Last week, on Pentecost Sunday, we heard about the dramatic, spectacular outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles ‘began to speak foreign languages’ despite not having completed any foreign language course. This ability was attributed to the Holy Spirit they had been filled with. ‘The crowd gathered and was bewildered because each one heard them speaking in the native language…
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‘Common sense’ has recently become even more commonly used (excuse the pun), particularly in the discussion regarding easing the Covid restrictions. The phrase is often employed by those arguing for a quicker pace or for complete abandonment of the current constraints. Their argument is that people should use their ‘common sense’ rather than adhere to regulations and guidelines issued by…
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Our journey of Passover slowly comes to an end; the station is already in our view, we can see the spiritual platform onto which we will soon disembark. This journey began mid-February, on Ash Wednesday when we were invited to leave our spiritual slavery. The circumstances of the second lockdown were fittingly gloomy; our locked churches underlined the mood. Forty…
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A few years ago I was wondering how to avoid becoming decrepit faster than my age would indicate. Because my workload mainly involves mental rather than physical powers, one unfortunate side-effect was gradual muscle atrophy in my upper body. The obvious solution was a regular exercise in the gym but the very thought of that was putting me off; I…
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The cherry blossom is one of the quite commonly recognisable symbols of Japan. As someone with a long-term interest in Japanese culture, I was impressed by a well-manicured cherry tree in blossom that I spotted in a garden a couple of days ago while walking the dog. Someone really had put some effort over the years into shaping the tree…