Easter Sunday - New beginnings

John 20:19-23

Jean 20:19-23

Easter is all about new beginnings. 

Many Easter sermons rightly explain the reasonableness of believing in the resurrection, others rightly explain what the resurrection tells us about the Jesus who is ‘the resurrection and the life’.  But for those of us who believe, the key question is ‘So what?’  For me, the ‘so what’ is the hope of eternal life, but also the hope of a new beginning and many new beginnings here on earth. So often we fail, we mess up, we soil the life we have been given; and after death to sin on the cross,  the resurrection of Jesus is the most wonderful source of hope of clean, new, forgiven and empowered new beginnings.  Tom Wright wrote:

“Jesus's resurrection is the beginning of God's new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven”

N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church

Imagine that... colonising the earth with the life of heaven.

Christ is Risen.

He is risen indeed

Alleluia

Gary Wilton

“Seeing is believing”. Holy Saturday

John 2:18-22

Jean 2:18-22

“Seeing is believing”.  We think that if we see something happen then it really did happen, even if we know it probably didn’t, like a conjuror extracting a white rabbit from a hat.  The Jews of Jesus’ time asked Him to perform miracles so that they might believe that He was who he claimed to be.  But even when Jesus promises a miracle, and actually performs it, their hearts are still hard and refuse to believe. Miracles sometimes seem a bit thin on the ground in the twenty-first century, even though we’d still like them to happen. When they do it is often only later that, like the disciples, we realise that we can believe in the miracle and start to understand the message of hope sent to us through Jesus Christ.

Carol de Lusignan

Forgiveness, Reconciliation and Freedom through Sacrifice ~ Le Pardon, la Réconciliation et la Liberté par le Sacrifice

Leviticus16:2-24

Lévitique 16:2-24

The sins of the people of Israel were laid upon the 'scapegoat', which was equally sent into the wilderness. Christ becomes our 'scapegoat', St John referred to him as the 'lamb of God' that takes away the sins of the world. The Lamb of God would pass through the wilderness of sorrow, shame, suffering and death to redeem not just the people of Israel, but the entire human race, and in fact, all of God's creation.

It is very striking to see that the trial of Christ alone brought reconciliation between Pilate and Herod who had previously been enemies. It's equally amazing to see the release of Barabbas from prison, a notorious criminal waiting for execution. Christ, in life and in death fulfilled God's mission, thereby bringing us nearer to God and to one another.

We are sometimes called to 'die a little' or to 'scapegoat ourselves' a bit for others, so that they may gain from us that which they are unable to offer themselves. This is that...forgiveness, reconciliation, healing and freedom for which Christ offered up himself entirely. Oh, it might seem very hard, but God did not choose the easy way for himself either!

Les péchés du peuple d'Israël ont été mis sur le ‘bouc émissaire’, qui a également été envoyé dans le désert. Christ devient notre ‘bouc émissaire’, Saint Jean a fait référence à lui étant «l'Agneau de Dieu» qui ôte les péchés du monde. L'Agneau de Dieu passerait à travers du désert de la douleur, de la honte, de la souffrance et de la mort pour racheter non seulement le peuple d'Israël, mais l'humanité tout entière, et, en effet, toute la création de Dieu.

Il est très frappant de voir que seulement le procès de Jésus-Christ a réconcilié Pilate et Hérode qui, auparavant,  avait été ennemis. Il est tout aussi étonnant de voir la libération de Barabbas de la prison, un criminel notoire qui était en attente de son exécution. Dans la vie comme dans la mort, Christ a rempli la mission de Dieu, en nous rapprochant de Dieu et les uns aux autres.

Nous sommes parfois désignés à ‘mourir un peu’ ou d’être un peu le ‘bouc émissaire’ pour les autres, afin qu'ils peuvent obtenir de nous ce qu'ils sont incapables d’obtenir par eux-mêmes. C'est ça ce qu’est... le pardon, la réconciliation, la guérison et de la liberté pour laquelle Jésus-Christ s'est sacrifié entièrement. Oh, ça peut sembler très dur, mais Dieu, non plus, n'a pas choisi la voie la plus facile pour lui-même!

