We all know the value of drinking plenty of water, but equally we don’t always get around to doing it. That was certainly the case for me, but since retiring I’m making a concerted effort to look after myself, especially with three young children to care for.
A few years ago, I started to drink at least five glasses of water a day (one as soon as I wake up). It’s made easier because we have one of those convenient cold-water dispensers on our fridge. I also drink herbal tea in addition to my regular drinks and restrict coffee to one a day no later than 2.00 pm if possible.
I have to say I feel much better as a result. Keeping hydrated is so essential and has many health benefits, both physical and mental. Any downsides? Not really, although I do have to go to the toilet more often!
This article is extremely helpful, along with many other you can find with Google.
Imagine you meet someone called Jack and, because of their chosen clothes and style, you’re not sure of their gender identity. Imagine then having speak to another person about them. In that instance, knowing their personal pronouns will enable you to refer to them correctly, not make an idiot of yourself, and save embarrassment all round.
Indicating your personal pronouns is an act of courtesy. Respecting someone’s personal pronouns is an act of thoughtfulness. No one is forcing it on you or anyone else. It’s nothing to get annoyed about. It’s about being better human beings, understanding of others.
Acts 10:34-43 captures a key moment in the early Christian church, depicting Peter’s realisation of the universality of God’s message and the inclusion of Gentiles in the Christian faith. This passage marks a significant shift in the understanding of God’s plan of salvation.
In these verses, Peter, who was a devout Jew and one of Jesus’ disciples, addresses a Gentile audience, specifically Cornelius, a Roman centurion. Peter begins by acknowledging that God shows no partiality, meaning that his love and salvation are not limited to any particular group or ethnicity. This revelation challenges the traditional Jewish understanding that salvation was exclusive to the Jewish people.
Peter then proceeds to proclaim the core message of Christianity: the gospel of Jesus Christ. He emphasises that Jesus is Lord of all, regardless of nationality or background. Peter recounts the ministry of Jesus, highlighting his baptism by John the Baptist, his anointing with the Holy Spirit, and his acts of healing and liberation. This serves to establish Jesus’ authority and credentials as the Messiah.
Peter also emphasises Jesus’ death and resurrection, declaring that Jesus was crucified, but God raised him from the dead on the third day. This central tenet of Christianity underscores the power of God over death and sin, offering hope and salvation to all who believe.
Moreover, Peter testifies to the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ ministry and resurrection, affirming the reliability of the Christian message. He emphasises that Jesus commanded his disciples to preach and bear witness to him, thus validating their role as messengers of the gospel.
Furthermore, Peter highlights the role of Jesus as the appointed judge of the living and the dead, underscoring the accountability of all people before God. He stresses that through faith in Jesus, forgiveness of sins is available to everyone who believes in him.
This passage concludes with Peter affirming the prophetic testimony concerning Jesus, stating that all who believe in him receive forgiveness of sins through his name. Here, Peter extends the invitation to salvation to his Gentile audience, emphasising that faith in Jesus is the means by which all people can experience reconciliation with God.
Acts 10:34-43 is a turning point in the Book of Acts, illustrating the expansion of the Christian message beyond its Jewish origins and the inclusion of Gentiles in the community of believers. It serves as a foundational text for understanding the universal scope of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.
Thought: Live as Easter people in a Good Friday world.
Today is Holy Saturday, not Easter Saturday. Easter starts with the resurrection of Jesus when darkness is turned to light. In stillness, earth awaits the resurrection.
Psalm 22 is a poignant and emotive psalm attributed to King David and often considered one of the Messianic Psalms, with Christian interpreters seeing in it prophetic references to the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
The psalm begins with a cry of anguish, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” These words are familiar to Christians as they are echoed by Jesus on the cross in the New Testament. The psalmist expresses feelings of abandonment and distress, yet also maintains trust in God’s faithfulness.
Throughout the psalm, there’s a vivid description of the psalmist’s suffering, with imagery of being surrounded by enemies, mocked and scorned by onlookers, and physically afflicted. Despite the intense suffering described, the psalmist clings to the hope of God’s deliverance, expressing confidence in God’s power to save.
The psalm shifts towards praise and thanksgiving as the psalmist anticipates God’s response to their cries. There’s a sense of victory and vindication as the psalmist declares that God hasn’t despised or scorned their affliction, but rather hears their cries and responds with deliverance.
In the final verses, the psalmist calls on future generations to praise God for His faithfulness and deliverance. They envision a time when all nations will worship and acknowledge God’s sovereignty.
Interpretations of Psalm 22 vary across religious traditions. For Christians, the psalm is often seen as foreshadowing the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, with many phrases and images in the psalm being seen as directly fulfilled in the events of Christ’s crucifixion. In Jewish tradition, Psalm 22 is recited during times of distress and is seen as a prayer for deliverance and redemption.
Overall, Psalm 22 is a powerful expression of faith in the midst of suffering, highlighting the tension between feelings of abandonment and trust in God’s faithfulness. It serves as a reminder that even in the darkest moments, God is present and working towards redemption and deliverance.
