Renew Your Mind

A Pilgrimage to the Cross Walking through Lent with Jesus Saturday 9 th April It’s the weekend! My soul magnifies the Lord And my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, And lifted up the lowly; He has filled the hungry with good things, And sent the rich away empty.                            Luke 1: 46, 47, 52, 53 Before Jesus was even born, Mary was singing of how God has always confounded the logic of the world. As Jesus comes closer to the end of his life, it is not surprising that his words, his actions….and most of all, his death….will continue to turn upside down the expected order of things. Those who thought they were powerful, powerful enough to plot, to accuse, and to crucify, will have their places of power exposed as a house of cards. Those who are rich are sent away. In the kingdom, it is the...

A Pilgrimage to the Cross Walking through Lent with Jesus Friday 8 th April Here’s Steve Turner exploring some of the paradoxes of Easter…. Christmas is really for the children Especially for children who like animals, stables, stars and babies wrapped in swaddling clothes. Then there are wise men, kings in fine robes, humble shepherds and a hint of rich perfume. Easter is not really for the children unless accompanied by a cream filled egg. It has whips, blood, nails a spear and allegations of body snatching. It involves politics, God and the sins of the world. It is not good for people of a nervous disposition. They would do better to think on rabbits, chickens and the first snowdrop of spring. Or they’d do better to wait for a re-run of Christmas without asking too many questions about what Jesus did when he grew up or whether there’s any connection.                       ...

A Pilgrimage to the Cross Walking through Lent with Jesus Thursday 7 th April Those who try to make their life secure will lose it, but those who lose their life will keep it.                                     Luke 17:33 The closer Jesus gets to Jerusalem, the harder his words seem to become. There is a sense of urgency now- his disciples have not got much time left with him, and it is important that they hear the truth. Even if they do not understand it at the time, it is important that they hear it- for how else would they remember, and repeat those words, so that we can still read them today. So here is a paradox, which even 2000 years later sounds shocking, and counter-intuitive. Every fibre of our humanity tells us it makes sense to seek security, to do the best we can for ourselves and our families. But Jesus t...

A Pilgrimage to the Cross Walking through Lent with Jesus Wednesday 6 th April Independence is highly valued by our culture. In our schools, we teach children to be independent- to learn independently, to have their own ideas, and to think new thoughts. In any academic institutions, plagiarism is a grave offence. Employers look for people who are creative, innovative, inventive and independent. An independent person is considered to be strong, able to cope with life without needing to rely on others. Yet we live in an age where more people than ever before are lonely. Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them. Henry David Thoreau Has the very thing which we consider a strength turned out to be a curse? Is it possible to be strong……through admitting weakness? To be original and innovative……and inspired by the work of others? Is there a third way, between being dependent and independent? And could the mystery of the Trinity show ...

A Pilgrimage to the Cross Walking through Lent with Jesus Tuesday 5 th April As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.                                                    Luke 21: 1-4 Generosity is letting go- not just letting go of something we own, whether that is money, time, possessions or hospitality. It is also letting go of control, allowing something that we did have control over to be given away, for someone else to use. A generous s...

A Pilgrimage to the Cross Walking through Lent with Jesus Monday 4 th April As the people in your house get ready for the day, what decisions and negotiations happen about transport? What journeys do the people around you plan to take today? What is important for them- being on time? Getting a parking space? Having time to walk and enjoy some fresh air? Catching a bus? Not missing a train? Meeting up with friends on their bikes? Think today about the differences between public and private transport. What do people in your family or community prefer? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Are there times and situations when the benefits of one outweigh the benefits of the other? And what do our choices say about us, and about the values of our culture? About independence? About having control? About relying on others? About thinking short-term, or for the future?

A Pilgrimage to the Cross Walking through Lent with Jesus It’s the weekend! Saturday 2 nd April/ Sunday 3 rd April May you always know Where the road home begins And have the courage to walk the first mile May you never be too far from a lifeline And never too far gone to dial This weekend, ask yourself    What direction am I walking in?     Where is my journey leading me? In this season of Lent, ask God to speak to you. Ask Him to show you where you belong. Know that you will never have been away for too long to dial…. May you trip over truth And fall headlong into hope. May redemption rain down all around you. May God’s glory catch you napping And God’s story catch your breath And God’s gratuity perpetually astound you.                   ‘Prodigal Blessing’   Gerard Kelly