Lent 5 Sunday 22nd March
Lent 5 Sunday March 22nd 2026
John 11:1-45 - Lazarus
This is a story of love; Mary and Martha for their brother Lazarus but esp. for Jesus and his love for them.
Sometimes as Chaplains when we venture up the gangway, we don’t know who will greet us, where they are from, their faith, which is part of the joy of the ministry and what drives us to be prepared.
People often ask me what I do if I encounter non-Christians and I say I show the same love and concern for them as our mandate and faith requires of us.
On some ships with 20-21 crew there can be 10 nationalities, and they find a way to communicate, to respect the dignity of one another, to work like a functioning family onboard.
An MtS Chaplain on a ship visit encountered a seafarer who said “We are 21 crew, one third Christian, one third Hindu and one third Muslim. Three religions, three times the festival and three times the parties, we celebrate all faiths”.
If the world was a mirror of this crew the world would dance to a different tune, one very much focused on the love of one another. It can and it starts with you.
Photo credit 'Spread the Love'- Jon Tyson