On this Good Friday we’re reminded that Christ spoke the first words of this psalm, and possible recited it all, on the Cross. It starts with darkness and despair, yet ends in light and hope. In abandonment and death we look forward to companionship and new life on Easter Sunday.
John 13:1-17 is a profound passage that depicts Jesus’ final meal with his disciples before his crucifixion. It’s the beginning of the ‘Farewell Discourse’ in John’s Gospel, where Jesus prepares his followers for his impending departure.
The scene is set during the Passover Feast. Jesus, fully aware of his divine authority and the events about to unfold, chooses to perform a humble act of service: He washes his disciples’ feet. This was a task typically reserved for the lowest servant, yet here the Master kneels before his followers. It’s a powerful act of love and a reversal of social norms.
When Peter resists, Jesus insists, explaining that the washing is necessary for Peter to share in Jesus’ life and mission. After completing the task, Jesus returns to his place and addresses his disciples. He explains that he’s set an example for them. Just as he, their Lord and Teacher, has washed their feet, so they should wash one another’s feet. It’s a lesson in humility and service, emphasising that leadership in the Kingdom of God is marked not by dominance, but by loving service.
The passage also touches on themes of cleanliness and preparation. While the physical act of washing is symbolic, it points to the spiritual cleansing necessary for fellowship with Christ. Jesus’ actions prefigure his ultimate service and sacrifice on the cross, where he will offer himself for the cleansing of humankind’s sin.
On this Maundy Thursday, we’re called to emulate Jesus’ humility and servanthood, transforming our lives, relationships, and attitudes towards others.
It’s exciting to be in a crowd, but it can also be very frightening. The mood of a crowd can rapidly change, the dynamic of the mob can quickly take over. Who knows what the crowd will do next, especially if its expectations are not met?
The crowds surrounding Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem were no different. The emotions and excitement were reaching fever pitch, and the conditions were right for the whole thing to turn nasty.
You can read the story of the first Palm Sunday in Luke 19:28-44.
There would have been thousands of hot, excited, sweaty people all wanting to see Jesus; all wanting to know who he was, all wanting to see what he would do.
Jesus approaches and enters Jerusalem in the full knowledge that both the religious and political leaders were feeling threatened by his teaching and ministry, and that the crowd could easily turn if he didn’t fulfil their expectations and hopes.
The first Palm Sunday was a dramatic and hugely significant day in the life and ministry of Jesus. Prior to this, Jesus had resolutely set his face towards Jerusalem, to very publicly announce the coming of his kingdom.
He carefully chose a time when the people would be gathered in Jerusalem, and he chose a way of proclaiming his kingdom that was unmistakable.
But, as Jesus approached Jerusalem, he wept over it: If you, even you, had only recognised on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.
These weren’t the words of a human king, but rather the words of divine Saviour whose heart broke because of the spiritual and moral blindness of the people. He’d come to bring true peace, but they didn’t want it.
The crowd in Jerusalem thought they understood as they cheered, shouted, waved, and threw palm branches, but completely misunderstood Jesus’ identity.
They were full of nationalistic fervour and failed to recognise the true nature of Jesus’ kingship. Palms had been a symbol of Jewish nationalism from the time of the Maccabees and appeared on Jewish coins during their revolutionary struggle against the Romans, and now they were oppressed by them.
Jesus showed the people his true identity by riding on a donkey; a sign, according to the Old Testament, of the Messiah coming in peace. The people expected the Messiah to bring victory by force, but Jesus came to conquer by the Cross. The way of Jesus is not one of hatred, force or violence, rather it’s the way of sacrificial love.
The praise and adulation of the crowd was not the glory Jesus wanted, his glory was to come through self-sacrifice and suffering.
On this Palm Sunday, may we make our own decision to set our face towards Jerusalem; resolving to go God’s way, despite the expectations of the crowds, and live like Jesus.
Palm Sunday this year falls on the day we remember Óscar Romero, the Archbishop of San Salvador who championed the cause of the poor and marginalised. He was assassinated on Monday, 24 March 1980, at the age of 62.
So, instead of concentrating on the events of the first Palm Sunday, I’d like to celebrate Óscar Romero and learn from the life of this extraordinary man, a hero of faith, prayer, and justice.
Óscar Romero was the Archbishop of San Salvador at a time of terrible violence and oppression during El Salvador’s civil war. He was a contemplative and conservative man, but a fierce opponent of economic inequality and of the kidnapping, torture, and murder of his people.
He became a beacon of hope for the poor. Although his killers were never identified, it’s almost certain that Romero’s very public stand against the injustice of the military government was the reason he was shot dead as he celebrated Mass.
Romero saw that love can’t be theoretical, neither is it soft or weak, but there is a violence to love. Not a violence that hurts people, but a violence that resists anything that harms people. It stands up to the powers that exploit and destroy others; it’s this kind of love that Jesus demonstrated on the cross.
