Rev elations

My children love the story of the three little pigs, which is a great narrative about how to build a secure life, how to protect ourselves, how to prevent our selves from being victims. A similar parable is found in the Bible of course, the parable about building a house on sand or on rock. ‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’ Matthew 7:23-29 The Gospel reading for the Sunday after Ascension* gives us a very clear expression of how to build a house on rock, for we listen into a conversation between Jesus and His Father. Jesus’ pr...

Each of us is waiting for the dove (Noah and the ark cf. Genesis 8:1-9) the sign of the dove bringing the good news that the water has abated, that the flood is over and that new life can return. We are people, most of the time of the flood; people drowning and floundering in the world, fighting hard to remain faithful, but often being absorbed by the wrong things.  Where in your life are you obsessing about the wrong things? What does God want you to focus on? Jesus comes into the midst of our flood, whatever it may be to reassure us with words of peace: Peace be with you. The presence of God in our lives can lead us to fear, rather than to be full of joy. Why? Because we are secular people, concerned with the things of this world. Fear and doubt mount an attack on our faith, our hope and our peace. Where is comfort to be found? In the words of our Saviour: 'The Messiah had to suffer and to rise from the dead' (Luke 24: 46). New life comes ...

Vocation as Participation Women priests at Coventry Cathedral celebrating each year of ordinations since 1994.  They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-end The church of England has been celebrating and marking 20 years of women’s priestly ministry. Today I went to a service of celebration at Coventry Cathedral.  When I was in the cathedral I thought again about why women’s priesth...