Author Archives: Dean Atkins

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”

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”

Readings: Acts 2:14,22-33; Psalm 15(16):1-2,5,7-11; Matthew 28:8-15 Apparently, each of us lies at least once or twice a day, although prolific liars will, of course, lie in greater numbers!  The lies we often tell may be such seemingly trivial things as providing a false complement to someone, or concealing how we really feel when asked,Continue reading “Easter Monday”

‘We are called to surrender ourselves to God, so that we can say with St Paul, “It is not I who live but Christ who lives in me.’’ Read the homily from the Easter Vigil at St Mary’s Church. “The guards were so shaken, so frightened of [the angel] that they were like dead men.”Continue reading “Easter Vigil”

‘The death of Christ leaves its mark upon us, and it is the mark of Love.’ Fr Dean’s reflection at the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday He lay there for weeks. A thin bed sheet, like a death shroud, covered him even before he had given up the ghost. The sheet wasContinue reading “Good Friday”

The command to love one another is one that can guide us through whatever confusion and chaos we might experience in this world. Here, Fr Edward reflects on this command for our Maundy Thursday celebrations. Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and goContinue reading “Maundy Thursday”

‘What are you prepared to give me if I hand him over to you’ (see Matthew 26:14-25) The United Kingdom is a destination country for men, women and children primarily from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe who are subjected to human trafficking for the purposes of sexual slavery and forced labour.  Whilst the maximum jailContinue reading “Wednesday of Holy Week”

‘Night had fallen’ (see John 13:21-33,36,38) One of the most famous and enigmatic stage directions from William Shakespeare is in his play ‘The Winter’s Tale’ when Antigonus is given the direction ‘Exit, pursued by a bear.’  This sudden appearance of a bear chasing off Antigonus to his death often amuses and mystifies modern readers. Today’sContinue reading “Tuesday of Holy Week”

‘She had to keep this scent for the day of my burial. You have the poor with you always.’ (see John 12:1-11) Managing huge budgets and determining how to spend public money rarely makes politicians popular although, even in the most difficult financial circumstances, how money is spent says a lot about policies and values,Continue reading “Monday of Holy Week”

‘I shall make them into one nation in my own land and on the mountains of Israel.’ (see Ezekiel 37:21-28) The average age of death for people experiencing homelessness is 46 for men and 42 for women.  People sleeping on the streets are almost 17 times more likely to have been victims of violence.  MoreContinue reading “Just Lent | April 1”