It's Saturday morning here in Amberley and over coffee looking out from my office to the Autumn garden I am thinking back over a few of the moments of the week. Some...
friendship
friendship’s sake
I have spent the weekend in the Philippines (Manila and Cebu) and today head home to NZ. The brief visit was an opportunity to meet with friends in both cities and to...
poets’ friendship
The weather last night could not have been worse for the annual Christchurch Rochester lecture with John Weir reflecting on the life, letters and loves of NZ poet James...
Francis’ friends
Last Saturday's gathering was a remarkable experience of friendship and faith, with Pope Francis. You'll get a taste of the event in this video clip made with an iphone...
holiday
You might have noticed that I haven't posted here for a few days. For the week from last Saturday I have been on vacation in the Dolomite mountains. For the past...
meet in friendship
God-willing I will again this year make it to the Rimini Meeting for friendship among peoples. It is difficult to describe the gathering which annually draws around...
Scent of Lemons
One of the highlights of my visits to Italy in recent years has been inspiring conversation with Jonah Lynch, always accompanied by beer and gelato, and even better,...
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living in colour
A few years ago I picked up a John August Swanson work – only a print unfortunately, but still full of power, and colour.
So much colour.
Today’s post-resurrection encounter with Jesus reminds me of this great Swanson work “The Big Catch.”
These fishermen previously endured a mere existence in black and white, getting through each day, their regular routines dictated by the demands and fears of friends and foes.
let’s get physical
Note the physicality of today’s gospel reading.
Physical features (hearts, hands, feet, mouth, eyes) abound and emotional realities are strong (peace, alarm, fright, agitation, doubt).
resurrection energy
I had planned to continue the daily reflections through this Easter Week but I’ve already missed Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday and now it’s early morning on Easter Wednesday. Thank you to those who emailed with “where are you”, “what happened” and “I haven’t had a FFF email this week.” Thank you for your enthusiasm and for keeping me on my toes.
Easter people ?
There is a great old Easter greeting: “We are an Easter people” to which hearers respond “and Alleluia is our song!” I love this, and if I see you in this Easter Week, this Octave of Easter Sundays, you are welcome to greet me in this way. The reason I need to be reminded that we are an Easter people is that I too often reduce the Easter life we are offered to ideas and categories, words and formulas, customary ways of thinking and acting.
experiencing
Consider the range of emotions that the disciples of Jesus moved through over the days of his final suffering and his crucifixion and resurrection. Such extremes of feeling cannot be imagined or pondered with disinterest. They must be experienced.