Tag: John

How different would things have been if the church had taken the towel and the bowl from the foot washing as its sign rather than the cross?

There’s a theme today of listening for the shepherd’s voice… the nearest most of us get are woolly jumpers, shepherd’s pie and Countryfile.

Our May 2021 bible readings have a chariot, a vine, lots of abiding, fruit, tongues of fire, seraphs – and an only begotten Son…

Is your least favourite time of the church year Maundy Thursday? And for no other reason than because it’s the ‘Washing of Feet Day’?

Any shortcomings would be remembered. So, difficulties with the wine supply at this particular wedding at Cana needed to be sorted.

Where are you from? What are the places, the people, the experiences that formed your path? How does it help you understand who you are?

As I read and re-read today’s verses from John’s gospel, I found a song growing in my mind. A song which grew louder and stronger: Stuart Townend’s ‘How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure’.                   

We would like Thomas! Today he’d probably be a Church Warden and we’d call him Tom. Only his mother ever called him Thomas. You know where you stand with our Tom. And we shouldn’t be at all surprised at what we see in today’s passage from John. Afterall, Tom is just being a bit more straightforward than all the others.

John told stories. Stories about people just like you and me. In the closing chapters of his Gospel, we learn about the risen Christ through three people. Mary Magdalene, Thomas and Peter. They had the same worries, doubts and failings as we do. It’s through these three that we understand the implications for us today on Jesus coming back to life. And how we’re each called into action.

Today’s gospel story is of a brief encounter – an encounter between Jesus and the woman of Samaria at Jacob’s well. And just as for Celia Johnson’s character in the film, it was a turning point in the life of that woman…

Although her faith was by no stretch of the imagination complete, just moments after meeting Jesus, she went out and drew people in. “Come and see” she says. And they do…

We’ve heard about gluten intolerance but I think some people suffer from ‘church intolerance’. They may be very spiritually aware and seeking – but don’t come anywhere near a church. I believe there are parallels between the two conditions.