About being a Catholic

I have been a Catholic all my life and I have always loved it. I was born into what we would call, a 'practising Catholic family', ie, we went to church every Sunday. We children went to Catholic schools and I liked learning about God, the Bible and our religion.

From childhood on, we were always involved in our church's life. None of this was any big deal to us. We enjoyed being a part of it. In fact, in our youth, it formed the basis of our social lives. Scouts, guides, choirs and groups for people of all ages abounded then.

I loved the sense of belonging and the pattern of our lives; the feasts, the fasts, the high days and holidays. I loved knowing our parents' friends and their knowing us and following our lives as we grew up.

As children, we didn't understand most of the Mass but I always loved the physicality of the 'smells and bells'. I only remember one 'fire and brimstone' sermon. It didn't upset me because the God I believed in, and still do, wasn't one bit like that.

Then, of course, there were the hymns - with the great tunes! Many Catholic hymns were powerful and passionate and that suited me. As I've grown older, I've realised that I learned a great deal of vocabulary from the language of the hymns but without noticing it at the time. Many of the phrases and lines come unbidden into my mind now.

It has been my pleasure to go to Mass on a Sunday (or latterly, a Saturday evening) every week of my life, unless poorly. On holiday, it was always one of our first tasks to find the local church and the times of the Masses, something which my husband and I always liked to do. In fact, we enjoyed the change of priests and people we met.

On one occasion, whilst in Blackpool for his work's weekend Christmas do, we were mesmerised when, at the homily, the young priest sat down on a chair in front of the altar and called the children to come out to him. They came running from all over the church to sit around him on the floor. He talked to them and asked them questions and they absolutely loved it. That was pretty special.

What was it that I liked about being a part of the church? I have always seen it as a church of saints and sinners and we have a full share of both, then as now. I liked the depth of the teaching and the simplicity and warmth of some of the popular services of our youth, such as what was known as Benediction, on a Sunday afternoon. However, shame-facedly, I have to say that, like many young people, I found the Rosary boring then - all those Hail Marys! (I don't now!)

What I've loved most is being part of a community of 'salt of the earth' people. Of course, not everyone is a 'salt of the earth' person and many of us get on each other's nerves. The priests are no exception either. Most of us have had priests we really got on with and others, we didn't, but the favourites are usually those who are humble. Mostly, they are just like the rest of us, human, with all our faults and failings, strengths and weaknesses but also our gifts.

So that's what being a Catholic has meant to me. I have loved the many connections I've had with other Christian Churches and their people over many years. For personal reasons, the Methodists are way up there and I love our local Anglican community but I'll always be happy to carry on 'being a Catholic'.

Although the social aspect of our lives has changed greatly as time has gone on and there are so many other outlets for families and people in general, being a part of a community which is founded on belief in God and trying to live out our lives in recognition of the great commands to know and love God and others is, for me, the greatest and best way to find security and freedom.

About circumstances and choices and the mystery of life

We are all a product of our circumstances and choices,

from before our birth until now,

many of which we may neither know nor, if known, understand.

No wonder life's a mystery and struggle so often.

A message to our priests and people

Dear Fathers,

Be kind to your flock

because many (most) of us are hurting,

and especially be kind to your little ones.

These words came into my head unbidden.

And I feel I should add

Dear People,

Let us be kind to our priests

because most of them are doing their best.

About setting our compass for the day

If we can take time, 5, 10, 15 minutes when we awake,

lying or sitting in bed (or kneeling beside it)

to pray to God, in our own way,

whatever that might be,

it can set us up for the day.

If I lie down, my mind keeps drifting off so sitting works best for me.

(I must confess that kneeling definitely doesn't!)

About smiling

A smile begets a smile.

 

About whatever is good in us

Whatever I am,

Whatever I do,

Whatever I have

is all from You.

 

About God and Infinity and the catechism

Catholic children of my era came across the concept of infinity at a very early age. We were taught religion at school by means of the Catechism, a small red book, written in a 'question and answer' style.

The answer to the question, 'Who is God?' was 

''God is the Supreme Being who alone exists of himself and is infinite in all perfections."

(I always liked that but prefer the word 'goodness' to 'perfection'.)

Glad Tidings - A poem about life after life

Glad Tidings 

If you should hear that I have died,

Do not be sad, be glad for me.