Augustine Nwaekwe

Good Friday ~ vendredi Saint

Lamentations 5:15-22

Lamentations 5:15-22 

Jeremiah, an eye-witness of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, laments over the stricken city and its broken people. The cause, he says, of the city’s fall was the sin of its people (Lam. 1:8, 14). Indeed, throughout the Bible, suffering is seen as a consequence of sin. Even special cases, such as the man born blind (John 9:3), do not overturn the general rule (Matt. 23:35-36).

The idea that the divine Providence punishes sinners with suffering is not a popular one nowadays. There are many who imagine a God of love never punishes sin, and then blame God when suffering comes.

The sufferings of Jesus on Good Friday were as much for sin as the sufferings of Jerusalem in 586 BC. But there was one important difference. Whereas the Jerusalemites suffered for their own sins, the Saviour suffered for the sins of others. Here is the true love of God, not the disregard of sin, but the provision of an atonement to bear the sins of his people. All who share in this atonement will escape the righteous retribution of God.

David Mitchell

My Potential

Luke 22:54-71

Luc 22: 54-71

Peter repeatedly denying Jesus is one of the better-known stories in the bible.

Peter said, “Master, I’m ready for anything with you. I’d go to jail for you. I’d die for you!”

Jesus said, “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Peter, but before the rooster crows you will have three times denied that you know me.” (Luke 22:33-34, from the Message^®).

And so it was.

God shows us over and over again how he takes the most unlikely people, by human standards, but sees deep into their hearts and understands and releases their real potential. Moses, who is afraid to speak in public, becomes the most important prophet in Judaism; Paul, the Christian-persecutor, becomes responsible for spreading the gospel to the Gentiles; and Peter, who denies his Saviour, becomes the foundation stone of the church.

Dear Lord, release our potential and help us understand how to serve You. Amen.

David Brown

Reassurance

Psalm 27

Psaume 27

Lent is a time for contemplation, reflection and soul searching - luxuries that are difficult to find time for in our busy lives. During this period we are reminded of the temptations Jesus was confronted with, when life was already difficult for him. This psalm is wonderfully reassuring. 'The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?' Our faith may be tested by the fear of the strength of our enemies, by wickedness, by temptation, even (verse 10) by being abandoned by one's own parents. Our faith can be tested on many levels but, as we read in verse 5, '... in the time of trouble He shall hide me in his pavilion....He shall set me upon a rock.' With such reassurance we have a sure foundation for trust and faith whenever we are tested in our daily lives.

Heather Charlton

In God we put our trust ~ le Dieu de ma délivrance

Psalm 25

Psaume 25

To trust God is to put our whole confidence in Him. Our hope needs to be in God alone. Because God's love is unending and unconditional, we can come to Him with open hearts. In verse 4 where it says "show me your ways Lord, teach me your paths", the psalmist is clearly saying that we are to have teachable hearts and a genuine desire to learn more about how God wants us to live each day.

God is a merciful God. We are all unworthy but because of God's grace and mercy towards us, we are forgiven from all our sins. We are a new creation in Christ and because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are redeemed, made new, and can find a rest deep within our souls. There is relief from our troubles as we learn to depend on Him and desire His ways in our lives.

Éternel, fais-moi connaître tes voies, enseigne-moi tes sentiers!  Fais-moi marcher dans ta vérité et m'enseigne; car tu es le Dieu de ma délivrance, je m'attends à toi tout le jour.  Souviens-toi de tes compassions, ô Éternel, et de tes bontés; car elles sont de tout temps. Ne te souviens point des péchés de ma jeunesse, ni de mes transgressions; selon ta miséricorde, souviens-toi de moi, à cause de ta bonté, ô Éternel! 

 Priscilla Stairs

La parabole des méchants vignerons

Luc 20:9-19 

Luke 20: 9-19

La parabole des méchants vignerons

Jesus Christ is more than a prophet: he is the Temple, the very link between God and humanity.