Read: Philippians 2:5-11 (one of the Lectionary Bible readings for today).
Óscar Romero wrote: “All of us, if we really want to know the meaning of conversion and of faith and confidence in another, must become poor, or at least make the cause of the poor our own inner motivation. That is when one begins to experience faith and conversion: when one has the heart of the poor, when one knows that financial capital, political influence, and power are worthless, and that without God we are nothing. To feel that need of God is faith and conversion.”
“The violence we preach is not the violence of the sword, the violence of hatred. It is the violence of love, of brotherhood, the violence that wills to beat weapons into sickles for work.”
On this Palm Sunday, let’s reflect on the life of Óscar Romero and consider how he followed Jesus, the one who rode into Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace.
St. Patrick’s Day, which falls on 17th March, is all about celebrating the legendary patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. He was actually born in Roman Britain way back in the late 4th century. He was kidnapped when he was just 16 and taken to Ireland to work as a slave, but he managed to escape. He later returned to Ireland around 432 CE with a mission, to convert the Irish to Christianity. He used a humble shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity, which eventually became a symbol of this day.
For over a thousand years, the Irish have been celebrating this day, sticking to their traditions. They usually start with a morning church service and then dive into festivities in the afternoon, especially since it falls during Lent when the rules about meat-eating get relaxed a bit. That means it’s time for some serious feasting on Irish classics like bacon and cabbage.
Interestingly, the first-ever St. Patrick’s Day parade didn’t happen in Ireland, but in America! Back in 1601, in a Spanish colony that’s now St. Augustine, Florida. And then in 1772, Irish soldiers in the English military based in New York City decided to honour St. Patrick with their own parade. Over the years, these parades became a big deal, showing off Irish pride among immigrants in America.
Fast forward to today, and St. Patrick’s Day is all about parades, wearing anything and everything green, and of course, indulging in delicious Irish food and drinks. It’s a massive celebration, not just in Ireland but all over the globe, especially in places with lots of Irish folks. But beyond the fun, it’s also a time to think about Irish heritage and culture.
Sure, over time, the day’s meaning might have shifted a bit, but it’s still all about honouring those Irish traditions and remembering the work St. Patrick did in spreading Christianity. Yeah, some people might grumble about how commercialised it’s become or how it sometimes plays into stereotypes, but for many, it’s a day of cultural pride and religious reflection, a reminder of the incredible legacy left by Ireland’s favourite saint.
Following on from last Sunday we again turn to John’s Gospel, to a passage that captures a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus, where the narrative shifts towards his impending crucifixion. John 12:20-33 (click on link) is rich with symbolism and theological significance, marking the beginning of the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
The passage begins with some Greeks, most likely Jewish diaspora, expressing their desire to see Jesus during the Passover festival. Their request is significant as it symbolises the reach of Jesus’ message beyond the Jewish community to the wider world. This event triggers Jesus to declare that “the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified” (John 12:23), indicating his awareness of the approaching sacrifice he’s about to make.
Jesus uses the metaphor of a grain of wheat to explain the necessity of his death; unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains a single seed, but if it dies, it produces many seeds (John 12:24). This analogy illustrates the paradoxical nature of life and death in the Christian faith, where through death comes greater life and fruitfulness.
He then speaks of the cost of discipleship, urging his followers to love their life less than their devotion to him, promising that those who serve him must follow him, and in doing so, the Father (John 12:25-26) will honour them. This teaching emphasises the idea of self-denial and the pursuit of eternal life over temporary worldly pleasures.
As Jesus contemplates his death, he admits to being troubled, but resolves that it’s for this purpose he’s come to this hour. He refuses to ask for deliverance from this hour, instead, he calls on God’s name to be glorified, to which a voice from heaven responds, affirming that it’s been glorified and will be glorified again (John 12:27-28). This divine interaction serves as a testament to Jesus’ obedience to God’s will and the divine plan of salvation.
Jesus explains that his crucifixion will serve as judgement on this world and will drive out Satan, the ruler of this world (John 12:31). He also prophesies that when he’s lifted up from the earth, he will draw all people to himself (John 12:32), alluding to his death on the cross and the universal salvation it offers.
The passage concludes with the crowd questioning Jesus about his statements, as they understood from Scripture that the Christ would remain forever. Jesus responds by urging them to walk in the light while they have it, to avoid being overtaken by darkness (John 12:34-36). This final exhortation serves as a call to faith and a warning of the consequences of rejecting the light, namely Jesus himself.
In summary, John 12:20-33 presents a profound theological discourse that sets the stage for the passion narrative. It highlights the global scope of Jesus’ mission, the sacrificial nature of his death, the call to discipleship, and the cosmic implications of the crucifixion. It’s a cornerstone for understanding the depth of Jesus’ teachings and the redemptive purpose of his death. May we seek to understand this better for ourselves, especially as we approach Palm Sunday and Holy Week.
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