(Though life is good and joys abound

Though happiness may yet be found,)

The many tears that I have cried

For grief untold and sorrow seen,

For what is and what might have been,

Will fade away in love's embrace

When we behold the wondrous place

Where all shall dwell in love alone,

Our final and eternal home.

A prayer about living with the knowledge of the love of God

Dear God, please help me to set aside

my introspective woes

and live in the joy of the knowledge 

of your love.

Another prayer to the Trinity

 Father, I ask you to hold me,

Jesus, to heal me

and Holy Spirit to help me

though all this day.

About being beautiful in Heaven

 In heaven, everyone is beautiful.

About knowing where God is.

I see the hand of God in all Creation.

 

Telling the Beads Who is Jesus? A Summary

Who is Jesus? - A Summary

Jesus was born in Palestine at the time when the country was a part of the Roman Empire and Augustus Caesar was the Emperor. His mother was a young unknown Jewish girl named Mary. She was pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph who was a carpenter. 

Mary was found to be expecting a child before they were married. Joseph was told by an angel in a dream that the baby was God’s child and advised to choose to marry Mary and raise Jesus as his own son.

Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a town in Galilee in the northern part of the country. He became a carpenter, following in the footsteps of Joseph. He was known as Jesus, son of Joseph. At the age of thirty, he became an itinerant preacher and became known then as Jesus of Nazareth. 

He travelled throughout the country, teaching people to turn away from all that was wrong in their lives, to return to the ways of God as taught to them by Abraham, the father of their faith, and by Moses and all the great leaders and prophets of their religion. 

He also healed people and performed many miracles. He was not afraid to criticise the leaders of the Jewish faith when they were in the wrong. They became jealous of his popularity with the people and angry because he exposed their hypocrisy. After three years, he was arrested and put to death by the Romans at the instigation of the leaders.

He had acquired many followers and appeared to them three days later, alive and well but still with the scars of his death. He remained with them for forty days before returning to heaven. Ten days later, his followers were filled with his Spirit and from then on, continued to spread his message. 

Over the following years, he came to be known as Jesus Christ. Christ is the Greek word for Messiah and Jesus is believed to be the promised Messiah of the Jewish Scriptures who has come to set all people free. His followers are known as Christians and their religion, Christianity, and has spread throughout the world.

Telling the Beads Bead 20 Crowned with Love

Bead Twenty Crowned with Love

It is easy to imagine the joy with which Mary would have been welcomed into heaven, Jesus and Joseph with their arms outstretched to hold her, united in happiness, her life’s work on earth over. Her loved ones, her nephew, John, and all the friends and neighbours she had known, everyone who had gone before her, welcomed her and thanked God for the gift of her life and love.

The image of Mary’s entrance into heaven was celebrated as people envisioned her being welcomed and crowned as Queen of Heaven by the angels and loved by all those holy and redeemed people who had already found their eternal home with God. 

She was seen, not as an earthly queen, dressed in costly robes and adorned with jewels, but as the Queen of Love, adorned only by the beauty of her holiness, her humility, and the love she bore for God, for her son, Jesus, for Joseph and for all God’s people, now and forever, her children.

Telling the Beads Bead 19 Falling Asleep and Awaking in Heaven

Bead Nineteen Falling Asleep and Awaking in Heaven

Peter and John had also worked together very fruitfully over the years and wherever John went, Mary went with him, as he constantly cared for and watched over her. She was able to sustain the followers of her son with her love and devotion. Her calm and deeply spiritual presence was their greatest consolation and brought comfort and strength to them all. 

As she approached her seventieth year, more and more persecution made it necessary for them to escape from Palestine. She and John travelled by sea to Turkey to join the Christian community at Ephesus. After a long and difficult journey, John searched around for a quiet and secure place to set up a home for them both where Mary would be safe and comfortable. 

It was here that he began to record his countless memories and reflections on the life he and all the companions of Jesus had shared with their beloved leader and the experiences they had had since those early days of their meeting by the river Jordan. He found a beautiful spot a few miles away from the city, secluded and peaceful, and there, they shared a contented life.

One evening, having wished John goodnight, Mary went to her room for the night but, on the following morning, there was no sign of her anywhere. John instinctively knew that God had taken her, body and soul, to be in heaven with her beloved son, with Joseph and her parents, Anne and Joachim, with Elizabeth and Zechariah and with everyone she had ever known and loved. 

