Monthly Archives: March 2013

For they were afraid. A reflection for Easter Day.

For churchgoers, Easter Day is a time of joy and celebration, usually with a thronged church, an immaculately conducted service, the fruit of weeks of preparation, and the chance to catch up with friends we haven’t seen for a while. … Continue reading

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Hitting rock bottom. A reflection for Easter Eve.

In English, the Apostle’s Creed teaches that Jesus descended “to the dead” or “into hell” depending on which version we use. However, the Greek version states that “κατελθοντα εις τα κατωτατα”, “he went down to the lowest”. At least since the … Continue reading

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Why abandon me, God? A reflection for Good Friday?

At times, life consists of one painful episode after another. Troubles multiply, sometimes emotional, sometimes financial, sometimes with our health, and as they do, friends seem vanish like frost off the road on a sunny morning. At first we try … Continue reading

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What’s in a name? A reflection for Maundy Thursday.

‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you’ The Last Supper was, first and foremost, an act … Continue reading

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The end is nigh. A reflection for Spy Wednesday.

Christians don’t really know how to handle Biblical prophecy. A minority tradition in the Church tends to claim the events related in it will ‘come true’ next Wednesday morning when we’re sitting down to our Corn Flakes. The entertainment value … Continue reading

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Love prevails over death. A reflection for Temple Tuesday.

St. John’s story of Holy Week has important differences to the tale told by the authors of the other Gospels, and its stories are perhaps a little less familiar to people, especially if they aren’t regular Bible readers. One incident … Continue reading

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Actions speak louder than words. A reflection for Fig Monday.

Having spent the night after the dramatic events of Palm Sunday in Bethany, about a half-hour walk from Jerusalem, Jesus returns to the capital in the morning to preach in the Temple. Fig Monday is a day of parables, especially … Continue reading

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Do we need more Christians in politics? A reflection for Palm Sunday

“We need more Christians in politics.” As someone whose life has largely revolved around two pillars – politics and the Church, I have heard this phrase endlessly. For a long time I didn’t question its basic sense – Christianity is, … Continue reading

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UKIP’s voters – older, more male and more working class. But especially older.

Cross-posted at Slugger O’Toole… YouGov have produced a wonderful composite of all their February 2013 polling to try and give a realistic picture of which bits of the electorate are behind UKIP’s polling surge into double figures , a trend … Continue reading

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Eastleigh: Bad for Tories, Better for LDs, Best for UKIP

Cross-posted to Slugger O’Toole… So the LibDems held on to Eastleigh by a narrow majority of 1,771 or just 4.3%, with UKIP surging into second place. Alex Massie in the Speccie warns against overanalysing by-elections, while Martin Kettle argued last … Continue reading

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