Author Archives: Dean Atkins

‘From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.’ (see Psalm  17:2-7) The voice of the psalms is filled with both joy and heartache, misery and relief.  There is a sense of relief in the verse chosen, for God has recognised the psalmist’s voice’  God has heard his cry. At theContinue reading “Just Lent | March 31”

‘I will make you father of a multitude of nations. I will make you most fruitful.’ (see Genesis 17:3-9) In his book, ‘The Boy with Two Hearts,’ Hamed Amiri tells of his family’s struggles as they escape war torn Afghanistan to seek refuge in the UK, eventually settling in Cardiff as their home.  Their journeyContinue reading “Just Lent | March 30”

It was reported some years ago that, in the 1950s, a plan was explored by the US to ‘nuke’ the moon to demonstrate their power to the Soviet Union. It is this which forms the basis of the following meditation, following the words of Psalm 72, as our JUST LENT course comes to an endContinue reading “Peace until the moon is no more”

As our JUST LENT course reaches the final session this evening (March 29), we’re exploring PEACE! There’s a gentle smile from the face of this painting, a mural which celebrates the multicultural and inclusive Cardiff. Perhaps, in gazing at the smiling face, we smile too. St Teresa of Calcutta said that ‘Peace begins with aContinue reading “‘Peace I give you’”

‘If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free.”’ (see John 8:31-42) Martin Luther King Jr said “’Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.  We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.’  The civil  rights leader FrannieContinue reading “Just Lent | March 29”

‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? We are sick of the unsatisfying food’ (see Numbers 21:4-9) In a report commissioned by the Trussell trust in 2021 (the largest study in hunger in the UK) it was reported that almost two in three of the people of working age who wereContinue reading “Just Lent | March 28”

‘Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you.’ (see John 8:1-11) Although played out in a different place and in a different time, the incident of the woman caught in adultery in the gospel according to John, has much to say to us today.  We can focus on the compassion of Jesus andContinue reading “Just Lent | March 27”

Nicodemus said, “Surely the Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without giving him a hearing and discovering what he is about.” (see John 7:40-52) On September 3, 1952, father of three, Mahmood Hussein Mattan was taken from his cell at Cardiff prison and executed for a murder he did notContinue reading “Just Lent | March 25”

‘They say, with misguided reasoning, “Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, since he annoys us and opposes our way of life, reproaches us for our breaches of the law.”’ (see Wisdom 2:1,12-22) The ‘News International’ phone hacking scandal was a controversy involving the now-defunct News of the World and other British newspapersContinue reading “Just Lent | March 24”

‘They have made themselves a calf of molten gold and have worshipped it and offered it sacrifice.’ (see Exodus 32:7-14) In an article published on The Guardian website (31 December 2022), addressing the Cost of Living, Rowan Williams writes:  “The cost of living crisis is in fact an example of costs being transferred from theContinue reading “Just Lent | March 23”