Tag Archive for ‘faith’
The Catholic faith in mainland China
In the context of the year of Faith and my research work at the Holy Spirit Study Centre, I became interested in the way Chinese Catholics lived their faith. Of course it is very hard to generalise, because China is so huge and the situations so different between the North and the South, between the […]
Monday 26 August
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10, Ps.149, Matthew 23:13-22 Does faith sit on the surface of my life? It’s tempting to presume Jesus’ tough words aren’t for me. But am I living as Paul described? Do I live as if I believe Jesus and his promise of eternal life? Do I radiate God’s love? Would anyone recognise […]
Wednesday 7 August
Numbers 13:1-2,25-14:1,26-29,34-35 Ps.106, Matthew 15:21-28 Feelings are cruel dictators God wills the best for us but allows consequences and will never negate free will. Adult faith requires trust in God and discernment, not simply reacting on feelings. In the Numbers account God told the Israelites he was giving them the land. Focusing on feeling like […]
Friday 2 August
Leviticus 23:1,4-11,15-16,27,34-37, Ps.80, Matthew 13:54-58 Feasting, fasting, faith and family Families celebrate milestones in unique ways and adult children love remembering and passing on those traditions. Retelling our stories builds gratitude, connects us with our best values. The Israelites honoured milestones in worship festivals. The church invites us to worship in feasting and fasting traditions, […]
Monday 29 July
St. Martha Exodus 32: 15-24, 30-34, Ps. 106, Matthew 13: 31-35, or John 11: 19-27, or Luke 10: 38-42 Ringing true Martha’s declaration of faith is as fine as any found elsewhere in the gospels. Can I make the same declaration today and mean it? Can I, when I receive Holy Communion and Jesus is […]
Wednesday 17 July
Exodus 3: 1-6, 9-12, Ps. 103, Matthew 11: 25-27 Contemplating mystery Here we are told that the innocence and trust of childhood have a place in adult faith. They do not come easily to adult faith because the world finds them irrelevant and useless. God is something of a mystery and without entering his mystery […]
Monday 8 July
Genesis 28: 10-22, Ps. 91, Matthew 9: 18-26 Be encouraged Humble individual acts appeal to Jesus — the low bow, the simple touch. He responds quickly and personally. Does being in the presence of Jesus evoke awe and certitude of faith in me? Can I step out of the crowd to get some message from […]
Tuesday 2 July
Genesis 19: 15-29, Ps. 26, Matthew 8: 23-27 Rocky times Fear is a natural part of faith. By it faith grows strong as we learn to put our trust always in God. How long is it since fear has rocked my discipleship? Is my faith something that just ‘floats my boat’ as the saying goes? […]
It Tolls for Thee
“If you ever wonder what you’ve done in your life, and everyone does wonder sooner or later, you have been God’s grace to me, a miracle, something more than a miracle.” A father writing to his child, from Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, 2004. Page 52. “Never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it […]
Reclaiming Generation Y
GENERATION Y is short hand for the generation of the new Millennium, born in the mid-80s and later. They follow Generation X,born in the 60s and 70s, who are in turn the children of the Baby Boomers – the post war generation. One of the saddest sights today is a church with few young people […]
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