Easter Vigil, 3 April 2021 Christian celebrations are not empty festivities or void of meaning.  More than celebrating historical events, they recall God’s awe-inspiring actions that brought old creation to a new creation.  When the Church speaks of Christian redemption, it’s a fabric woven of different pieces put together from the Incarnation to the Resurrection.…

2 April 2021 Every Good Friday, I’m reminded of Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice on the altar.  Abraham is a Biblical character who epitomises faith in God: he obeyed God’s nonsensical command to offer his son (Genesis 22:11-12).  Saint John Chrysostom said the reason the angel called Abraham’s name twice was that he was…

1 April 2021 John 13:1-15 From the thirteenth chapter of John’s Gospel, we see a transition from Jesus’ public ministry to a private one.  He leaves three important things to His disciples and all of us: He serves them He institutes the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, which Paul said we should do until His…

Wednesday in Holy Week, 31 March 2021 “There is a light in this world, a healing spirit more powerful more powerful than any darkness we may encounter. We sometimes lose sight of this force when there is suffering or too much pain.  Then suddenly the Spirit will emerge through the lives of ordinary people who…

Palm Sunday, 28 March 2021 Today we join the Church around the world in celebrating Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. We meditate on and re-enact the events in the life of our Lord in His last days on earth, which changed the course of history, the cosmos and the world. Certain events change…

5th Sunday in Lent, 21 March 2021 Life is a journey; so is Lent.  Some say a journey is all about the destination or goal; others say it’s about the journey: it must be full of fun and adventure.  Biblical examples show that it’s both.  When the children of Israel journeyed through the wilderness they…

by Patriarch Craig Bates 4th Sunday in Lent, 14 March 2021 We knew last March this year would be a sacrifice and this lockdown would be hard; but some of us discerned that something good would come out of it.  It would be a birthplace: wind, fire, a work of the Holy Spirit; a birthplace…

3rd Sunday in Lent, 7 March 2021 Beyond the externals, our Lenten journey has to do with the heart.  The past few decades have displayed an exponential growth in travel; many people have visited places they would never have imagined.  Lent is a journey towards the Paschal feast. Last week I shared some thoughts from…

2nd Sunday in Lent, 28 February 2021 Recently I’ve been reflecting on Alexander Schmemann’s book, Great Lent, and have drawn some thoughts from it which I’d like to share with you in relation to today’s Gospel. Someone who embarks on a journey makes preparations; more than that, we must know where we’re going.  Lent is…

1st Sunday in Lent, 21 February 2021 Mark 1:9-13 The idea of the liturgical season of Lent came from the preparation of those who decided to convert to the Christian faith.  This included learning the disciplines of prayer and fasting, reading and meditating on the sacred writings or Holy Scriptures, and deliverance from demonic influences…