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| On this page you can read Brother Luke's Daily Reflections. A new one will be added every day and at the end of each month they will be moved to their own page. If you'd like to be added to Br Luke's Daily Reflection e-mail list please click here to send him a request. Please respect Br Luke's work, and ask for permission before copying these mediations. April 2009 Revised Common Lectionary : Liturgical Year "B"
Wednesday 1st Scripture: John 8:31-42 Reflection: When we think of slavery, we think of ownership, of possession, of control and ultimately of powerlessness. How many of us would associate these words with sin? I suspect not many. Perhaps this is because we think of sin as a concept, as an idea, as something remote and distant. Something we read about, but don’t really experience? Maybe we need to think how sin is subtlety interwoven into the fibre of our lives. And here I mean the fibre of our own life, not the lives of others around us. Jesus tells us we can be free of sin - do you believe this?
Thursday 2nd Scripture: John 8:51-59 Reflection: The people listening, did not like what they were hearing. They wanted to stone him, to silence him and stop what they saw as his blasphemy. With our hindsight (and intervening centuries) we know what he was saying and we rejoice. But at the time, they did not rejoice, they did what, even today, we do so often - they stopped listening. They made assumptions and then they rashly acted on their conclusions. Maybe we need to listen more and act less.
Friday 3rd Scripture: John 10:31-42 Reflection: Jesus was asking the people to look beyond their limited perceptions of him and his works. He was asking them to see something they resolutely did not want to imagine, let alone entertain as a possibility. So the people reached for their stones. With our perceptions, we believers understand what he was saying and we do not want to throw any stones. However, before we started on our faith journeys, we may, on hearing the gospel, have had a similar response as the people of Jesus day! Indeed there are those today who would happily reach for the stones – perhaps even some who were once believers!. Can you remember what event (or experience) led you to drop, rather than pick up, the stones?
Saturday 4th Scripture: John 11:45-57 Reflection: The power and authority of the religious leaders had been threatened, and in some ways challenged, by Jesus. They had to act to re-establish, or enforce, their control. It is the same today. The powerful elites rarely act as servants of the people, or ignore the threats to their power and control When they feel challenged, they react by removing those they object to, often justifying their actions by first demonising the group or individual. Have you seen this process at work recently? How did it affect you? Can you do something about it?
Sunday 5th Scripture: Mark 11:1-11 Reflection: Palm Sunday, and now we enter Holy Week. The jubilant crowds welcome him, singing praises and strewing the ground with their cloaks and branches. But we know how this will end. What could have happened, what looked so promising, didn’t eventuate. Yet from this seeming disaster, something more precious, more profound, more life giving, more loving came. Have another look around you, does this describe something in your life?
Monday 6th Scripture: John 12:1-11 Reflection: Judas criticised and denigrated Mary's act of devotion, and love, as extravagant and foolish. Something he, perhaps, found difficult to comprehend, let alone support. The world today seems to be so full of Judases, that it is difficult to see anything that is done without any conditions or expectations of rewards or a return. Yet these acts of love and devotion are there. In places where we least expect them, and in quiet moments. At least one happened today - did you see it?
Tuesday 7th Scripture: John 12:20-36 Reflection: Have a look at verse 26. Do you know any places were Jesus is, or would be, to serve others? This maybe in places you least expect, or perhaps you resist going to. Yet we are told, if we follow, then we serve. So are you willing to serve, where our Lord would?
Wednesday 8th Scripture: John 13:21-32 Reflection: The betrayal by a person we thought was our friend is possibly one of the deepest wounds to we will incur. It is one that can take a very long time to heal - if ever. The betrayal cuts us to our hearts, and we experience pain, sorrow and grief. The pain and yearning long for understanding. It can be a long road to forgiveness. In those dark painful moments, know that Jesus has been there as well.
Thursday 9th Scripture: John 13:1-17, 31-35 Reflection: Verse 34. A new Commandment to love. Not one about what we are not to do. No words about what will happen if we do not follow the commandment. Just a simple statement “love one another”. Yet I suspect this is the second hardest commandment to follow. Why? Because if we love another, then we have to be open, to give of ourselves – without expecting any return. How many of us can do this for someone we don’t like?
