These Holy Week reflections are based on similar ones produced by The St Beuno's Retreat House in Wales. The paintings are by an artist called Arcabas and because of uncertainty over copyright you can see them by logging on to www.pathwaystogod.org/resources/praying-holy-week-senses
TUESDAY: TOUCH
BIBLE READING
The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered, 'I haver spoken openly for all the world to hear; I have always taught in the synagogue and in the Temple where all the Jews meet together: I have said nothing in secret. But why ask me? Ask my hearers what I taught, they know what I said.'
At these words, one of the guards standing by gave Jesus a slap in the face, saying 'Is that the way to answer the High Priest?' Jesus replied, 'If there is something wrong in w\hat I said, point it out; but, if there is no offence in it, why do you strike me?'
John 18 v 21-24
REFLECTION
Clearly annoyed and frustrated by Jesus, one of the guards slapped Jesus on the face. We would never use violence in this way, but the way we touch people demonstrates how we feel about them. It could be a gentle touch of reassurance or a big hug when we greet someone we haven't seen for some time. In our present difficult situation we do our utmost to avoid touching other human beings, and we find it agonising keeping our distance. The poet and priest John O'Donohue wrote a poem called 'For the senses', here is the beginning of the poem;
"May the touch of your skin
Register the beauty
Of the otherness
that surrounds you
May your listening be attuned
to the deeper silence
where sound is honed
to bring distance home
May the fragrance
Of a breathing meadow
|Refresh your heart,
And remind you, you are
A child of the earth
TUESDAY: TOUCH
BIBLE READING
The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered, 'I haver spoken openly for all the world to hear; I have always taught in the synagogue and in the Temple where all the Jews meet together: I have said nothing in secret. But why ask me? Ask my hearers what I taught, they know what I said.'
At these words, one of the guards standing by gave Jesus a slap in the face, saying 'Is that the way to answer the High Priest?' Jesus replied, 'If there is something wrong in w\hat I said, point it out; but, if there is no offence in it, why do you strike me?'
John 18 v 21-24
REFLECTION
Clearly annoyed and frustrated by Jesus, one of the guards slapped Jesus on the face. We would never use violence in this way, but the way we touch people demonstrates how we feel about them. It could be a gentle touch of reassurance or a big hug when we greet someone we haven't seen for some time. In our present difficult situation we do our utmost to avoid touching other human beings, and we find it agonising keeping our distance. The poet and priest John O'Donohue wrote a poem called 'For the senses', here is the beginning of the poem;
"May the touch of your skin
Register the beauty
Of the otherness
that surrounds you
May your listening be attuned
to the deeper silence
where sound is honed
to bring distance home
May the fragrance
Of a breathing meadow
|Refresh your heart,
And remind you, you are
A child of the earth
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