Sr Judith

A grey door, in a stone wall. The door is slightly ajar. The text reads: “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Ask, and it will be given to you, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.’”

#ask, #Beginnings, #Benedictine, #Blessing, #challenge, #Christlike, #Discipleship, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #Lent, #Lent2026, #love, #newlife, #trust the blessing of learning to ask, new blog post on turveyabbey.org.uk/pilgrimage/?p=…

A back view of a woman with long hair holding a seashell to her ear. The text reads: “Up!…Go to Ninevah, the great city and preach to them as I told you to”

#Benedictine, #challenge, #Disciples, #Discipleship, #gospel, #Hope, #Jonah, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #Lent, #Lent2026, #listening, #love, #newlife, #Obedience, #trust Developing a habit of listening, new blog post on turveyabbey.org.uk/pilgrimage/?p=…

A row of lit candles against a dark background. The text reads: “Forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.”

#Beginnings, #Benedictine, #Blessing, #challenge, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #Lent, #Lent2026, #love, #newlife, #OurFather, #prayer, #SecondChance A second chance, new blog post on turveyabbey.org.uk/pilgrimage/?p=…

Tea being pored from a black teapot into white ceramic mugs. The text reads: “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these sisters and brothers of mine, you did it to me.”

#Beginnings, #Benedictine, #Blessing, #challenge, #Christ, #Christlike, #Disciples, #Discipleship, #fruit, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #love, #newlife, #service, #trust Called to serve, new blog post on turveyabbey.org.uk/pilgrimage/?p=…

A dusty desert valley. The text reads: “Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.”

#angels, #Beginnings, #Benedictine, #Blessing, #challenge, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #Lent, #Lent2026, #love, #newlife, #temptations, #trust, #Wilderness Facing hard beginnings, new blog post on turveyabbey.org.uk/pilgrimage/?p=…

#Benedictine, #burningbush, #challenge, #Encounter, #gospel, #HolyGround, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #Lent, #Lent2026, #LentPractices, #love, #Moses, #newlife, #SacredSpace, #trust

#Benedictine, #burningbush, #challenge, #Encounter, #gospel, #HolyGround, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #Lent, #Lent2026, #LentPractices, #love, #Moses, #newlife, #SacredSpace, #trust Finding Sacred space. New blog post on turveyabbey.org.uk/pilgrimage/?...

5/6 They can soften our hearts so we feel our neighbours’ pain. They can lead us to be kinder, more compassionate, encouraging & supportive. They can lead us to lighten the burdens of those we meet in whatever way we can. How are your Lent practices enabling you to help those around you?

5/6 His words remind us that our Lent practices are not only for our own personal benefit. This is especially true in these challenging and hard times. They are to change our hearts so much that they also alter our behaviour. Whatever they are they should lead us to reach out to those in need.

4/6 Isaiah writes: “Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me – it is the Lord who speaks – to break unjust fetters & undo the thongs of the yoke, to clothe the those you see to be naked & not turn from your own kin? Then will your light shine like the dawn & your wound be quickly healed over.”

3/6 Yet for all their value it can sometimes feel that they can become distractions themselves. We can become more focused on completing the practices than on their ultimate purpose. Today’s 1st reading is a call to look beyond the outward signs of our Lent practices to their ultimate purpose.

2/6 We have high hopes for what these practices will accomplish in our spiritual lives. These practices give us a sense of purpose and focus that we desperately need in the midst of life’s that can be very distracting and dissipating.

A man serving street food from a stall. The text reads: Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me... to break unjust fetters ...to clothe the those you see to be naked and not turn from your own kin?”

A Lent 🧵1/6 We always start Lent full of hopes and plans. We plan our Lent practices with care, giving serious thought to what we will do or give up. We do this with the best intentions, looking for what will draw us closer to God in this special time.

A man serving street food from a stall. The text reads: Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me... to break unjust fetters ...to clothe the those you see to be naked and not turn from your own kin?”

#Benedictine, #challenge, #Christ, #Christlike, #freedom, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #Lent, #Lent2026, #LentPractices, #light, #love, #newlife, #trust Practicing love, new blog post on turveyabbey.org.uk/pilgrimage/?...

6/6 Our Lent practices help us discern what is truly life giving. They can help us decide what we have to let go of so that the things that are truly life giving can find the space to flourish and grow.