John went into the town to share the news with the community. Despite their own sense of loss, everyone was overjoyed to know that Mary had been rewarded and blessed by God for every sorrow she had ever experienced.

Telling the Beads Bead 18 - Episode 3 Peter and Paul

B18 - E3 Peter and Paul

More and more people came to believe in Jesus through the teaching of his disciples as they spread abroad. They would then send a message to the apostles in Jerusalem to ask them to come and pray for the new converts in each town or city to receive the gift of God’s spirit.

Meanwhile, Saul was still going about his self-appointed task of hunting out all the followers of Jesus he could find and having them imprisoned. He even went to the High Priest in Jerusalem to ask for letters to take to the leaders of the synagogues in Damascus, allowing him to arrest and bring back anyone, man or woman, who had converted to the new faith.

He and his entourage were approaching the city when he was suddenly enveloped in a shaft of light. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul cried out loud, “Who are you, Lord?” “I am Jesus of Nazareth,” replied the voice, “and you are persecuting me. Stand up now and go into the city and you will be told what to do.” Saul's companions had seen the light but hadn’t heard the voice so were completely dumbfounded by what had happened.

When he stood up, he found that he was blind and his companions had to lead him by the hand into Damascus. They found somewhere to stay but Saul was unable to eat or drink anything for three whole days. At the same time, a follower of Jesus named Ananias who lived in Damascus had a dream in which he was directed to go to the house where Saul was staying to pray for his sight to be restored.

He was extremely reluctant to go because Saul’s reputation had gone before him but his doubts were reassured in the dream when he was shown that it was to be through this very man that countless numbers of people would become followers of Jesus. Ananias went to the house and prayed with Saul and not only was his sight restored, he was filled with God’s spirit and asked to be baptised there and then.

As soon as he regained his strength, he began to preach to all the Jewish communities in the synagogues of Damascus, proving to them that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah! After some time, this aroused their anger and they attempted to have him killed but he escaped and returned to Jerusalem. He tried to join the disciples there but they were naturally unsure about him at first but as they began to hear that all his strength and conviction were now directed to spreading belief in Jesus, they came to understand and accept God’s choice.

However, even though Jesus had told his apostles to go out to the whole world and spread his message to all people, it took some time before they came to realise that this also included non-Jewish people. As faithful Jews, they had been brought up to believe that their country was the Promised Land and that they were the Chosen People. Their expectation was that Jesus, as the Messiah, had come to set their own people free.

When Peter had a vision telling him to travel to the town of Caesarea to preach to a man named Cornelius and his family, who were foreigners, this caused great consternation amongst many of the disciples. On his return, they argued with him about it and questioned his actions. Peter took great pains to explain that God was leading them in new directions and they came to realise that the message of Jesus was for everyone who was willing to accept him.

This was something which Saul understood very quickly. He had been born in Tarsus, a town in southern Turkey, and was highly educated in the Jewish religion. He had a wider experience of the world than many of the disciples. This enabled him to grasp the needs of the people in each country to which he and his supporters ventured. On their travels, they approached the Jewish communities first and were accepted by some of them but others would have nothing to do with them, even ill-treating them at times.

The group would then approach people of all beliefs and backgrounds, many of whom came to believe in Jesus. He and his companions set up groups of believers in many places they visited on their journeys. Over time, Saul came to be known as Paul, the great traveller and preacher. Wherever he went, he spread the same message of Jesus. The believers became known as Christians, Christ being the Greek word for Messiah and most of the new converts being Greek rather than Hebrew speakers.

Another early debate concerned the subject of circumcision, a deeply held tradition in the Jewish faith. It had been assumed by many of the original Jewish followers of Jesus that non-Jewish male converts would be circumcised as well as baptised. However, with open discussion and debate on the subject by the apostles and the council of elders of the Church which had by now been formed, Peter gave a long speech to them and, as a result, they were able to provide clear guidelines, stating that circumcision was not necessary for men who chose to be baptised into the Christian faith.

These guidelines were sent by letter to be distributed amongst the communities as the Church began to grow everywhere. Sending letters of guidance and instruction became the practice in the Church as other concerns were raised over the years. Peter and Paul had disagreements at times and Paul was always unafraid to criticise Peter to his face when he thought he was in the wrong so, in this way, disputes were resolved. 