Le sens de cette parabole de Jésus est clair : l'homme qui plante la vigne représente Dieu ; les ouvriers vignerons représentent les dirigeants d'Israël, surtout la haute classe religieuse, c'est-à-dire le clergé ! Les serviteurs envoyés par l'homme afin de faire remettre la part de la récolte qui lui appartient, mais qui sont ensuite battus par les ouvriers vignerons, représentent les prophètes d'Israël pour la plupart méprisés par le clergé. Le fils bien-aimé de l'homme, envoyé au vignoble en dernier recours avant de se faire assassiner par les ouvriers vignerons, représente Jésus lui-même, qui parle de sa propre mort aux mains des pouvoirs religieuse et civil. Jusque là, tout est compréhensible, tout s'accorde avec un Jésus qui continue la bonne lignée des prophètes d'Israël rejetés par le peuple de Dieu. Mais Jésus, en citant le psaume 118,22, termine sa parabole avec des thèses bien plus révolutionnaires : "La pierre que les bâtisseurs avaient rejetée est devenue la pierre principale." N'oubliez pas que Jésus est en train d'enseigner au temple, dans l'édifice considéré par le juifs depuis le temps du roi Salomon comme le véritable lien entre Dieu et l'homme. Ici il se désigne comme le nouveau temple, le nouveau lien définitif entre Dieu et son peuple. Ce n'est pour rien que, à l'écoute de cette parabole, les maîtres de la loi et les chefs des prêtres cherchent à arrêter Jésus à ce moment même : Jésus descend toute la structure religieuse alors connue ; il la remplace par sa propre personne, lien vivant entre le créateur et les créatures. Quand nous regardons Jésus, nous regardons la face de Dieu, thèse à laquelle nous nous accrochons malgré son évident choc.

Jack McDonald, chanoine-théologien à Holy Trinity, clergyman qui doit s'incliner devant cette parabole.

You have the light ~ vous avez la lumière

John 12:36-50

Jean 12:36-50

"Believe in the light while you have the light…" Yes, people saw, heard and touched Jesus the Son of God. Some realised who He was and believed in Him. Some did not despite all the signs. Some days ago, my daughter, after having watched the Schindler's list, asked me this very difficult but so obvious question: "Dad, why did God let all these massacres happen, the concentration camps? Has he forsaken those poor people, and what about us?" I told her that many very educated people, among which many Jews, have asked themselves the very same question. Some lost faith. I could not answer of course. I just replied with another question. "And what if God had directly and visibly intervened? We would have been watching God crushing the Nazis with His mighty weapons and applaud to His victory?" We no longer have the light, physically, among us. Our faith calls us to trust in those who saw it and became disciples. Their testimony to us is 2000 years old. It fared through all these years surviving obscurantism, ignorance and abuse by the Church itself. I still find it incredibly powerful and relevant to me. Maybe this is faith, at least for me?"

"Pendant que vous avez la lumière, croyez en la lumière…". Oui, il y a des gens qui ont vu, entendu, même touché Jésus Le Fils de Dieu. Certains ont compris qui Il est et ont cru en Lui. D'autres pas, malgré tous les signes. Il y a quelques jours, ma fille qui venait de voir le film La liste de Schindler me posait la question suivante, difficile mais en même temps si évidente: "Papa, comment Dieu a-t-il pu tolérer tous ces massacres, les camps de concentration? A-t-Il abandonné tous ces pauvres gens, et, nous aussi, il nous a abandonné?" Je lui dis que plein de gens très éduqués, parmi lesquels de nombreux juifs, s'étaient posé la même question. Certains ont même perdu la foi. Je n'avais bien entendu pas la réponse. Je lui rétorquai finalement par une autre question. "Imagine-toi que Dieu soit directement et visiblement intervenu? Nous aurions assisté au spectacle de Dieu ne faisant qu'une bouchée des nazis et nous aurions applaudi à sa victoire?" La lumière n'est plus parmi nous, tout au moins physiquement. Notre foi nous appelle à croire en ceux qui l'ont vu et qui sont devenus ses disciples. Leur témoignage a désormais 2000 ans. Il nous est parvenu à travers les âges malgré l'obscurantisme, l'ignorance et les abus de l'Eglise elle-même. Je persiste à lui trouver une force incroyable et il parle à ma vie. Peut-être est-cela la foi, au moins pour moi?"

