The image above is of the fresco in the Italian Spoleto Cathedral depicting the fishermen’s miraculous catch of fish (John 21:1-9). As we travel along on the Path to Pentecost, reflecting on the power and might of God the Father displayed in the resurrection of Jesus, we have yet another report of the risen Christ. He appeared to his disciples by the Sea of Galilee and performed an astonishing miracle, which doubled up as a vision of the establishment of the early Church. In this miracle, Jesus appears to his disciples who have been up all night attempting to fish on the Sea of Galilee, but ..read more

Our churches often use an expression to describe an interesting view of Christians journeying straight from the Poinsettias of Christmas to the Lilies of Easter without facing up to the dreadful way Jesus died on the cross.  I don’t know who invented the phrase, but I have invented a similar phrase for this time after Easter when we are now travelling on the Path to Pentecost.   On the Path to the Red Peonies Pentecost Pentecost is traditionally symbolised by the red Peony, also known as Mary’s rose. So let us now start travelling from the Lilies of Easter to the Red Peonies of Pe ..read more

The story of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba is a fascinating account of ancient international relationships found in the Old Testament, in 1 Kings 10. The Queen of Sheba was the ruler of the kingdom of Saba (or Sheba) in southwestern Arabia. She was, according to the Old Testament first Book of Kings, a woman of great wealth, beauty, and power. Having had heard about the wisdom of King Solomon, and of his relationship with God, she decided to visit his court. She arrived in Jerusalem with a large entourage carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones.  The purpose of ..read more

Once upon a time, there was a man named Thomas who was a friend of Jesus.  Thomas was a brave and loyal friend, but he had a hard time believing that Jesus had come back to life after he had passed away. This was such a big surprise, that Thomas wanted to see proof before he could believe it. Thomas was not with his friends when Jesus came to visit them after he had come back to life.  His friends were scared and hiding in a room, but Jesus was able to come in anyway.  He said “Peace be with you,” which is a nice way of saying hello and that everything is okay. When Thomas saw ..read more

Thomas, one of Jesus’ disciples, struggled to accept the resurrection of Jesus without witnessing the crucifixion wounds himself. And I think his astonishment is quite understandable. The idea that the other disciples had seen Jesus alive mere days after his death must have seemed completely bizarre to him. Because, Thomas, often labelled as the doubter was, it could be argued, a figure of great courage and loyalty to Jesus. Despite not adhering to Jesus’ instruction to stay with the other disciples post-crucifixion, he represents Christians throughout history who, amidst the grief, and sorro ..read more

The Joyful News: He Is Risen! People loved Jesus very much and followed him everywhere. But one sad day, something terrible happened. Jesus was put on a big wooden cross and died. His friends were heartbroken and put his body in a special tomb. The next day, which was Sunday, some women who loved Jesus went to the tomb. They wanted to put sweet-smelling perfumes on his body. But when they got there, they saw something amazing! The big rock that covered the tomb had been rolled away, and Jesus was not inside. Instead, there were two angels who said, “He is not here; he has risen, just like he ..read more

A long time ago, there was a man named Jesus who was very kind and taught people about love and kindness.  Some people didn’t understand him and thought he was saying he was a king, which made the leaders unhappy. So they decided that he had to go away. But before he left, some soldiers were not very nice to him.  They even made a crown of pointy thorns and put it on his head. Then, they gave him a big wooden cross to carry up a hill called Calvary.  Even though it was hard and the crown hurt, Jesus didn’t get angry with them. When they got to the top of the hill, they put Jes ..read more

At the Last Supper and shortly before his death, Jesus said to his disciples at the Last Supper ‘One of you will betray me’ The pain of betrayal—is a wound that can be worse than physical suffering. It can cut deeper than any blade, leaving scars that linger long after the wound has healed. Betrayal is a word heavy with the weight of broken trust, shattered loyalty, and fractured bonds. It echoes throughout the corridors of our memories, like a silent scream, from deep within our soul. Whether inflicted by a friend, a lover, or a family member, it leaves us disoriented, questioning the ..read more

Jesus said ‘One of you will betray me’ The pain of betrayal—is a wound that can be worse than physical suffering. It can cut deeper than any blade, leaving scars that linger long after the wound has healed. Betrayal is a word heavy with the weight of broken trust, shattered loyalty, and fractured bonds. It echoes throughout the corridors of our memories, a silent scream, from deep within our soul. Whether inflicted by a friend, a lover, or a family member, it leaves us disoriented, questioning the very foundations of our relationships. I once experienced what I thought was a betrayal of a ki ..read more

Palm Sunday commemorates the momentous occasion of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, heraliding the commencement of Holy Week.  This day is observed with reverence as it marks the beginning of the culmination of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The narrative unfolds with Jesus and His disciples journeying towards Jerusalem, pausing at the Mount of Olives.  Here, Jesus dispatches two disciples to a nearby village with instructions to retrieve a donkey’s colt, providing them with a specific response should they be questioned: “The Lord requires it.” This directive is met without objection, and the ..read more