There were periods of peace for the new church, interrupted by periods of further persecution when many disciples were imprisoned and suffered all kinds of punishment. John’s brother, James, was the first of the apostles to be put to death, killed on the orders of Herod but their suffering only seemed to strengthen their faith. Guided by God, they continued to reach out to everyone who came to them. 

The apostles were based in Jerusalem until the year 70 AD when the Roman army destroyed the Temple. Many people fled to other countries, including the early Christians who, over the years, were to suffer great hardship. During his frequent journeys, Paul described being beaten, stoned and shipwrecked as he travelled throughout the countries of Syria, Turkey and Greece, also visiting the islands of Crete, Cyprus, Malta and Sicily, proclaiming the message of Jesus fearlessly wherever he went. 

Both he and Peter were eventually imprisoned and executed in Rome, giving their lives for their beloved Master; Peter, as the rock on which the Church was founded and Paul, as the Apostle to all people. Despite the setbacks they experienced and the mistakes that were made, their faith and leadership were to be shining examples to everyone who was to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Telling the Beads Bead 18 - Episode 2 Speading the Word

B18 - E2 Spreading the Word

Over the days, weeks and months that followed, the number of people who became followers of Jesus increased dramatically. Once they accepted the teaching of the apostles, they began to meet together, to pray in the temple and in each other’s houses. They would share meals and break the bread as Jesus had asked them to do in remembrance of him at the supper he had shared with his apostles on the evening before his death.

They decided to live as a community, pooling their resources and helping each other in a spirit of generosity and goodwill. This made a powerful impression on everyone who observed their way of life. God’s power was at work in the apostles themselves, not only in their preaching but also in their ability to bring healing to the sick and disabled. One event happened as Peter and John were about to enter the temple for afternoon prayer.

At the same time, a man was being carried in to beg at the entrance. He was well-known in the city because he had been crippled from birth and was brought there every day. He looked up at Peter and John expectantly and asked them for some money. They both looked at him directly and Peter said, ”I don't have any silver or gold but I will give you what I do have.” He reached down and took hold of his right hand, saying, “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, stand up and walk.”

As he helped the man up, his legs became firm and strong and he walked along with them into the temple, jumping and shouting for joy and praising God at the top of his voice. All the people recognised him as the crippled man so they were totally amazed. Peter took the opportunity to preach to them again, about Jesus, his death and resurrection, his message and his healing powers and this brought even more people to become his followers.

The news began to reach the ears of the Jewish leaders and was enough to arouse their anger and jealousy. They had thought that by having the man they saw as their enemy put to death, they had put an end to the threat he posed to their own authority, power and influence as they saw it but now the threat seemed to be rearing its head again!

Peter and John were arrested and held overnight while the leaders met together to discuss what they should do. The next day, the two men were brought before them and asked to explain how they had been able to heal the crippled man. Peter was totally unafraid. ''This man has not been cured by our power but by the power of Jesus of Nazareth! You had him crucified,'' he declared, ''but God brought him back to life and it is through his name that this miracle had happened.'' The leaders were dumbstruck by the courage of these uneducated men and had no answer for the healing.

They sent them out while they deliberated on the matter, knowing that the people were deeply impressed by the miracle and wouldn’t accept the men being punished for what was obviously a good act. They were brought back in and warned not to preach about Jesus anymore but Peter replied, “You must judge whether we should listen to you or to God,” and as soon as they were released, they went back to rejoin their friends who were overjoyed to see them. Everyone was full of gratitude to God and the whole group prayed for the strength to continue their mission despite the threats against them.

 

In the months that followed, many of them were imprisoned for continuing to spread the word but the leaders were unsure about what to do to silence them because they knew they were held in high regard by the people. They decided to consult a well-known and highly respected scholar named Gamaliel to ask for his advice. 

He considered the situation thoroughly and came to the conclusion that they should leave them alone. “If this is their own plan,'' he said, ''it will fail in the end like every other such plan has,” giving them some recent examples, “but if it is God’s work, you won’t be able to destroy it and could find yourselves fighting against God.”

As soon as they were released, the disciples continued their preaching and people began to bring their sick and suffering family members and friends to stand in the street so that Peter’s shadow might pass over them and they would be healed. The community continued to share their possessions and wealth for a long while, distributing them as needed but, human nature being what it is, quarrels and disputes began to arise and cracks began to show. 

