Scripture & Reflection: Easter Sunday and for the week ahead:Scripture11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ 14 When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ 16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). ReflectionSeeing without understanding. Not realising the meaning of what we are witnessing. Jumping to conclusions based on our own surmising, or on something half understood. All these are such common human experiences; it is almost rare to experience the opposite. So, the fact that Mary, who has just encountered and had a conversation with two angels and is still terribly upset at the horrible death of her dearest friend and Teacher, doesn’t recognise Jesus but takes him for the gardener, is very understandable. But when he calls her by name, everything changes! Suddenly she knows.This Easter, hear Jesus call you by your name. You are so very precious to him, just like Mary was. Even if you don’t know, or yet understand what faith is, or whether it is for you; hear him call and turn to him, just like Mary did, to respond with joy! Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!Revd Ylva
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 29th March - Palm Sunday - and for the week ahead:Scripture:Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-9)Reflection:As people celebrated Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, he knew their cheers of “Hosanna” would turn to “Crucify”; he knew what lay ahead of him. Richard Vautrey, a GP, and President of the Royal College of General Practitioners and a former Vice-President of the British Methodist Conference, wrote:‘Patients who know they are going to die often have a very different outlook on life. They make the most of every precious day. Yes, they prepare, and put their affairs in order, but many also compile bucket lists of exciting and challenging things to do while they have the strength and energy to do them. They do things they never thought themselves capable of.’ (Methodist Recorder 20 June, 2014). Jesus continued teaching, healing and helping others. I wonder whether we are making the most of the time we have, however young or old, well or ill we are? How might we celebrate with our friends? How might we teach or heal, inspire or help others – or pray - in whatever time we have?Revd David
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 22nd March - The Fifth Sunday of Lent - and for the week ahead:Scripture: John11.38-44 - Jesus Raises Lazarus From the DeadJesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odour, for he has been there four days.” Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”So they took away the stone…Then Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”Reflection:In John’s Gospel Jesus’s miracles are described as ‘signs’. They are like signposts, pointing to Jesus as the divine Son of God, with power and authority over nature and death itself. Yet some of those who actually witness Lazarus emerging from the tomb are so outraged at Jesus not conducting himself according to their rules and their authority that they make up their minds to have him killed. It was bad enough that he healed the sick and restored sight to the blind, but now he is actually raising the dead to life.This cannot be allowed! He must be stopped, once and for all.They did indeed kill him. But as we know, that was not the end. Far from it. Lord, save us from obstinacy and hardness of heart. Give us faith and humility, and open our eyes and hearts to receive your blessings which are ‘more than we can either imagine or desire’.Revd Rosemary Kobus van Wengen
