So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

– John 11:3-7

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.

– John 11:17

When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to him, but Mary stayed home.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

John 11:20-27

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

Jesus wept.

Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord.” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe , you will see the glory of God?”

So they took away the stone, Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

– John 11:33-45

This lunar month marks the celebrations of Ramadan, a significant event within Islam. It is a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.

These themes mirror those of Lent, where we fast, reflect and pray to God. May the similarities between these events allow us to gain an understanding and respect for other beliefs. We can actively learn about other people’s culture and understanding of the world to bring ourselves closer to God.

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous. – Ayah 183

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” – Matthew 4:1-4

While we in the UK have access to clean water and sanitation, many around the world do not. We must act to change this. As members of God’s world and family it is our duty to prioritise those who are most vulnerable to poverty and injustice.

We must go beyond looking at those in need and truly see their struggles. Only by doing this can we act to help them. If we use our talents to help others, whether that is through volunteering or small acts of kindness, we can improve the lives of others.

but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them, will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. – John 4:14

Saint Joseph was by birth of the royal family of David, but was living in humble obscurity as a carpenter when God raised him to the highest sanctity, and fitted him to be the spouse of His Virgin Mother, and foster-father and guardian of the Incarnate Word, Jesus. The Gospels tell us that Joseph was a “just” man. He was faithful to God and said yes to God’s plan for him to be Mary’s husband and Jesus’ foster father. He was faithful to Jesus, protecting him when he learned of King Herod’s plan to kill him and, when danger passed, helping Mary to raise Jesus with love in the small town of Nazareth.

Like Saint Joseph we must follow God’s plan for us. We must think well of others and have clean and positive thoughts. Bearing no malice or grudges against others. With a pure and trusting heart, God will help us to achieve our potential and guide us in our path.

Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God – Matthew 5:8

Saint Joseph – Pray for us

Mothering Sunday is a day of reflection and celebration. It is an important day where we return to our mother church and reflect on the healing nature the church provides for us. This day is also a celebration of our mothers and those who are like mothers, who have nurtured us. There is remembrance for those mother figures we have lost, through all means, and a thought to those who never had a positive relationship with their mothers. Let us be comforted by our heavenly mother, the Blessed Mary, and let her holy guidance move us through this day.

We are all part of God’s family and we have a responsibility to help others achieve their full potential. Like a mother, let us nurture and guide those who need it to become the best they can become. This day may you be compassionate to those in need, whether that be those without mothers or mothers without children. Check in on those who are alone this Mothering Sunday, spend time with them and let them know their value.

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness – Proverbs 31:26-27

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.

– John 9:1

After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.

His neighbours and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” Some claimed that he was.

Others say, “No, he only looks like him.”

But he himself insisted, “I am the man.”

– John 9:6-9

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.”

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.”

But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided.

Then they turned again to te blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.”

The man replied, “He is a prophet.”

– John 9:13-17

To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out.

– John 9:34

Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshipped him.

– John 9:38

Red Nose Day is a day of raising awareness of and putting an end to child poverty. We should prioritise these children as they are vulnerable to injustice. They are people created in God’s image and their life is sacred as is all human life.

Acts of compassion fuel our drive to help others. We should give to charity and defend those who need it. Red Nose Day encourages this compassion to raise funds for children in poverty. It is just that we defend these children and continue to campaign for a fair world and human rights. This combination of compassion and justice will make a difference to the world and the children struggling to grow up in it.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you – Matthew 7:12

Saint Patrick of Ireland is one of the world’s most popular saints. He was born in Roman Britain and when he was fourteen or so, he was captured by Irish pirates during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. At the time, Ireland was a land of Druids and pagans but Patrick turned to God and wrote his memoir The Confession. In this, he wrote: “The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same. I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain.”

Saint Patrick’s participation within the teachings of God shaped his life in a difficult time and new land. As we also participate in God’s teachings let us act faithfully. We must love the world but let God be first. We must be constant in our love for God and others. We must communicate with God frequently. We must find time for reflection and to reconcile with God when we have done wrong.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me – Psalms 51:10

St Patrick – Pray for us

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is all about acceptance and celebration of difference. Each person exists in their own way. Being neurodiverse allows a person to perceive the world in a unique way. The talents and strengths neurodiverse individuals have should be celebrated by all. We are all part of one human family and we have a responsibility to help each person achieve their full potential. The loving acts that come with celebration allow us to glimpse God and understand how we can support and rejoice in one another’s joy.

This is a new commandment; love one another as I have loved you – John 13:34