As their numbers increased, some of the Greek members of the group complained that their widows were being neglected in the distribution of food in favour of the Hebrew widows. The apostles called everyone together and spoke to them all. “It wouldn’t be right for us to neglect our mission of prayer and preaching to organise these everyday matters so choose seven men from amongst yourselves to see to them. They need to be wise and prayerful and everyone should respect them so choose  carefully.” 

The solution was accepted and seven men were chosen. The apostles prayed for them as they took up their responsibilities. The men were known as deacons and began to carry out the day-to-day matters of the community. One of them, named Stephen, became very well known for his holiness and the work he did for the people but this aroused the jealousy of a group within the Jewish community who stirred up hatred against him and had him brought before the council where witnesses were bribed to give false evidence, accusing him of blasphemy.

Stephen spoke with such power and conviction that the members of the Council were enraged and sentenced him to be stoned to death, that being the penalty for that crime. He was dragged out of the city and while they were stoning him, they put their cloaks down at the feet of a young man named Saul. As he was dying, Stephen prayed out loud to Jesus, “Receive my spirit, Lord, and forgive these men for what they have done.” Saul had watched everything that happened and was in complete agreement with the council's actions.

From that time on, the community began to suffer even more persecution, much of it organised by Saul, who was so zealous for the Jewish faith that he saw the followers of Jesus as a direct threat against it and searched Jerusalem looking for men and women to imprison. The apostles stayed in the city but most of the followers fled throughout the country, spreading the message of Jesus as they went. 

Wherever they travelled, along the highways and byways of their land, the footpaths of the countryside and the alleyways of villages, towns and cities, they found people who opened their doors - and their hearts - to them. The lives of many of the people who did so had already been touched by Jesus when he was alive, through his stories, his teaching and the power of his healing.

During these travels, one of the seven deacons named Philip happened to meet an influential Ethiopian who was travelling home. They fell into conversation about the Jewish scriptures and as Philip spoke to him about Jesus, the man could see that Jesus was indeed the fulfilment of the prophecies about the Messiah. He asked Philip to baptise there and then, taking the good news of his message back to Africa and in this way, the faith began to spread far and wide.

Telling the Beads Bead 18 - Episode 1 Wind and Fire

Bead Eighteen Filled with God’s Spirit

B18 - E1 Wind and Fire

The realisation began to sink in that Jesus had actually left them, that they wouldn’t see him again. Feeling a sense of loss and bewilderment, they stood there looking at each other and wondering what to do next when two men in white robes appeared and asked them why they were looking up at the sky. When they explained what had happened, the men told them that Jesus had gone to heaven and would only return in the distant future. With these few words, they disappeared.

The eleven remaining apostles began to understand that God had sent these messengers to reassure them and prompt them to return to Jerusalem to wait to be shown when and how to act. Peter rose to the task of leadership straight away and rallied them all, reminding them of the responsibility they had been deemed worthy of so, with that thought in their minds, they set off back to the city, full of joy and excitement.

Their first port of call was the temple where they gave thanks to God for the honour they had been given, then they returned to the upper room to share the joyful news with Mary and their companions, men and women, friends and supporters. During the days that followed, the upper room was a place of expectant prayer and faith and the followers of Jesus now felt able to visit the temple freely.

At some point, Peter raised a difficult matter with everyone. By this time, there were about a hundred and twenty disciples gathered together in the room. He reminded them that because Judas was no longer with them, they needed to find someone to replace him as a member of the Twelve. “It should be one of us,’’ he said, ‘’who has followed Jesus from the very beginning when John was baptising in the Jordan.” 

Two men, named Joseph and Matthias, were proposed and everyone joined together to pray for guidance. Peter prayed aloud, saying “Lord, you know our hearts; please help us to know which of these two of your followers we should choose.” They decided to draw lots and the choice fell on Matthias who was to be a lifelong and faithful witness to his Master.

Meanwhile, Jerusalem was filling up with a huge number of Jewish pilgrims, coming from many different countries to celebrate one of the most important festivals of their faith. This was known as the feast of Pentecost and was held on the fiftieth day after Passover. On the morning of the feast day, all the disciples were gathered together in the upper room.

