Dean Atkins

Hiraeth

Thursday 20 April, 2023 | Thursday of the Second Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 55:27-33; Psalm 33(34):2,9,17-20; John 3:31-36 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) There has been some debate and controversy recently when the Brecon Beacons National Park decided to rebrand itself with the Welsh name, “BannauContinue reading “Hiraeth”

From Darkness to Light

Wednesday 19 April, 2023 | Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 5:17-26; Psalm 33(34):2-9; John 3:16-21 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) As he strove to build a more equal society, struggling against racism, Martin Luther King Jr, said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: onlyContinue reading “From Darkness to Light”

The Great Listener

Tuesday 17 April, 2023 | Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 4:32-37; Psalm 92 (93):1-2,5; John 3:7-15 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) Every day, we use our phones and computers to communicate with one another. The experience of Lockdown meant that many meetings andContinue reading “The Great Listener”

A New Creation

Monday 17 April, 2023 | Monday of the Second Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 4:23-31; Psalm 2:1-9; John 3:1-8 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) During these days of Easter, each day at Mass we have moved through the Acts of the Apostles and witnessed the growth ofContinue reading “A New Creation”

What do we want here?

A journey from Cardiff by boat across the Bristol Channel to the island of Flat Holm raises the question, ‘What do we want here?’ Fr Dean reflects on a pilgrimage with Matt Batten “There’s an easterly wind from Newport,” said the skipper as I enquired about the weather. I didn’t blame Newport. I don’t thinkContinue reading “What do we want here?”

Easter Saturday

Readings: Acts 4:13-21; Psalm 117(118):1,14-21; Mark 16:9-15 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) Homilies often begin with an illustration from everyday life. But today, let’s get straight to the point, which is what St Mark does in the gospel reading today. In typical succinct tone, he sums upContinue reading “Easter Saturday”

Easter Friday

Readings: Acts 4:1-12; Psalm 117(118):1-2,4,22-27; John 21:1-14 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) Perhaps one of the many comforting things for us which come from the resurrection appearances of Jesus is the number of times those who had been closest to him, failed to recognise him. How doesContinue reading “Easter Friday”

Easter Thursday

Readings: Acts 3:11-26; Psalm 8:2,5-9; Luke 24:35-48 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) As the two disciples from yesterday’s gospel share their Emmaus story with the other disciples, Jesus stands among them. They have been witnessing to his risen life with a personal testimony, speaking from their ownContinue reading “Easter Thursday”

Easter Wednesday

Readings: Acts 3:1-10; Psalm 104 (105):1-4,6-9; Luke 24:13-35 Martin Buber, the Austrian Jewish and Israeli philosopher said, “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveller is unaware.” This is certainly the case for those two disciples of Jesus who made their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus. Perhaps they wished to make the journey asContinue reading “Easter Wednesday”

Easter Tuesday

Readings: Acts 2:36-41; Psalm 32 (33):4-5,18-20,22; John 20:11-18 ‘On the court, I am fierce! I am mean and I am tough,’ said the American tennis player Serena Williams in an interview for Vogue Magazine in 2005. ‘I am completely the opposite off the court,’ she continued. ‘My confidence just isn’t the same. I wish IContinue reading “Easter Tuesday”