Fr Ian
@frianmaher.bsky.social
Priest in the Church of England, serving at Sheffield Cathedral. Trying to share a bit of light in an often dark world. All views expressed on here are my own. Welsh, British, European.
Pinned
Fr Ian
@frianmaher.bsky.social
· Aug 14
I'm an ex-Xer and all the better for it.
'Let us allow our own tears, shed for the pain of the world, to flow with the tears of Christ, and use them as a catalyst for change.'
Tears for change
Luke 19.41-44 Numerous moments in the gospels invite us to consider the depths of love and compassion that Jesus has for the world. This gospel reading, where Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, is one suc…
imaherblog.wordpress.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:55 PM
'Let us allow our own tears, shed for the pain of the world, to flow with the tears of Christ, and use them as a catalyst for change.'
'As Jesus said, the kingdom of God is among us, or within us. It is there in every act of kindness that we offer or experience; it is there when we give of ourselves for the sake of others; it is there when we face with courage the injustice and oppression of this world.'
The kingdom of God
Luke 17.20-25 This gospel reading picks up on a question asked to Jesus by the Pharisees, religious leaders of his day: When was the kingdom of God going to arrive? It’s not clear whether this ques…
imaherblog.wordpress.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
'As Jesus said, the kingdom of God is among us, or within us. It is there in every act of kindness that we offer or experience; it is there when we give of ourselves for the sake of others; it is there when we face with courage the injustice and oppression of this world.'
'So, mull over these two parables and let them speak to your heart. Let them be reminders to you that God is always with you. God knows you and knows where you are even when feeling lost and alone . . .'
imaherblog.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/p...
imaherblog.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/p...
Parables of God’s love
Luke 15.1-10 This gospel reading contains two parables of being lost and found. Along with the parable of the prodigal son and his brother, they comprise a whole chapter of Luke that reminds us of …
imaherblog.wordpress.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
'So, mull over these two parables and let them speak to your heart. Let them be reminders to you that God is always with you. God knows you and knows where you are even when feeling lost and alone . . .'
imaherblog.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/p...
imaherblog.wordpress.com/2025/11/10/p...
Oh dear, the big orange baby is throwing his toys out of the pram again.
#TrumpTemperTantrum
#TrumpTemperTantrum
November 5, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Oh dear, the big orange baby is throwing his toys out of the pram again.
#TrumpTemperTantrum
#TrumpTemperTantrum
Has Trump thrown a wobbly yet?
November 5, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Has Trump thrown a wobbly yet?
'The ultimate test of true faith is not conformity to a specific creed, church teaching, or church discipline. The test of true faith lay in the extent to which we allow God to be the God of love and compassion to us and, through us, to everyone we encounter.'
- Fr Gerard Hughes
- Fr Gerard Hughes
November 4, 2025 at 3:30 PM
'The ultimate test of true faith is not conformity to a specific creed, church teaching, or church discipline. The test of true faith lay in the extent to which we allow God to be the God of love and compassion to us and, through us, to everyone we encounter.'
- Fr Gerard Hughes
- Fr Gerard Hughes
I see Trump making a fool of himself again, this time in China.
October 31, 2025 at 4:35 PM
I see Trump making a fool of himself again, this time in China.
‘Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life!’ - Pope Francis
October 29, 2025 at 9:58 PM
‘Let the risen Jesus enter your life, welcome him as a friend, with trust: he is life!’ - Pope Francis
Note to racists:
“(Jesus) healed crowds and individuals and when asked ‘who is my neighbour?’ placed a despised foreigner at the heart of his teaching (Luke 10.25-37)”
From Heart of my own Heart, by John-Francis Friendship, p91
“(Jesus) healed crowds and individuals and when asked ‘who is my neighbour?’ placed a despised foreigner at the heart of his teaching (Luke 10.25-37)”
From Heart of my own Heart, by John-Francis Friendship, p91
October 29, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Note to racists:
“(Jesus) healed crowds and individuals and when asked ‘who is my neighbour?’ placed a despised foreigner at the heart of his teaching (Luke 10.25-37)”
From Heart of my own Heart, by John-Francis Friendship, p91
“(Jesus) healed crowds and individuals and when asked ‘who is my neighbour?’ placed a despised foreigner at the heart of his teaching (Luke 10.25-37)”
From Heart of my own Heart, by John-Francis Friendship, p91
A good book for such a time as this . . .
October 28, 2025 at 3:23 PM
A good book for such a time as this . . .
Profound, challenging, and necessary words from the Dean of Southwark.
The Dean's Sermon
YouTube video by Southwark Cathedral
youtube.com
October 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Profound, challenging, and necessary words from the Dean of Southwark.
