before the Magi picked out their gifts they paid attention to waht was happening in the world around them to work out what to do next.
Before we begin the journey of the New Year we need to give God the gift of attention so that we may hear clearly what God is saying.
I’ve never understood the saying ‘as miserable as sin’. Personally I find sin, for the most part, quite enjoyable, else why would we persist in it. It’s what happens after sin, after hearing but not listening, that brings the pain.
Jesus is our Midwife and like a mother looks on us every day with love.
Jesus, with His own body, defeats the power of death and sin and bears us all into the promise of the Life after Life.
How to Repent:
1. Stop doing the bad stuff.
2. Start doing the good stuff.
3. Give away the fruit of our penitence.
(We do not join the ‘God Squad’ for our benefit alone.)
Travelling with Jesus does not mean we are immune from storms. It does mean we are safe in the midst of them and are given the courage to follow Him more closely
Our Beloved in leaving us does not leave us desolate but leaves reminders of his presence. Perhaps not in an enchanted place but in ordinary things
To be able to provide a home for another is a precious gift, to know that our Beloved provides a home for us makes all our challenges, whether they involve squatting bishops or not, melt away.
Our Beloved looks upon us in the midst of all the mess of our sins and, not ‘blinching’ at all, demonstrates his love by stretching out His arms to embrace the whole world on the tree of Calvary.
This was not the only time since I have been in Holy Orders I have been threatened with a fire arm but it is the one when I prayed the deepest and hardest…
This is a great challenge for we who walk the way of faith. The more we walk, the more miracles happen, the more we are tempted to think we are miracle workers. The Baptist knew this was a dangerous path and always aimed to be small instead of the next big thing.
Suffolk Vicar 