April 2026

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

I think it very likely that when Jesus said that, he was deliberately echoing a phrase in the twenty-third Psalm, the one that begins:

“The Lord is my shepherd”

The phrase I think that he had in mind was this one:

“…my cup overflows.”

The Greek word that St John uses, which is translated into English as “abundantly” is itself an accurate translation of the Hebrew word in the Psalm. Both literally mean “brimming over” or “full to overflowing”.

For sheep, abundant life is fairly easy to achieve. Plentiful...

The two disciples experienced something when blethering with the stranger they met on the road to Emmaus. Not recognising the stranger as Jesus, they were surprised when he seemed to know nothing of the recent events in Jerusalem. Of how their beloved leader Jesus had been executed for preaching the Good News of God's love for his people, or how their hope for a different future had died with him on the cross. And, how angry and frustrated they were at the disappearance of his body from the tomb, three days after his death. 

The disciples' grief is plain for...

One of the things I love about Eastertide; is not only the joy of basking in the resurrection light and joy of the risen Jesus but also the fact that for the next eight weeks we get to follow closely the Book of Acts. After the Gospels, Acts is amongst my favourite reading of Scripture. Not only because it was one of the first bits of the Bible I ever read properly but the fact that it is so very exciting.

Acts reads like an adventure story. It is fast moving and catalogues the events following Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension...

Matthew 28:1-10

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ²And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. ⁵But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. ...