Didier Millerot

Heinrich Schütz

Psalm 126

The revolutionary German composer and organist Heinrich Schütz wrote the most extraordinary musical arrangement for Psalm 126. Schütz, though less known, is often considered as one of the most significant composers before Johann Sebastian Bach. This 5 voice a capella motet he wrote around 1648 for the Lutheran Church, is full of surprises and deep reflexion on the words.

« Die mit Tränen säen » or « Those who sow in tears” expresses joy in the change message.  “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy »; « He that goeth forth and weepeth shall doubtless come again with rejoicing ». This promise of hope and joy is what guides us in our faith.

May we all wait for the coming in glory of Christ with joy and the meditation of his Passion. 

Psaume 126

Le compositeur et organiste révolutionnaire allemand Heinrich Schütz à écrit probablement l’un des plus extraordinaires arrangements musicaux  du psaume 126. Schütz, moins connu, est pourtant souvent considéré comme l’un des compositeurs majeurs avent Johann Sebastian Bach. Ce motet a capella à 5 voix qu’il écrivit vers 1648 pour l’Eglise Luthérienne, est plain de surprises et de réflexion profonde sur les écritures.

« Die mit Tränen säen » ou « Ceux qui sèment  dans les larmes” exprime  la joie dans le changement. “Ceux qui sèment avec larmes moissonneront avec chants d’allégresse »; « Celui qui marche en pleurant revient avec  allégresse». Cette promesse d’espoir et de joie est celle qui nous guide dans notre foi.

Puissions-nous tous attendre la venue du Christ dans la joie et la méditation de sa Passion.

Julian Boutique

God hates false prophets ~ Dieu déteste les faux prophètes

Jeremiah 23:9-32

Jérémie 23:9-32

God hates false prophets - really hates them. But when we're faced with competing, even contradictory messages that claim to be from God, how do we know which ones are truly to be trusted? It's not necessarily the ones that we want to believe.

Dieu déteste les faux prophètes, mais c'est parfois difficile de reconnaître les vrais : ce ne sont pas toujours ceux qui disent ce que nous voulons entendre.

Nicola Gibbon

My soul finds rest in God, my hope comes from him/ Mon âme se repose en Dieu, mon espoir vient de lui

Psalm 62

Psaume 62

My soul finds rest in God, my hope comes from him/ Mon âme se repose en Dieu, mon espoir vient de lui

Every generation has its own troubles. However, uncertainty seems to be on the rise in our days: financial and political upheaval, lack of job security, austerity measures, unsustainable state benefits and pensions,… and pressure on many of us keeps growing: long working hours, always-on email devices, increasing real estate prices, social expectations… Where do we find rest and hope?

The writer seems to be under some sort of personal attack. Maybe his troubles are very different from ours in our day and age, but (di)stress is always the same.  In the midst of his situation he declares God to be his rock and salvation. Do we? Why or why not?

People of all kinds are only a breath, and material wealth will deceive us if we set our heart on it. Only God has eternal and unfailing love. He invites us to rest in him. As of today. Do we dare?

Chaque génération a ses propres problèmes. Néanmoins, l'incertitude semble être à la hausse dans nos jours: crise financière et politique, insécurité d'emploi, mesures d'austérité, des prestations sociales et des pensions qui ne sont plus garantis, ... et la pression sur beaucoup d'entre nous ne cesse d’augmenter: de longues heures de travail, des e-mails 24/24, la hausse des prix de l'immobilier, les attentes sociales ... Où allons-nous trouver le repos et l'espérance?

L'auteur semble être sous une forme d'attaque personnelle. Peut-être que ses problèmes sont très différents des nôtres aujourd’hui, mais le stress et la pression sont toujours les mêmes. Au milieu de sa situation, il déclare que Dieu est son rocher et le salut. Faisons-nous pareil? Pourquoi ou pourquoi pas?