Friday 10th - Good Friday Scripture: John 18:1-19:42 This is St John's account of the Passion of Christ. Reflection: Joseph of Arimathea asked for, and was given Jesus’ body. He and Nicodemus prepared Jesus for burial. They buried him in a garden tomb. Notice that the two people who claimed and buried his body were “secret” disciples of Jesus. They wanted no-one to know their commitment to Jesus. Yet they did a very public act. Have you been like these two disciples? Keeping you faith secret, until something happens and all know your faith? What caused the change? Would you still like your faith to be a secret?
Holy Saturday 11th Scripture: Matthew 27:57-66 Reflection: The tomb was sealed in fear. Fear that Jesus' body would be moved, fear about what would happen if the body disappeared. Perhaps also a fear that perhaps he may have been right. The stone failed, it could not stop the resurrection - and fear lost - love was victorious. How about your life and the lives of those around you? Is fear busily rolling stones in to block parts of lives and hearts? Or is love breaking the seals and liberating life and love?
Sunday 12th - Easter Day Scripture: Mark 16:1-8 Reflection: The women were alarmed and perhaps a little confused. But looking back, as we do, it does not seem alarming at all. Simply the fulfilment of scripture. Our hope is in the Risen Christ, and our joy is absolute knowing He is risen, and that no matter what, we are loved.
Monday 13th Scripture: Matthew 28:8-15 Reflection: "So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples". (Verse 8) Here are two emotions we often do not put together - fear and joy. I suspect we think of them as opposites. But when we have an experience of the divine, then perhaps they do work in unison. Have you had an experience of the divine? Does fear and joy describe how you felt?
Tuesday 14th Scripture: John 20:11-18 Reflection: "When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus" (Verse 14). At first she missed him. We can do this. We are so become so intent on expecting that God will be where we are seeking, that we can miss out altogether. When God is not where you expect, remember Mary Magdalene and look again.
Wednesday 15th Scripture: Luke 24:13-35 Reflection: How many times have you walked a journey and not really known who was accompanying you? Or perhaps not understood the person who travelled with you? We can do this when we become focused on our journey, our emotions, our desires, our lost opportunities, our "what might have been" reminisces? What, or who did you miss-understand, when you focused on you? Could these be seen as a 'road to Emmaus' trip?
Thursday 16th Scripture: Luke 24:35-48 Reflection: Jesus tells the startled disciples that they are witnesses to the events of, not only his life, but also the resurrection. He promises to send them the Holy Spirit. We, either by the way we live our lives, or by the words and actions we say and do, are also witnesses to these events. Perhaps we may not like to think of ourselves as witnesses, we may prefer to use the term Christian. But think about the last time you did something that demonstrated your faith. Weren't you a witness?
Friday 17th Scripture: John 21:1-14 Reflection: Once again Peter's demonstrates his impulsive nature. Are you that impulsive? Would you jump into the lake? Or would you be more cautious and come in the boat? Perhaps we can’t be as physical, or as impulsive, but we can still be so very passionate and committed. Are you?
Saturday 18th Scripture: Mark 16:9-15 Reflection: In the longer ending of Mark, we read that Jesus upbraided the disciples for not believing those who had seen him after he had risen. Then he sent them off to proclaim the good news to all. This proclamation is still happening today. In the way we live our lives, with our words and in our actions we proclaim the good news. Of course the news is not received with joy, everywhere - but this doesn’t deter the news from being spread. So when you become disheartened with the faith, remember that the “good news” is still be proclaimed and take heart.
Sunday 19th Scripture: John 20:19-31 Reflection: "Blessed are those who have not seen and who believe”. Is it possible that after Peter, Thomas is the disciple we can most easily relate to? In our "enlightened scientific" world everything must be proved before it can be accepted. It seems to me that people have become more than a “doubting Thomas”, for today we seem to not only disbelieve, but we actively seek ways to support or justify our disbelief. In the process of disbelief we have separated ourselves from the spiritual side of our lives. We have entered a desert where there is no water of any kind. Be careful before you enter that desolate place.
