Reading, Reflection and Prayer

We praise Tom Morgan's cooking skills. If you're in need of grilling tips this is the segment to listen to! A tough question from spies leads to Jesus famous teaching 'Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.'

Ruth talks about a vivid connection between the way the God is teaching her through dreams and the Sunday sermon. We look at the parable of the tenants, and think about what it means for Jesus to be the stone on which those who fall are broken.

Ruth talks about paying attention to what God might be saying to us through our dreams. The Pharisees want to know where Jesus' authority comes from. He evades the answer.

Jesus enters Jerusalem and is hailed by the crowds as 'the king who comes in the name of the Lord'. The Pharisees ask Jesus to get his disciples to tone it down, but Jesus thinks that they have the description just about right!

Ruth reflects on the discipline of mind to count even hard times 'pure joy'. We read the parable to the minas in Luke's gospel. What's a mina and how is it different to a talent. Ruth and Richard hear this story quite differently - one as a condemnation bringing passage, the other as a permission giving passage.

Ruth thinks about what it is about martyrs that led them to live lives of faith that led to their deaths. Is our faith like that? We read the story of Zacchaeus, who eagerly turns to Jesus.

Ruth is struck by Jesus' question to the blind man: 'What do you want me to do for you?' He's still asking us the same question today. We also reflect on his attitude - of coming before Jesus asking for mercy.

We read the story of the rich ruler, who was challenged to sell all he had, give to the poor and follow Jesus. We talk about the challenge of wholehearted discipleship and the faith which is required to live it.

We get back to Reading, Reflection and Prayer after our Easter break. We're fully in Spring and Ruth is loving her garden. We talk about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector and the children who come to Jesus. We think about the attitude of the tax collector: 'Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner'.

A wonderful story today of a widow who keeps persisting with an unjust judge. Although he is not interested in justice he grants her request to get her off his back. Jesus tells us that our heavenly Father is much more interested in responding to our prayer if we pray persistently.