Suddenly, the house was enveloped in the sound of a powerful wind. At the same time, tongues of what seemed like fire appeared in the room and came to rest on the heads of each one of them. They were filled with God's spirit and, to their amazement, found themselves speaking in foreign languages. The whole commotion was so loud that it drew crowds from all over the city who came to find out what was happening.

They went out to speak to the people and the crowds were amazed to find that everyone could understand what was being said, even though they had come from countries as far and wide as Turkey, Egypt, Libya and from Rome, Crete and other parts of the world. “How is it that these men can speak our languages,’’ some of them said to each other?

The disciples began to tell the people about Jesus and his message and everyone was full of wonder, apart from a few who began to pour scorn on it all. “Ignore them,’’ they said sneeringly, ‘’they’ve had too much to drink,” but Peter stood up fearlessly in front of them and, alongside the apostles, raised his voice to address the huge crowd.

“Listen, everyone, we are not drunk as some of you are saying; it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! Our prophets wrote about a time when God’s spirit would be poured down on all people, when our sons and daughters would prophesy, our children see visions and our old people, dream dreams. This is the time they foresaw. 

 

“We are here to tell you about Jesus of Nazareth! The power of God’s love was with him in everything he did and said, in his preaching, his teaching and in the miracles he performed but you had him handed him over to the Romans to be crucified. We have been chosen to witness to you that God has brought him back to life. He is the Messiah we have been waiting for. Even our own King David prophesied that the Messiah would come back from death to life.”

Peter spoke to them for a long time and they began to see the truth in what he said. They felt cut to the heart and asked him what they ought to do. He told them they needed to repent, to ask for forgiveness and be baptised in the name of Jesus. On that very first day, thousands of people listened to his powerful words and came to believe in Jesus and become his followers. His work was now being carried on by his disciples who were to spend the rest of their lives sharing the love of God throughout the world, through the message of Jesus.

Telling the Beads Bead 17 Returning Home

Bead Seventeen Returning Home

This was a strange time for the close friends and followers of Jesus. Although they had seen him on two occasions, they still felt at a loss as to what to do next. Jesus had told them that they were to be his witnesses but how were they to find the strength, feeling inadequate and helpless as they did. There was talk about some of them going back to Galilee so Peter made up his mind to go with his brother, Andrew, the brothers, James and John, and Thomas, Philip and Nathaniel.

They set off early the next morning and after spending time with their family and friends, telling them all about everything that had happened, they decided to go fishing one evening but caught nothing all night long. As the sun rose over the water, they saw a man standing on the shore but didn't recognise that it was Jesus himself. He called out to ask them if they had caught anything. They shouted back to tell him they hadn’t, so he said, “Cast your net out on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find some fish there.” When they did as he suggested, the net became so full that they couldn’t even haul it into the boat.

John then realised it was Jesus. He told Peter who immediately jumped into the water to wade to the shore, as they were only about a hundred yards from land. The others brought the boat in, dragging the net behind them. When they came ashore they could see that the man had a charcoal fire burning and was cooking some fish on it and there was a basket of bread beside him. ‘’Come and have some breakfast,'' he said cheerily, ''and bring some of the fish you’ve caught.’’

Peter climbed back into the boat to help unload the huge catch of fish and they were amazed to find that, despite the unusually heavy weight, the net hadn’t been torn or damaged at all. Jesus passed the bread and fish around to them all but although this was the third time they had seen him since his death on the cross, none of them dared to ask him who he was although they all knew it was Jesus.

They had finished their breakfast and were sitting around talking to each other when Jesus quietly motioned Peter to join him a little further away from the group. Gently probing him, he said, “Peter, do you love me more than these others do?” Peter replied, “Lord, you know I love you.” “Then, feed my lambs,” came the reply but Jesus asked him a second time, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter replied again, “Yes, Lord, you know I do,” and this time, Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

When he asked him the same question a third time, Peter was upset and said, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you!”, to which Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” Over time, Peter was to realise that he had been able to declare his love for his Master three times to compensate in some way for the memory of having denied knowing him three times, besides a charcoal fire too.

Jesus began to warn him about what his future would hold when he left his life as a fisherman to become ‘’the rock” on whom Jesus would build his church, a life which would ultimately lead to his death. “When you were young,” he told him, “You could go wherever you wanted but when you are old, someone will tie your hands and take you where you would rather not go!”