Les gens de toutes sortes ne sont qu'un souffle, et les richesses matérielles nous trompent si nous leur donnons notre cœur. Seul Dieu a un amour éternel et sans faille. Il nous invite à se reposer en lui. Des aujourd'hui. Osons-nous?

Jairo Ares

This is sacrifice

John 11:45-end

Jean 11:45-55

To the Jewish religious leaders, Jesus was a dangerous subversive, not only teaching a radical modification of the Jewish doctrine, but also practicing its consequences.  This would, in their opinion cause the population to rise in support of his views and lead to the destruction of both the Jewish state and its religion by the Romans.  The religious leaders had determined that he was too dangerous to be allowed to live and Jesus and his immediate followers knew this.

Jesus however remained steadfast, but, aware that he still had teaching to finish, reduced his public presence amongst the Jews.

The message is clear; in the face of death, Jesus was prepared to continue preaching the message, accepting the inevitable consequences.

Nick Fern

Confidence and faith +++ La confiance et la foi

Psalm 26

Psaume 26

David’s prayer or appeal to God for vindication implies the experience or fear of unjust accusation or punishment, most probably from the people he describes in verses 4-10 – deceitful men, hypocrites, evil doers, the wicked, bloodthirsty men and bribe-taker.  David was confident that he could approach God when he was being tested by those around him.  His confidence lay in the knowledge of God’s faithfulness and wonderful deeds to those who love Him (see v. 7).

Do we have the same confidence and faith in the Lord’s loving kindness?  Are we able to rely on Him when we experience some injustice and unfair or unfounded criticism?  Will we, like David, stand our ground and continue to do that which is ethically and morally right in the face of such testing times, knowing that in God we shall be vindicated?

Rose Omondi

Sunday 17th March Lent 5

Sunday 17th March Lent 5

Isaiah 35:1-10/ Jesaja 35:1-10

There is a road. A road with a smooth surface that reflects the sunlight, as well as the light from the faces of those who walk this road. It is the road of perfection. A road without accidents, obstacles, traffic jams, potholes or traffic lights. Those who walk on it are safe. Their minds are filled with peace and their bodies are free from sickness.

 This road was in the past. But it also lies in the future, blinking on the horizon. Yet here we are today and find that we are already walking this road. We are walking this road in spirit and someday the body will also join.

This road is our Saviour Jesus Christ, for He is the way, the truth and the life. He redeems us to walk this Way of Holiness.

Er is een weg. Een weg met een mooi egale oppervlakte waarop het zonlicht wordt weerkaatst, evenals als het licht dat schijnt van de gezichten van degenen die op die weg wandelen. Het is de weg van volkomenheid. Een weg zonder ongelukken, obstakels, gaten, files of verkeerslichten. Degenen die erop wandelen zijn veilig. Hun gedachten zijn vol van vrede en hun lichamen zijn zonder ziekte.

 Deze weg ligt in het verleden. Maar het ligt ook in de toekomst, blinkend aan de horizon. En toch zijn wij hier vandaag en we realiseren ons dat we deze weg nu op dit moment al bewandelen. In ons geestelijk leven bewandelen we deze weg en ooit zal ook ons lichaam meewandelen.

Deze weg is onze Redder Jezus Christus. Hij is de weg, de waarheid en het leven. Hij verlost ons zodat wij deze Weg van Heiligheid kunnen bewandelen.

Sara Mäkipää

Saturday 16^th March

Hebrews 11:1–16

We are all part of a diverse and wide community of faith which stretches back to the times of the prophets and beyond. Our individual joys and sorrows are a precious and intricate detail of a wider story which is God's eternal plan.  We can be encouraged by the faith of those who have gone before us.  Like them we are privileged to be granted a glimpse of things to come. Like them we live by faith and long for a better country - the heavenly kingdom which God has promised us.

Guy Milton

It is ok to doubt ~ Avoir des doutes est acceptable

Psalm 13

Psaume 13

For me this psalm is saying that it is ok to doubt, and that God knows that sometimes we do. When things seem interminably long and miserable we do lose hope.

