On Wednesday we had the final Lectio Divina by the Bishop. I was a bit worried about being the only musician this week (the other musicians were busy with a play at the school) though I have brave attempts I am not really a public pianist so you can imagine my relief when Fr Farreh turned up with his guitar! Many thanks.

We looked at The request of James and John (Mark 10:35-45).

I felt that though we discussed several points, our discussion group was challenged by the culture barrier and therefore could not delve into some of the points I wanted to ask. It was good though we discussed suffering, how as Christians we understand that though we suffer it is united with Christ on the Cross, we know that as St Paul says the joy of heaven is so great that our suffering pales into insignificance. But in our secular world people do not understand how a God of love can allow suffering. I think it is a comfort to know that God came down and was tested as we are with the trials of suffering. If he can overcome these trials then it gives me hope that we can over come our trials but many other religions have God as this separate divine being whom one can never comprehend and who has no understanding of trials of humanity.

We had a bit of discussion about how the passage linked with the Transfiguration revealing Christ's divinity and therefore how James and John must have know about Jes us' kingdom in heaven but were still linking his kingship with earth for surely they would not have asked that question regarding positions in heaven particularly in light of Jesus asking "can you drink the cup I must drink?" they keep forgetting the bigger picture.

Our group did not really look at the aspect of serving which interestingly is what the evening was supposed to be themed around :o)

I was curious about when Jesus asks "Can you be baptised in the way I must be baptised" because we are baptised in Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit and become adopted Sons of the Father. Through our baptism in Christ Original Sin is removed. If Jesus is God and though human does not have Original Sin then I am curious how He is to be baptised? Yet he does say you will be baptised in the way I must be baptised (vs39) so does He mean that we will partake in His suffering, but yet we cannot redeem ourselves only He can redeem us and He does and we partake in that through baptism in Him but once again He is not being baptised in Himself or is He?... Any suggestions?

Many of the Youth asked questions about God's call, how do you know He is calling you? can you tell when He is calling you? What should you do if you do not agree with a teaching of the Church, on this topic the Bishop said that you should look into what the Chuch actually teaches and not what you have heard the Church teaches, which I think is quite a common problem.

All in all it was good and the Bishop suggested setting up Lectio Divina groups within the parishes and/or schools. Hopefully information about this will be sent out to parishes youth groups or none and naturally to the schools :o)

I have enjoyed going along and focusing on passages, discussing them, meeting with people my own age (which has certainly been quite novel!). It is also nice to see the Bishop moving round the diocese, it must be quite tiring but it is nice to know they have not forgotten us :o)