Peter looked up and saw John approaching them and knowing how much Jesus loved him, asked, “What will happen to him?” to which Jesus replied, “If I have a different plan for him, what is that to you? All you need to do is to follow me.” John was to record years later that Jesus said and did so many things during this time with them that there wouldn't be enough books in the world to contain them all! 

These days would be remembered by them all as the happiest days of their lives. After the almost unimaginable cruelty and pain of his death, Jesus, their Leader, their Lord and their friend, had come back to them. He visited them on many occasions, often joining them in the upper room which had become their base. Not once did he mention the fear that had made them run away from him in his hour of need. His one desire was to encourage and strengthen them for the task which lay ahead. 

He constantly reminded them of everything he had taught them over the three years of his ministry and explained how they were to fulfil his work on earth by spreading the message of God’s love for all people and by bringing healing and comfort to the suffering. They asked him many questions during this time, such as whether Israel would be set free from the Romans but he told them in no uncertain terms that they were not to concern themselves with such matters but should leave them in God's hands. 

He promised them that they would receive wisdom and power for the task ahead at the right moment and that they should remain in Jerusalem until then. He explained that God’s Spirit would fill them with all the gifts they would need for their future lives, no matter what difficulties and troubles they encountered. Forty days from the day of his return to life, he set off with the apostles, leading them out towards Bethany which lay on the hillside of the Mount of Olives. 

When they reached the top of the hill, Jesus spoke his final message to them. “My Father in heaven has given me the authority to send you out into the world to spread the good news of his love wherever you go and to baptise everyone who comes to believe in me in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” He promised them that he would be with them in spirit until the end of time then raised his hands in blessing and disappeared from their sight as if lifted up into a cloud which had descended on them all.

Telling the Beads Bead 16 - Episode 3 I am with you

B16 - E3 I am with you

The couple made their way back to the house where the apostles and their companions were still gathered together in the upper room. Before they had a chance to say a word, the others said excitedly, “Everything the women told us is true. Our Lord really has risen from the dead; he has already appeared to Peter.” Cleopas and Mary began to tell their story about what had happened on the road to Emmaus and how they had only recognised Jesus when he broke the bread and shared it with them as they were about to eat.

Everyone was listening to them intently when, all of a sudden, Jesus himself stood amongst them, despite the door being securely locked and bolted. They gasped in a mixture of shock, fear and disbelief, some of them even thinking they must be seeing a ghost, until Jesus began to speak to them, calming their fears, telling them to be at peace because he really was there with them. “I have come back to you,” he said. “Don’t be frightened anymore. 

“Look,” he said, “here are my hands and my feet. Look at my side,” stretching out his arms and moving his robe aside to show them the wounds that had been made by the nails and the spear. “Come and touch me and you’ll see I'm no ghost. Ghosts don’t have flesh and bones, do they.” They were still so shocked and astonished that he asked them if they had anything to eat and sat down with them to share the fish they had cooked. Then he began to explain everything to them as he had to Cleopas and Mary.

He chided them for doubting the women that morning and reminded them that, in the months leading up to his death, he had warned them many times about what lay ahead and what was going to happen to him. Gradually they began to see that the events of the past few days had been exactly as he had told them they would be. Their fears and disbelief were dispelled and replaced by utter joy and thanksgiving.

As they sat around the table, Jesus began to explain to them that they were to be witnesses to everything that had happened to him. They were to go out into the world to spread his message of love and forgiveness everywhere, beginning right there in Jerusalem.  He prayed for them to be filled with God’s Spirit so that they could bring forgiveness to all who were truly repentant but those who were unrepentant would be unable to receive that forgiveness.” Finally, he told them to be at peace and to stay in Jerusalem until God sent them the power they would need to fulfil their mission.

At that very moment, he disappeared and they were left alone but now, full of wonder, joy and amazement. He had come back to them alive. There had been no recriminations. He had not blamed them for deserting him, leaving him to face his enemies alone. They realised that their Lord was also their friend and their Saviour. He knew their failings and failures but despite all their weaknesses, he also knew that they truly loved him and with God’s help, were to be the people who would continue his work throughout the world. 

Thomas, one of the chosen apostles, was out of the room that evening. On his return, the others were full of the news and delighted to tell him what had happened but he couldn’t be convinced. He was adamant that they were wrong. “Unless I see the marks of the nails and touch the wound in his side,” he said, “I won’t believe it.” 

