Jesus enters the Temple

It seems no time since I posted blogs on Jesus being presented in the Temple in Jerusalem when he was just 40 days old, and the incident when the 12 year old boy was found by Mary and Joseph. How time flies!

Well here we have Jesus aged 33 years, just days before his Passion. The scene is well known. Jesus was livid that God's Temple had been turned into a market place - and a black market at that!

We must be careful how we treat our places of worship today. They should be warm and welcoming, but we should never forget that it is God's House that we are in. I am never too comfortable when I am charged an admission fee to a place of worship. I am grateful that there is no such charge at Westminster Cathedral - and you will be pleased to know, no charge to get into the Chapel of the Resurrection! Still, we must give generously towards the upkeep of our churches and chapels.

Jesus enters Jerusalem

With Easter Sunday less than a month away, I have calculated that I must start my planned series of blogs which will lead us up to the great festival.

Jesus entered Jerusalem on the Sunday prior to his death on a donkey. The crowds laid palm branches in his path and shouted:

'Hosanna to the Son of David!' 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' 'Hosanna in the highest!'

It is good when we sing our praises to God - something which we love to do in the Chapel of the Resurrection.

One month to go!

This is a photo of sunrise at Easter Island in Chile. I am posting it as a reminder that Easter Sunday is now only one month away. Lent can seem rather a long period of time when we start the season on Ash Wednesday, but it is now one-third over. How are we getting along? Are we growing spiritually? Perhaps if you feel (as I do) that progress has been a little slow, now is the time to undertake our Lenten exercises with a little more enthusiasm!

Altar Servers from Ham

It was bound to happen - grumbles from my parishioners at Ham that I am ignoring them in my blog! Well not any longer. Here is a photo of some of our altar servers taken recently during a visit to Westminster Cathedral for a Mass for Altar Servers arranged by the Guild of St Stephen. Over 1,000 servers were present - and the procession took ages!

The Mass was a votive Mass of St Stephen - Deacon and Martyr. I was one of the four deacons at the Mass, though fortunately none of us was stoned to death! It was great seeing our servers so smartly turned out in their red cassocks and white cottas - just like the servers wear in the Chapel of the Resurrection.

The Chapel in Lent

The Chapel looks quite plain during the Season of Lent. This simplicity helps us to focus on what is essential in life, and provides a good environment for spiritual growth. Our aim during this season is to 'turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.'

Some people find the quieter music etc. in our services rather relaxing!The season certainly provides an excellent preparation for the Easter Festival, when the Chapel is richly decorated in bright colours, and the music in our services is joyful and triumphant.

I am the birthday boy!

Well, yes! It is my birthday today. I rather wish my birthday didn't usually fall in Lent, but I had no choice in the matter.

Here I am, pictured by the hymn board in the Chapel of the Resurrection. And here is a puzzle! My age is not one of the five numbers shown. It is (obviously?) a two digit number - both digits are different, and neither digit is on the board. So how old am I today?

Clue. The purple vestments clearly suggest that I am approaching the eventide of life! The Prep School (or former Prep) pupils might like to suggest why the frequent use of the 'I am' expression in this blog suggests that I am getting rather too grand ideas of myself in my old age!

There will be a small prize (Mars Bar) for the most amusing comment published!

Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus!

Happy St David's Day! Today we pray for all Welsh people as they celebrate the Feast Day of their National Patron Saint.

My Grandparents (on my Mother's side) retired to Wales and so they would want me to ask for the prayers of St David on this special day.