How are your Lent practices helping you to choose life?

5/6 On the surface that seems easy, but it is not always that straightforward. Often, at the outset at least the life denying choice appears easier or more comfortable, while the life-giving choice can feel harder and more challenging.

4/6 They remind us that the only truly life-giving choice is to turn to God, the source of all life so that we can live in God’s presence and shape our life by God’s love. The gift of life however does not come automatically. As Moses points out we have to actively choose what is life-giving.

3/6 "...obeying his voice, clinging to him; for in this your life consists…”His words are just as relevant for us, especially in Lent. All our Lent practices aim to bring us back to what is truly life giving.

2/6 In today’s first reading God calls Moses to give the people a choice calling them back to their true purpose: “I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live in the love of the Lord your God...

A signpost pointing in different directions against an orange sunset. The text reads: “I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live in the love of the Lord your God, obeying his voice, clinging to him; for in this your life consists…”

A Lent 🧵1/6 Lent is a call to refocus our attention on the important things in life. It acknowledges that the stresses & strains we face every day draw us away from our true purpose. We get so caught up in these that we forget the truly important things, & turn to things that are not good for us.

A signpost pointing in different directions against an orange sunset. The text reads: “I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live in the love of the Lord your God, obeying his voice, clinging to him; for in this your life consists…”

#Benedictine, #challenge, #Choice, #ChooseLife, #Deuteronomy, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #Lent, #Lent2026, #LentPractices, #love, #Moses, #newlife, #trust Making choices, new blog post on turveyabbey.org.uk/pilgrimage/?...

5/5 Maybe then, knowing ourselves ourselves the recipients of God’s healing compassion we will be able to find ways of sharing that compassionate love with all who are broken hearted today.

What heartbreak are you being called to bring into the compassionate love of God this Lent?

4/5 Everywhere we look we discover heartbreak & brokenness. The suffering already seems endless and insurmountable. We can very quickly begin to feel hopeless, numbed by the pain and unable to act. In these circumstances our first step is to turn back to God with our broken hearts and broken lives.

3/5 "...fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn, turn to the Lord your God again, for God is all tenderness and compassion…” His words sum up both what we are going through and what we need to do to about it. Our world once again seems full of suffering.

2/5 Watching all that is going on in our world today, that wake-up call seems even more urgent than usual. It makes the words of the Prophet Joel that we heard at Mass seem particularly relevant. “Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks – come back to me with all your heart..."

A heart made out of fallen leaves in a puddle, surrounded by other fallen leaves. The text reads: “Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks – come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn, turn to the Lord your God again, for God is all tenderness and compassion…”

An Ash Wednesday 🧵1/5 Ash Wednesday always feels like a wake up call. It reminds us of how far we have slipped in our intention to live as people of God, how far we have moved from the values of the Kingdom that we’re called to make a reality.

A heart made out of fallen leaves in a puddle, surrounded by other fallen leaves. The text reads: “Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks – come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn, turn to the Lord your God again, for God is all tenderness and compassion…”

#AshWednesday, #Benedictine, #challenge, #compassion, #gospel, #Hope, #kingdom, #KingdomValues, #lectiodivina, #Lent, #Lent2026, #LentPractices, #love, #newheart, #newlife, #tenderness, #trust New blog post for Ash Wednesday on turveyabbey.org.uk/pilgrimage/?...

If you are in the UK and were born between 1970 and 1990 you may not have had enough doses of MMR vaccine to be protected from measles. Contact your GP to get a booster course for free. www.nhs.uk/vaccinations...

#Lent #LentRetreatDay #ANewHeart
SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2026 10AM - 4 PM A NEW HEART
ONLINE LENT RETREAT EXPLORING OPENING OUR HEARTS TO GOD’S PRESENCE
EMAIL VIA www.turveyabbey.org.uk/pilgrimage/events/ FOR INFORMATION & BOOKING

6/6 In return he offers us a greater vision, calling us to open our hearts to the presence of his kingdom in places where we might least expect it.

Where is Christ calling you to embrace the vision of the kingdom with a willing heart and ready spirit today?

5/6 It’s an obvious & straightforward statement. Yet in our times when promises are easily made & easily discarded they carry a powerful message. It’s tempting to overpromise when we see people suffer, & it’s tempting to believe those promises. Jesus calls us away from the hype & the drama of that.