern translations … Read more
A brief pause in our reflections on John, to reflect upon a great Psalm: We live in a culture which focuses largely on the now. ‘The past is a foreign country,’ and the future is a crystal ball. Only the present matters. Whilst we inevitably have to live in the here and now, we also … Read more
This has been a tumultuous fifteen minutes or so for the disciples. Imagine hearing that your best friend is going away – you’ve heard it before, but this time it is said with such conviction that you have to believe it. In response, Jesus has given them some of the most beautiful and profound encouragement … Read more
‘But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’ Judas’ question is a good one, isn’t it? Do certain people get special treatment by God? Wouldn’t it be better to reveal yourself to as many people as possible? Jesus’ answer makes it clear that this isn’t just favouritism. … Read more
In our last reflection in John, we looked at Jesus’ description of the Holy Spirit as the divine Advocate. This is indeed a precious gift which Jesus promised to us – but what does the work of this Advocate look like? We already know that He will not just be with us, but in us. This is … Read more
Early in 2020 ITV showed a new period drama: Belgravia. The central character of the story was a young man called Charles Pope. Originally given up by his grandparents to be adopted, through shame that he was (so it was thought) born out of wedlock, it turns out that Charles was in fact the legitimate … Read more