Jesus’ friends have come across someone “casting out demons in your name”. It sounds as if they tried to stop him because they thought he was jumping on the bandwagon, or maybe giving himself a status that in their eyes he hasn’t earned? They had, after all, just had the
Continue readingWe can be very sentimental about children, especially in churches that do not have any. We think we should treat them as if they are adults and tie ourselves up in knots about how much they understand about Communion. There is no evidence Jesus was at all sentimental about children.
Continue readingWhile everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, ‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.’ But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they
Continue reading1 Hear, O LORD, and answer me;I am poor, and needy too.2 Guard my life; save me, my God,For your servant trusts in you. 3 Lord, be merciful to me;All day long to you I call.4 Give your servant joy, O Lord,For to you I lift my soul. 5 You,
Continue readingInformation Janani Luwum was born in 1922 at Acholi in Uganda. His childhood and youth were spent as a goatherd but he quickly showed an ability to learn and absorb knowledge when given the opportunity. Soon after he became a teacher, he was converted to Christianity and was eventually ordained
Continue readingOn the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks.
Continue readingNow about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking
Continue readingHe sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’ Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become
Continue readingThis is a famous passage, and familiarity can sometime breed, if not contempt, at least a lack of wonder. Reflective contemplation can help us engage with the text. Sit comfortably, with your hands relaxed in your lap. Read the passage a couple of times, then close your eyes, slow your
Continue readingOn their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those
Continue reading1 In times past, LORD, you showed favourto your own beloved land;The prosperity of Jacobyou restored by your strong hand.2 You forgave your people’s trespass;you were pleased their sins to hide.3 You withdrew all your displeasure;from your wrath you turned aside. 4 God our Saviour, now restore us;from us turn
Continue readingNow Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. Herod said, ‘John I
Continue readingThen Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not
Continue readingNow when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years
Continue readingThen they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs.
Continue readingJust the handful of experiences in my life of being on a boat, have taught me to have a healthy respect for the sea! A walk along the rough Cornish coast or watching tsunami racing in-land on the news, will likely have the same effect on any of us. For
Continue readingDear <<First Name>> We have now finished our long journey through the Saul – David – Solomon saga. Well done for sticking with the story, the long readings and, I hope, the interesting practical reflections on them. We try to alternate between Old and New Testament and mix various styles of
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