​St. Barnabas Anglican Parish,  Bluff. 
24.04.25

Today's gospel 
Luke 24:36-48

Jesus meets the two disciples on their way to  Emmaus. Jesus' appearance to the disciples after His resurrection, brings peace and joy to them, and  provides proof of His resurrection, showing His hands and feet. He explains how His mission fulfills Scripture, and  commissions the disciples to preach repentance and forgiveness to the world.

Like the disciples, we are called to be 
witnesses of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. May will be faithful and obedient to Him, as we carry out the command.

Let us pray 

Risen Lord, Jesus Christ,  empower us to be  faithful servants of Yours in this world, trusting in  Your presence among us. Help us to know the 
significance of Your  appearances to  Your disciples and our role to spreading the Good News, the proof that You have  risen. May we be inspired to boldly proclaim and witness  that You are truly risen. Amen.

​St. Barnabas Anglican Parish,  Bluff. 
23/4/25

Today's gospel 
Luke 24 v 13 to 35.

REFLECTION.

The moral of this reading is that God is always present in our lives. Sometimes, He may seem distant/ hidden and, sometimes He may seem hard to find, but He is always there. The bottom line/ fact is even though we are made for heaven and not for this world, we are called to live and do God's work while we are here on earth.

Let us pray.

Lors Jesus, we acknowledge your presence in our lives, your guidance through your scriptures, in our everyday lives, grant us discerning heart filled with joy and a burning desire to share the Good News about you just as the disciples did.
Amen.

​St Barnabas Anglican Parish, Bluff
22.04.2025

Today's Gospel 
John 20 :11-18

Reflection 

The angels asked  Mary, woman why are you weeping, who are you looking for? Sir, if you have taken Him away, please tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him. Jesus said to her, Mary, she said Rabboni. Jesus said his sheep would know Him when He called their names . Mary knows that is Jesus when He speaks her, name  to her. May we hear Him speaking to us .May we ask God to give us the strength we need always to be ready to turn around to look again that we may see and recognize Jesus presence in our lives.

Let us pray

Holy Spirit stregthen and grant us the courage to overcome fear. Help us to go deeper on account of our Lord Jesus Christ so that when He returns, we shall be counted among His faithful followers.
Amen.

​St. Barnabas Anglican Parish,  Bluff. 
21/4/25

Today's gospel 
Mathew 28 v 8 to 15

REFLECTION.

Let's call this reading the great power of the RESURRECTION of Christ. The Scribes and Jewish leaders it will be the great sham/bribery. This lie is still spoken about today that the disciples stole the body.
Let's look at this reading logically.
The guards were told to lie and say that they were sleeping and the disciples stole the body.
So, how would they have been able to say what happened to the body? surely, if one told what happened, then he would have woken the other guards. 
How dumb were the Jewish to think up such a story. 
OUR JESUS IS ALIVE AND REIGNS.

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus, we thank you for your victory over death and the hope through your resurrection. 
Teach us to be bold to share your Good News of your love and grace. May we be guided by you to obey your commands and follow in your footsteps. We kneel in awe of your great love for us.
Amen.

​St. Barnabas Anglican Parish,  Bluff. 
19.04.25

*Holy Saturday* 

 *Reflection*
Holy Saturday is a day of quiet waiting and reflection within the Christian liturgical calendar, a time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It marks the period when Christ's body rested in the tomb, a period of silence before the celebration of his resurrection. This day is often used for personal reflection, prayer, and preparation for the upcoming Easter vigil. 

 *Prayer*
"O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. *Amen."*

​St. Barnabas Anglican Parish Bluff. 
18.04.25

Today's gospel 
John 18:1- 19:42

Today, being GOOD FRIDAY, the text is on the Passion of Jesus Christ, with the subthemes;
- the arrest of Jesus.
- Peter's first denial
- High priest question Jesus 
- Peter's second denial 
- Jesus before Pilate 
- Jesus sentenced to Crucifixion 
- the death and burial of Jesus. 

The cross provides forgiveness and redemption for sins.

God has shown His love and sacrifice for humanity through the passion of Jesus Christ, which Jesus embraces willingly. Jesus becomes our substitute for sin and punishment. By His painful death on the cross, we are reconciled with God. 

Today, we're with all who stand by the foot of the cross. Our life is in the safe hands of the crucified Lord and Saviour.

Let us pray. 

Lord Jesus Christ,  remember us when You come into Your Kingdom. May we live as redeemed people. Thank you  for loving us so much up to the point of death. Thank you for Your sacrifice, and the impact of the cross on our lives.
Amen.

​St. Barnabas Anglican Parish,  Bluff. 
17.04.25

Today's gospel 
 **John 13: 1-17, 31b-35
**

 *Reflection*
John 13:1-17, 31b-35 presents Jesus washing his disciples' feet, a symbolic act of humility and service. This act, along with the new commandment to love one another as Jesus has loved them, challenges followers to embrace a life of service and love, even towards those who may not seem worthy. The passage highlights the importance of genuine love and service as expressions of discipleship, demonstrating that true discipleship is characterized by humility and selfless care for others. 

 *Prayer* 
Almighty God, on this Maundy Thursday, we remember your Son, Jesus, who humbled himself and washed the feet of his disciples. We thank you for this powerful example of humility and service. Help us to follow in his footsteps, to serve one another with love and compassion, and to be a light in the world. Grant us the strength to live out the commandment to love one another as you have loved us. *Amen* ."

​St. Barnabas Anglican Parish,  Bluff. 
16/4/25

Today's gospel 
John 13 v 21 to 32.

REFLECTION 
This reading is the last supper, but we will call it the betrayal supper. 
Jesus went to His death willingly so that we could be reborn in the Spirit, that we could arise from the depths of our own sins and be saved by God' saving grace. 
Finally,  the glorification will be recognized in Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection.  Through these events, God will be glorified in Christ.  

Let us pray.

Father God, we thank you for Your Son Jesus Christ. We acknowledge His sacrifice on the cross for love and  forgiveness. We recognize the bread and wine as symbols of Jesus' body and blood, as His sacrifice for our sins. We confess our sin and ask for forgiveness. In Jesus' Mighty name, we pray. 
Amen.