Category Archives: Daily Reflection

Tuesday 16 May, 2023 | Sixth Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 16:22-34; Psalm 137(138):1-3,7-8; John 16:5-11 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) “The strength of a nation derives from the strength of the home,” said Confucius, the Chinese philosopher and politician who lived 500 years before Christ’s birth. Continue reading “At home with God”

Monday 15 May, 2023 | Sixth Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 16:11-15; Psalm 149:1-6,9; John 15:26-16:4 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) “I see that it is by no means useless to travel, if a man wants to see something new,’ said Phileas Fogg in Around the WorldContinue reading “Near and Far”

Saturday 13 May, 2023 | Fifth Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 16:1-10; Psalm 99(100):1-3,5; 1-4; John 15:18-21 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) ‘The Christian Church is not the product of human wisdom,” said Basil Hume.  “It is not primarily motivated by humanitarian concern.  It is the guardianContinue reading “Remember the words”

Saturday 6 May, 2023 | Fourth Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 13:44-52; Psalm 97(98):1-4; John 14:7-14 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) In his poem called ‘Message,’ RS Thomas writes: “A message from God /delivered by a bird / at my window, offering friendship. / Listen. Such language?Continue reading “A message from God”

Friday 5 May, 2023 | Fourth Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 13:26-33; Psalm 2:6-11; John 14:1-6 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) On one occasion, when sending out his followers who were faced by a crossroads, St Francis of Assis instructed them to quickly spin on the spot. Continue reading “Christ be with me”

Thursday 4 May, 2023 | Fourth Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 13:13-25; Psalm 88(89):2-3,21,22,25,27; John 13:16-20 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) Gerard Hughes, in his book, God of Surprises, asks the question, “Why is it that so many movements and organisations spring up within the Church andContinue reading “Who are we?”

Tuesday 2 May, 2023 | Fourth Week of Easter |Readings: 1 Acts 11:19-26; Psalm 86 (87); John 10:22-30 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) Over 360 million Christians suffer persecution and discrimination in the world today according to the organisation Open Doors.   Open Doors originated in 1995 whenContinue reading “To pastures green”

Saturday 1 May, 2023 | Fourth Week of Easter | St Joseph the Worker |Readings: 1 Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 41(42):2-3,42:3-4:1-4,8-9,13-14,17-18; John 10:11-180 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) “We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”  These are words fromContinue reading “More in common”

Saturday 29 April, 2023 | St Catherine of Sienna |Readings: 1 John 1:5-2:2; Psalm 102(103):1-4,8-9,13-14,17-18; Matthew 11:25-30 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) In many areas of work, employees are used to undertaking a Performance Management Review to evaluate the productivity of their work.  Even if this doesn’tContinue reading “The measure of love”

Friday 28 April, 2023 | Friday of the Third Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 116(117); John 6:52-59 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here) In 1857, Anthony Trollope wrote in Barchester Chronicles, “There is, perhaps, no greater hardship at present inflicted on mankind in civilized and freeContinue reading “Praying for preachers”