Reposted by Fr Ian
It’s our 150th episode! So if you’ve never tried our satirical podcast, why not let that time be now? podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/n...
The Big One Five Oh
Podcast Episode · NonCensored · 24/10/2025 · 1h 22m
podcasts.apple.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM
It’s our 150th episode! So if you’ve never tried our satirical podcast, why not let that time be now? podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/n...
'Meek and mild was not about being a passive doormat. Remember how Jesus challenged the corrupt leaders of the day . . . '
Meek and mild? Really?
Luke 12.49-53 Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, look upon your little child. Pity my simplicity, suffer me to come to thee. Amen. That short prayer was taught to me by my grandmother when I was a little…
imaherblog.wordpress.com
October 22, 2025 at 5:54 PM
'Meek and mild was not about being a passive doormat. Remember how Jesus challenged the corrupt leaders of the day . . . '
Link to my blog for anyone interested . . .
Revd Ian's blog
Thoughts of a fellow traveller
imaherblog.wordpress.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Link to my blog for anyone interested . . .
Translation: Putin wraps Trump around his little finger - again.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
Trump says he will meet Putin in Hungary for Ukraine talks after 'very productive' call
The US president, who is due to host Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, says there will be fresh US-Russia talks with
www.bbc.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Translation: Putin wraps Trump around his little finger - again.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cy...
'Sacred images are sacramental - outward and visible manifestations of what is inward and invisible - and devotions to them can link us to the mystery they portray.'
John-Francis Friendship (Heart of my own heart, p12)
John-Francis Friendship (Heart of my own heart, p12)
October 15, 2025 at 3:42 PM
'Sacred images are sacramental - outward and visible manifestations of what is inward and invisible - and devotions to them can link us to the mystery they portray.'
John-Francis Friendship (Heart of my own heart, p12)
John-Francis Friendship (Heart of my own heart, p12)
'Speaking truth to power ensured the fate of Jesus. He was not prepared to collude with what he knew to be false, whatever the cost. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to follow in his footsteps . . .'
Truth matters
Luke 11.47-54 In a world of disinformation, it’s not always easy to separate truth from falsehood. For example, ‘fake news’ is, despite Donald Trump’s misappropriation of the term…
imaherblog.wordpress.com
October 15, 2025 at 3:38 PM
'Speaking truth to power ensured the fate of Jesus. He was not prepared to collude with what he knew to be false, whatever the cost. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to follow in his footsteps . . .'
Sergeant Major:
Private Smith, I didn’t see you at camouflage training today.
Private Smith:
Thank you Sir.
Private Smith, I didn’t see you at camouflage training today.
Private Smith:
Thank you Sir.
October 14, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Sergeant Major:
Private Smith, I didn’t see you at camouflage training today.
Private Smith:
Thank you Sir.
Private Smith, I didn’t see you at camouflage training today.
Private Smith:
Thank you Sir.
Reposted by Fr Ian
Pope to journalists: “…it is worth remembering Hannah Arendt’s warning that ‘the ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist.’”
October 12, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Pope to journalists: “…it is worth remembering Hannah Arendt’s warning that ‘the ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist.’”
Has Trump declared war on Norway yet?
October 11, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Has Trump declared war on Norway yet?
Reposted by Fr Ian
"The document, an apostolic exhortation titled Dilexi Te (“I have loved you”), also expresses support for the Church’s role in defending the rights of migrants."
medium.com/divine-diplo...
medium.com/divine-diplo...
“Dilexi Te” — Pope Leo’s first document focuses on the poor, migrants
The Vatican released Pope Leo’s first document, which focuses on the Church’s stance and support for people in poverty, calling for…
medium.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:16 PM
"The document, an apostolic exhortation titled Dilexi Te (“I have loved you”), also expresses support for the Church’s role in defending the rights of migrants."
medium.com/divine-diplo...
medium.com/divine-diplo...
'The resurrection of Christ is the glorious vindication of the love of God incarnate, a demonstration of the fact that the last word is not destruction and death. It demonstrates that the love of God will conquer all those powers which destroy mankind.'
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (1914-2003)
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (1914-2003)
October 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
'The resurrection of Christ is the glorious vindication of the love of God incarnate, a demonstration of the fact that the last word is not destruction and death. It demonstrates that the love of God will conquer all those powers which destroy mankind.'
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (1914-2003)
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh (1914-2003)
The blessing of memory
October 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The blessing of memory
Anyone told Trump yet?
#NobelPeacePrize
#NobelPeacePrize
October 10, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Anyone told Trump yet?
#NobelPeacePrize
#NobelPeacePrize