Liz Pope

What helps you to feel God’s presence?

I’ve been at St Alban’s since 2013 and have been involved in Holy Threads, Book Club, Advent and Summer Retreats, Student lunches (CS Lewis and now Lunch & the Word), Legacy Campaign and now serving as the Junior Warden.

Today's devotional is based on:

“You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” John 12:8

Click here to read the appointed scripture for Monday in the Sixth Week of Lent.

Devotional

Holy Monday Reflection

The sentence in this gospel that really stayed with me after reading it was when Jesus said “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” What really struck me with this was: Isn’t God always with you? I’ve always found comfort in the thought that God is always with you so why wouldn’t you always have him with you even after Christ died? After my father passed away I remember cleaning out his closet and it still smelled like my Dad. The smell in that moment really helped me to feel my father’s presence. So was Jesus saying to leave Mary alone because the perfume would help her to feel his presence even in the absence of his flesh? What helps you to feel God’s presence? Sometimes for me it is being in nature, looking at the stars or being in a beautiful church.

What helps you feel God’s presence? Reflection and participating in the various services during Holy Week also help me to feel God’s presence. A new family tradition is to do the Way of the Cross with our Varsity family and say prayers and reflect at each station. It is very powerful to do together as a group. Please join us if you are interested.