I love the story of Martha and Mary which we find in Luke‘s Gospel, Chapter 10: 38-45. In it we hear that Jesus visits their home and Martha is keen to offer him the best hospitality whilst Mary sits at his feet and is completely absorbed by his presence. It's just one of the… Continue reading Spiritual hospitality
Tag: Silence
Words of Wisdom
Well then, we await government announcements this coming Sunday on how lockdown will be eased. It is understandable that many are chomping at the bit to get back. For those of us who have been working from home, grappling with new ways of working, contending with unfamiliar technologies to do so and juggling with a… Continue reading Words of Wisdom
Peace I leave with you
My verse of scripture for this morning's Lectio Divina was from John’s Gospel.. ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid. John 14:27 In my reflection I began… Continue reading Peace I leave with you
The Feminine Principle
In the Christian protestant church the dominant patriarchal culture has made it very difficult for us to have any sense of the importance of the feminine principle in our growth in Christ. Whilst the Catholic Church tradition is equally patriarchal it does however venerate Mary the Mother of God and so a continuing thread of… Continue reading The Feminine Principle
Contemplative Silence
To find the still point within our own soul is to find that space where God's ground meets our ground. To intentionally take regular (preferably daily) time in that space is to discover God's 'still small voice' which we hear through the 'ear of the heart' as Saint Benedict describes it. Over time, if we… Continue reading Contemplative Silence
The still small voice
Modern technology has wonderful benefits such as being able to respond to calls, emails and texts much more efficiently than before the days of mobile devices. The downside for me was that it contributed enormously to the busyness of my life. I found people expected a response within a few hours, if not immediately; I… Continue reading The still small voice
The mystic impulse
The Christian of the future will be a mystic or he will not exist at all.’ Karl Rahner Religion can sometimes be a hostile environment for those who discover there a god who is controlling, judging and demanding adherence to a strict set of rules. This god is usually very remote from us, often… Continue reading The mystic impulse
Reflection on the mystic vocation
Church teaching on the whereabouts of God has often presented us with a God who is separate from our sense of self, or a God who is taught in very cerebral ways so that we might learn about God but not how we might experience God directly. For many this is all well and good,… Continue reading Reflection on the mystic vocation
A visit to Tintern Abbey
I am fortunate enough to have rarely lived more than an afternoon's outing away from Tintern Abbey. It is one of those places that draws me for its sheer peace and it's stunning location in the Wye Valley. And there is something else about it too, it feels to me like one of those thin… Continue reading A visit to Tintern Abbey
Heavenly honeysuckle
Figs are beginning to ripen; the air is fragrant with blossoming vines. Come on then, my love; my darling: come with me. Song of Solomon 2:13 One of my earliest memories as a child is the fragrance from the honeysuckle that used to grow along the wall just outside my bedroom window. On a warm… Continue reading Heavenly honeysuckle
A gift is given
Where meadow meets meandering stream across the bridge there rises green, a gently sloping grassy mound, upon whose heights all heaven is found. North West the town of Ross on Wye, while South, the Severn winds on by. All around the Forest of Dean; those deep dark woods of which I dream. And here… Continue reading A gift is given