But in the psalm the writer talks to God, and tells him his frustration and desperation. He doesn't try to hide his real feelings from God because they don't sound holy enough.

And for me that's the important thing: it's not that we are not allowed to get frustrated with God, or even furious. But it is keeping talking, or even shouting if necessary, that will allow us to continue in a real relationship with God and allow him to talk back and make us his own.

Pour moi, ce psaume explique qu’avoir des doutes est acceptable, et que Dieu sait que de temps en temps nous avons des doutes. Quand tout semble impossible et misérable, nous pouvons perdre l'espoir.

Mais l’écrivain du psaume parle avec Dieu, et lui explique sa frustration et désespoir. Il ne tente pas de cacher ses vrais sentiments envers Dieu, même s'ils ne semblent pas très positifs.

Et pour moi c'est ça le plus important: il n'est pas défendu de sentir la frustration ou même de se fâcher contre Dieu. Mais c'est le fait de lui parler, ou même de lui hurler si nécessaire, qui nous permet de continuer en vrai relation avec Dieu et qui le permet de nous parler et d'en faire de nous ses enfants.

Bethan Sollars

Uncomfortable

Jeremiah 19:1-13

Jérémie 19:1-13

This passage disturbs me.  I don't like reading it.  The destruction set out doesn't seem to fit with the God I know and love.  And I certainly wouldn't be comfortable with a non-believing friend reading it.  What kind of monster would they consider my God?  What kind of monster would they consider me?

As I let the words and message sit with me, I thought of the consequences that ensue when I don't follow God's advice, when we don't love our neighbours, or when the human race only looks out for Number One.  For example, we fund corruption through ignorance, we wreak famine on foreign lands through our own greed, and we tear our families apart through anger, jealousy and resentment.  Sadly, the consequences God explains to Jeremiah don't seem so alien after all.

I looked into the context of this passage a little.  Some suggest that the use of an earthen pot in Chapter 32 is significant.  Just as God uses the image of smashing a pot to illustrate his judgment, he also uses a pot to illustrate his mercy.  For the pot described in Chapter 32 is to house the deeds to the field that Jeremiah buys, the field that indicates to God's people that despite the destruction, there will be good times ahead when they can invest, plant and know God's blessing.

Nevertheless, this passage still makes me uncomfortable.  But I now hope that this discomfort will be constructive.  I want it to remind me of sin's consequences and to inspire me to keep orienting my heart in the right direction, that is, towards our powerful, just God, who is rich in mercy and works for our good.

Hannah Bill

On Eagles Wings ~ Sur les ailes d'aigle

Psalm 91

Psaume 91

I went to a religious primary school in England and one of the hymns we sang was particularly beautiful; “On Eagles Wings.”.

 I’m sure many know of you know it but it is well worth another listen! It is based on Psalm 91 and the wonderful, protecting presence the Lord constantly is in our lives.  The Psalm tells us that we need not fear because the Lord is protecting us. The great love and tenderness shown in the Psalm is made all the sweeter by the final three verses – we are blessed because of our own love for the Lord. God does not need us to love Him in the way that we need His love. But He wants us to love Him and when we do He responds wholeheartedly. He will rescue us, protect us, answer us, be with us, deliver us, honour us, satisfy us and save us. In short, when we love Him, He gives us everything.

Georgie Morgan  

Jesus cares for each of us ~ Jezus voor elk van ons

John 10:1-10

Jean 10:1-10

Johannes 10:1-10

How personally Jesus cares for each of us…

He knows us by name.

He encourages us by his voice.

He opens up the way for us.

He leads us through everything from beginning to end.

 “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.

He will come in and go out and find pasture.” (v.9 NIV)

Hoe persoonlijk zorgt Jezus voor elk van ons…

Hij kent onze naam.

Hij bemoedigt ons door zijn stem.

Hij opent de weg voor ons.

Hij leidt ons door alles van het begin tot het einde.