A week later, they were all together in the upper room, which was still locked, when Jesus appeared to them again and this time, Thomas was there! Jesus looked at him and smiled. “Here I am, Thomas. Come and touch my wounds. Look, here is my side; come and put your hand there. Stop doubting. Believe me! I am here, alive and well.” Thomas fell at his feet and, gazing up at him, breathed the words; “My Lord and My God!” 

Jesus put his arms down to him and raised him up, still smiling as he said to him, “Ah, Thomas, you believe in me now because you can see me; you can hear and touch me, can’t you. That is so typical of you! Imagine how blessed will all people in the future be who come to believe in me even though they haven’t seen me.” They spent a wonderful evening together, talking, laughing, and sharing so many memories. Then Jesus left them as suddenly as he had appeared, but this time, they were filled with a joy which was to know no end.

Telling the Beads Bead 16 - Episode 2 We have seen Him

B16 - E2 We have seen Him

With tears still running down her face as she turned around to make her way out of the garden, Mary almost ran into a man who was standing in front of her. The man asked her, as the angels had done, why she was crying and who she was looking for. Assuming him to be the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have moved the body of Jesus somewhere, please tell me where it is and I will go and take it away.” 

The man spoke just one word to her. “Mary,” he said. Her eyes had been blinded by tears but when she looked again, she saw it was Jesus. Gazing in wonder, almost unable to believe her own eyes, she whispered, “Rabboni!” which means ‘Teacher” in her native language of Aramaic. She instinctively opened her arms to embrace him but Jesus gently prevented her from holding on to him, saying, “Don’t cling to me, Mary. Go back to my friends and tell them that I am alive and that you have seen me.”

Mary ran out of the garden as fast as her legs would carry her to tell the disciples that she had actually seen Jesus, that he really was alive but sadly, when she reached the upper room and gave them the wondrous news, they were still so wrapped up in their grief, they were completely unable to believe such a miracle could be possible. Mary left the room to return to the garden to rejoin the other women but as she retraced her steps, she saw them coming towards her, full of excitement and joy.

They explained that after she had left them, they began to walk around the garden when who should they meet but Jesus himself. “We could hardly believe our eyes, Mary. He told us we mustn’t be afraid but must go and tell everyone the good news.” Mary went back with them to the upper room to share their joy but even the testimony of all four of them wasn’t enough to convince their companions.

During the day, some of them managed to slip out to buy food and prepare meals for everyone. They tried to come to terms with what had happened and to decide what to do next. Some of them were unable to see a future ahead of them and made plans to return to their own homes to try to pick up the pieces of their former lives. One couple, Mary and Cleopas, decided to go back to their home town of Emmaus which was only seven miles from Jerusalem. They bid their sad farewells and set off on their journey early in the evening.

As they walked along feeling completely dejected, a stranger appeared as if from nowhere. He fell into step with them and asked what they had been discussing so seriously. Cleopas replied, ‘’You must be the only person around who doesn’t know what's happened during these last few days in Jerusalem. ‘’Why, what has happened,’’ said the man? ‘‘A man we have been following for three years was crucified unjustly,’’ Mary replied. ‘’He was named Jesus and was a prophet from Nazareth who taught us how much God loves us and how to live good lives. He performed amazing miracles as well.’’

Cleopas continued the story, ‘’Our leaders became jealous of him and had him put to death by the Romans! Then this morning, some of the women who were also followers of Jesus went to his tomb and found the body was missing, Then, shortly afterwards, they said they’d seen him alive and he had spoken to them and told them to tell everyone the good news but most of us can’t believe it which is why we’re returning home.’’

As they walked along together, the stranger began to explain how all these events had been foretold in their own scriptures. They were so completely caught up in listening to him that they hardly noticed they were nearly home but when they happened to spot an inn and realised they were hungry, they decided to stop for a meal. The man made as if to travel on but they pressed him to join them which he did. 

As they were waiting for the meal to be served, the innkeeper brought them a basket of bread. Their companion took some in his hands, said a blessing over it then broke it into pieces and passed a piece to each of them. At that moment, Mary and Cleopas realised it was Jesus who had walked alongside them and was sitting with them now but he vanished from their sight as quickly as he had appeared and they said to each other, “It’s no wonder he set our hearts on fire as he talked to us on the road,” and with no more ado, they set off to return to Jerusalem.