Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 19th April - The Third Sunday of Easter - and for the week ahead:Scripture:'While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked them, ‘What things?’' (Luke 24:15-19) Reflection:In this story, news of Jesus’ resurrection has spread, but not everyone has seen him for themselves, and so are struggling to believe. Here, Jesus joins some of his followers as they walk, and explains everything to them before they actually believe what’s happened. I wonder how we would answer the question that Jesus poses here, “what things?”. How would we describe what happened to Jesus? Maybe we would be better to share what impact He has had on our lives by being a part of it. If you were asked “what things has Jesus done for you?” or “what things are made better by Jesus being part of your life?” how would you answer this week? Victoria Bray
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 12th April - The Second Sunday of Easter - and for the week ahead:Scripture:Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’, (John 20.29)Reflection:The challenge that Jesus posed for his disciples and for the rest of us was about trust.]Thomas trusted Jesus enough to spend some three years as one of his close followers, but it took a personal encounter with the risen Jesus for him to exclaim ‘My Lord and my God’. Up to that point he had not trusted his friends when they told him that they had seen the risen Jesus; and he had not been able to trust that God, whom Jesus called his Father, had the situation under control. Now, he could.We often speak as though faith in God is about agreeing that this or that is true. But the real issue is about trusting our heavenly Father.David Harmsworth
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