Monday 20th Scripture: John 3:1-8 Reflection: Nicodemus was asking a question based on logic. How can one be physically born again?. Jesus was talking of spiritual birth, not a new physical birth. Nicodemus needed to broaden his thinking. There are times when we too take a logical approach, when a spiritual one is needed. Can you think of a time when you misread a situation? What, or who, opened your eyes for you?
Tuesday 21st Scripture: John 3:7-15 Reflection: When we hear things we struggle to understand or comprehend, we often will do one of two things. We can ignore it, turn away from it and dismiss it as meaningless or irrelevant. Or we can explore it, question it and try to make sense of it. We will often do the same with people – ignore, marginalise them, or try to understand them. Sadly it seems to me that too often people are marginalised rather than heard. When was the last time you took time to try and comprehend, or listen to, someone you didn’t understand?
Wednesday 22nd Scripture: John 3:16-21 Reflection: Verse 16 is possibly one of the most well known passages of John's gospel. There are two elements that lie at the heart of the passage and of the gospel life itself. These are "love" and "belief". God's love was, and is, given unconditionally, belief is our response. We can choose to accept the gift of love or to reject it. It is up to us to decide - choose carefully!
Thursday 23rd Scripture: John 3:31-36 Reflection: Have a look at verse 32. No-one accepts Jesus' testimony. Has this happened to you? You speak, answer, advise, guide, yet those who have sought you out simply ignore every word you speak. It is as though you are not present in their lives. How do you feel when no-one is interested in what you say, or do. It is a frustrating, distressing experience. Just imagine how Jesus feels?
Friday 24th Scripture: John 6:1-15 Reflection: There are those among us who doubt that there were 5,000 people there. How they say, could they all hear him, how could that many sit down, how could that many gather in one place. And a whole host of other practical, “sensible” questions. I suspect they are speaking from a physical and not a spiritual perspective. What is more important, the number or the miracle?
Saturday 25th Scripture: John 6:16-21 Reflection: They had set out without him. They were rowing in the dark, hopefully heading for the other shore. Sounds like something we'd do - doesn't it? We sometimes set off, blindly on our own course, only to discover that we have while we had confidently left Jesus behind we really needed him with us on the trip. When was the last time you did this? Did you look up and see him walking towards you? Or are you still stubbornly rowing in the dark?
Sunday 26th Scripture: Luke 24:36-48 Reflection: Have another look at verse 47. Which of these groups of words stuck with you: “repentance and forgiveness of sins”, “in his name” or “to all nations”? Perhaps we need to read them again, slowly. Why, because Jesus is saying forgiveness is open to everyone. Not the select few, not the “pious” or “religious”, but to all. So then, it must be us humans that place the restrictions around forgiveness?
Monday 27th Scripture: John 6:22-29 Reflection: When we go seeking Jesus, do we know where to look? Do we seek him because we believe in him or because we want him to give us something? When we find him, (or he finds us) what do we ask of him - provisions for our bodies or for our spirit?
Tuesday 28th Scripture: John 6:30-35 Reflection: They were looking for bread, for a physical substance they could eat, like the manna of old. They didn’t see the spiritual bread that is Jesus. For many their spiritual journey starts with a physical desire. They have a yearning that they think will be sated by physical things, possession etc. In time they come to realise their hunger is a spiritual one. Jesus said he was the bread of life, we have to be spiritually hungry before this food can feed us.
Wednesday 29th Scripture: John 6:35-40 Reflection: "Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away." (verse 37). When we look at the church and/or our worship/faith communities, can we also make this claim - "I will never drive away"? Sadly, I suspect not. We have all seen, or experienced first hand, the devastation caused by people being driven away from Christ. But let us not forget, that Christ drives no-one away - it is us, we humans, that do the driving away.
Thursday 30th Scripture: John 6:44-51 Reflection: "I am the bread of life". (verse 48). What does this statement mean to you?
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