acollins16

Community

We are formed in community. Community is both our achilles and our heart. Think of Jesus and the frustrating apostles who just didn’t get it? He worked his mission in community, regardless of the hardship, relishing the joys. We cycle between bliss and blizzard – between the big freeze out and the warm sun. ItContinue reading “Community”

Trinity Sunday

How do we explore the Holy Trinity? I remember the whole shamrock image from my childhood and the flippant comment from Eric Idle in the film ‘Nuns on the run’ that God is like a shamrock ‘small green and split three ways’. Earlier in the film Robbie Coltrane had a go at explaining the TrinityContinue reading “Trinity Sunday”

Women in Scripture that lead with strength

I recently re-read Judges Ch 4 and 5 and refreshed my memory on Deborah. Wow – what an inspirational woman. Here we have someone who is a prophetess and a judge and a military leader. The song of Deborah (Judges 5) is one of the oldest pieces of Hebrew Scripture dating back (possibly) to 12thContinue reading “Women in Scripture that lead with strength”

What will the future say about us?

What if future historians use social media to recount our history? Not a very accurate picture indeed! We hold back on posting truth to avoid being negative – how many times do we read a post about someone when our experience may be incredibly different? It is appropriate, I believe, to hold back, but whatContinue reading “What will the future say about us?”

If the world were to end today, what would you do?

Strange question – I know – but also it is one I think we should stop and answer. Really stop and think and answer. Answer it in the very depths of your own truth. Only you need to know that answer. Then what? Well, then I think we edit today – or at least ourContinue reading “If the world were to end today, what would you do?”

Finding what was lost

Losing something (or someone) can be the greatest challenge. Sometimes, you can restore and locate, other times, you have to learn to move on without that person. Even when it is a person, and they will never be there again, we seek to find something to fill the gaping hole left behind. In the ParableContinue reading “Finding what was lost”

His love is everlasting

At Mass this evening the response for the Psalm was about praising God for he was good, ‘his love is everlasting’. I thought about that last phrase. Love is not restricted to God. We love. So what makes his love ‘everlasting’ or beyond our human capacity? Surely my love for my child is everlasting? Well,Continue reading “His love is everlasting”

Where the veil is thin

In the Gospel of Mark (from Palm Sunday) we hear, ‘And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom’. Now this was no mean feat! Traditionally, according to the Talmud, the veil of the Temple was about 10cm thick; it was to separate mankind from the Holy of Holies, symbolicallyContinue reading “Where the veil is thin”

Easter thoughts

Sometimes, you have thoughts. These came at the Easter Vigil. For a while the ‘soul’ translation at communion ‘and my soul shall be healed’ has not sat well with me. (I could say it has not sat well within my soul). I go back to Augustine and the duality of the soul and the body,Continue reading “Easter thoughts”

Easter, Ritual

Why is ritual so important? We don’t necessarily acknowledge its importance but it is vital. We ritualise so much that matters. When we lose someone whose departure from our daily lives impacts who we are, we create rituals to enable moments when we feel their presence. We participate in religious rituals that comfort us aboutContinue reading “Easter, Ritual”