Author Archives: acollins16

What is your truth? I thought this was a challenging but possible question until yesterday. Then I was having a conversation and I mentioned how we can’t say that our view or experience of a person is their true self as others may experience them differently. But whilst I believe that, I do think weContinue reading “The voice of truth”

In the Gospel of Matthew we read (6: 5-6): And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites; they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to yourContinue reading “to pray in secret …”

Feeling like you do not matter is the worst feeling in the world. It is worse than pain (physical or emotional) and leads to a darkness that is so deep it seems endless. We often respond to those questioning with ‘Of course you matter’ as if this is the most obvious reality in existence. ButContinue reading “Why do we matter?”

What is your truth? Do you know? In one of the Gospels it says that the Spirit of Truth will come and lead us to the Truth. It is not in the mind, not in the heart but in the soul. We talk about mindfulness. We talk about the importance of honouring or at leastContinue reading “Truth starts in the soul”

We offer our prayers to the grieving families of the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas. In the words of Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors Coach) ‘we should never become numb to this’. This horrific loss of life should touch our hearts and souls as we stand in disbelief at theContinue reading “And a sword will pierce your soul too …”

Whom do you follow? Thinking about the words of Our Lord’s Prayer I was drawn to the line ‘lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’. As humans we are drawn to those who have the capacity to lead. In ancient times we followed leaders into battle, today we follow leaders into aContinue reading “Lead us not into temptation …”

In the Gospel of Matthew we read the the Parable of the ten bridesmaids. There are 5 wise and 5 foolish who go out to meet the bridegroom. They become weary and fall asleep. When the shout goes out that he is coming the wise trim their wicks and use the oil they have brought.Continue reading “Did you remember your oil?”

No other death in history has had the everlasting impact of Jesus. This moment in time forever shapes our world. This act. This sacrifice. This moment we remember brings us the gift of hope. A gift we wake up to every day. Gift is such a common word. Who doesn’t love a gift? But weContinue reading “What is our gift to God this Easter?”

In the Gospel of Matthew we read: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Whilst today we have various understandings about the symbol of the wolf – in Jesus’ time it was a threat to the flock. If we are the sheep, we areContinue reading “Beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing”

The Lenten journey today is individualised. In the past it was fairly straightforward – you fasted, you prayed, you gave. Now it seems to be ‘what will I give up’ rather than this is what we do. Let’s face it – one person’s Lenten fast is probably another person’s meal of choice. The choice toContinue reading “The Lenten Journey”