 “Ik ben de Deur; als iemand door Mij naar binnen gaat, zal hij behouden worden; en hij zal ingaan en uitgaan en weide vinden.” (v.9 Herziene Statenvertaling)

Pitts family

When it seems like God isn’t there ~ Où est toi mon Dieu

Psalms 70 and 77

Psaumes 70 et 77

This life we live is not easy. There are wonderful delights, great joys, much beauty, deep love…but in this broken world, and in our human state of brokenness, there are, inevitably, also times of deep pain, confusion, frustration, despair…

These are not good things, and we know they pain God’s heart as well. But – some good can come from them also. There’s a strange paradox in this life as well – that ‘when we are weak, then we are strong’, and that His ‘power is made perfect in weakness’, and that He does not forget the sorrows of His people. And, it’s often, paradoxically, that in these times of distress, when we, as the Psalmist does, cry out to God, when we stretch out our  hands just wanting to be comforted, when we groan, when our spirits grow faint, and we question whether God will reject us forever, or whether his unfailing love has vanished, or his promises have failed – that in our desperation, our questioning, our doubts, our longing – we are so desperately in need of God, that there, in that place of anguish, we find him.

Maybe He doesn’t always show up in a big and obvious way – and maybe, sometimes, instead, he requires us to show up: he requires us to have faith anyways – because he is good. He is there. No matter what our circumstances, no matter how we feel. He is still there and he is still the same. As the Psalmist chooses to remember back to the time when God was so evident to the Israelites, to remember the past miracles and mighty deeds, so too, must we acknowledge the bigger picture – the past evidence of God’s power, and also his future plans which we do not know, nor can aspire to fully understand. As the Psalmist says, ‘your ways, God are holy’. His ways are higher than ours, his thoughts higher than our thoughts.

And we must have faith: in the wonderful times and in the darkest times. We will have both – our lives will change. But God remains unchanged. The same good God when we feel good and can see his work in our lives is the same good God when we don’t see him or hear from him or feel him.

Ou est toi mon dieu

Lord, “do not delay” in revealing yourself to us. “But may all [we] who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may [we] who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!’ Amen.

Kendrah Jespersen

(from 2011 Lent Meditations)

Search and Rescue

Luke 15:11-32
Luc 15:11-32

Today's reading recounts the well known parable of the “Prodigal Son”. A story of loss and of gain, of separation and of reconciliation.
While speaking to “tax collectors and sinners” (inclusive), Jesus uses the image of a father's love for his son to describe how much the Father loves us. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw
him and was filled with compassion for him...” Near or far, God is searching for us. “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”  With the rescue mission complete, let the celebration begin!

During Lent this year, may we be continually reminded of the deep love that our heavenly Father has for us.

Il fallait bien s'égayer et se réjouir, parce que ton frère que voici était mort et qu'il est revenu à la vie, parce qu'il était perdu et qu'il est retrouvé.  

 Jeff Stairs

His plans ~ Ses projets

John 9:1–17

Jean 9:1-17

In verse 2, when Jesus and the disciples encountered a blind man, the disciples posed a theological question. Jesus refused to make the man a subject of theological debate instead stressed God's greatness by saying “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in him.” This response has a powerful impact on our faith: the discernment of God's plans for us and how we patiently must wait for them to unravel in HIS time. Like the man who was born blind, it was on that precise moment when Jesus was doing His ministry with the disciples on Sabbath day, when He healed the man! Not only did Jesus illustrate that He is the light of the world (verse 5), He also made a point of showing the disciples the power of God's will versus man's law (where the Pharisees accused Jesus for not keeping Sabbath). God's plan for the blind man was unravelled at that precise moment where he became an instrument to increase men's faith in God.

Applying this in our lives, we encounter challenges that seem daunting and hopeless. Sometimes we even condemn and question others (or ourselves) what sin was committed to cause such suffering or unanswered prayers. This passage teaches us to leave these questions up to God and instead commit ourselves to do the work of God and have faith in Him. In spreading His word and committing ourselves to God, His wonderful plans for us often come in wonderful packages of answered prayers and miracles!! In HIS TIME. Amen!

With this I celebrate God's greatness! The unfolding of His plans at the right moment in our lives is testament to His greatness!

Mae Ocampo