Author Archives: Dean Atkins

A meditation featured in our JUST LENT course focussing on the dignity of humanity and all of creation From the dust you raised us, breathing into our lungs as we emerged into a startling world, finding our way. You looked at us and saw that all was good. And as the first light reflected inContinue reading “You saw that all was good”

‘Lead your people to pasture.  As in the days when you came out of Egypt grant us to see wonders. (see Micah 7:14-15,18-20) In a memoir called, ‘In the Wars,’ Dr Waheed Arian, tells the story of his childhood caught up in the war in Afghanistan, finally fleeing to the UK where he trained asContinue reading “Just Lent | March 11”

‘It was the stone rejected by builders which became the keystone.’ (see Matthew 18:18-20) Famously, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for a total of 27 years.  He became President of South Africa in the early 1990s, winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for bringing apartheid to an end. ‘I have fought against white domination, andContinue reading “Just Lent | March 10”

‘At his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, who longed to fill himself with scraps that fell from the rich man’s table’ (see Luke 16:19-31) The gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow.  Globally, the richest 10% of the global population currently take home 52% of the income.  The poorestContinue reading “Just Lent | March 9”

Here’s the closing litany of prayer from our second JUST LENT course session which explored issues of solidarity with the poor and the vulnerable, and our calling to strengthen community You, who look beyond the scorched mountain,with hopes of a safe place,seek a paradise compared to the pounding of the earth by missiles and explosiveswhichContinue reading “Will you stand with us ?”

‘Come on,’ they said, let us concoct a plan against Jeremiah’ (see Jeremiah 18:18-20) Work is not just a means to earn a living, it is also an opportunity to participate in God’s creation.  If the dignity of work is to be protected, then so are the basic rights of workers.  From the first pagesContinue reading “Just Lent | March 8”

‘Cease to do evil, learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow’ (see Isaiah 1:10,16-20) Our changing perceptions of the world can challenge us.  Just think about how our use of language has changed, and continues to change, in order to become less offensive,Continue reading “Just Lent | March 7”

‘Be compassionate as your Heavenly Father is compassionate.’ (see Luke 6:36-38) When we speak of justice, we often mean justice for someone who has been harmed or had a crime committed against them, which also means punishment for the person who has committed the crime. It may be difficult for many people to think ofContinue reading “Just Lent | March 6”

‘Love your enemies and pray for those who hate you.’ (see Matthew 5:43-48) Perhaps we find it easier to pray for those whom we love or like. Filling our prayers with those we find difficult or even those we hate or who may have hurt or harmed us in some way is not something thatContinue reading “Just Lent | March 4”

‘Leave your offering there at the altar, and be reconciled with your brother.’ (see Matthew 5:20-26) Those who negotiate for peace carry a heavy burden indeed, and politicians, leaders and governments have to tread carefully upon fragile ground. There are always difficult decisions to make, particularly when dealing with a strong aggressor who seems intentContinue reading “Just Lent | March 3”