The heart of worship

In this Sunday’s reading, the prophet Isaiah challenges us to look beyond the façade of false piety and return to the heart of worship: cease to do evil, learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan and plead for the widow. It is one of my favourite passages in the whole Bible, along with a few others that share the same message.

‘A life shaped not by despair or indifference, but by hope, love, and a deep commitment to life itself’

“Today human life itself is in acute danger. It is not in danger because it is threatened with death; that has always been the case. It is in acute danger because it is no longer loved.”

These words from Jürgen Moltmann’s Ethics of Hope still speak with clarity. Reflecting on the aftermath of the Second World War, Moltmann describes a time when people became “used to killing and used to being killed”. He draws on the words of Albert Camus, who, in the wake of war, wrote: “The secret of Europe is that it no longer loves life.”
Moltmann argues that this loss of love for life stands in direct contrast to the witness of Scripture. The Bible, he explains in detail, is deeply concerned with the fullness of life, “the life that is wholly and entirely filled with livingness.” This is why we proclaim and trust in the Gospel of Life: the good news of Jesus Christ, in whom wholly human life shares in wholly divine life.

Can I interrupt you for a minute?

To be honest, I don’t deal well with interruptions. Those who know me can tell you about the irritable look on my face when someone barges into my office while I’m reading. It takes me a second to remember Jesus’ calling to love my neighbour when faced with interruptions. We’ve all been on both ends of those irritable stares. And that’s not even mentioning the interruptions that come with daily life: a toddler crying, your WiFi provider cutting service again, or those all-too-familiar messages at the bottom of the screen as we wait in vain for a train to arrive: “defecte trein, extra reistijd tot 30 min.

Dear Friends,

Recently, the United States deported five individuals originally from Laos, Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba and Yemen to Eswatini. This followed earlier deportations in which eight migrants from various countries were sent to South Sudan, after a court lifted restrictions on removals to countries with which the individuals had no personal ties.

What surprised me was the…

Dear friends,

A few weeks ago, I mentioned in one of my letters how pleasantly surprised I was during my visit to the Sant’Egidio community in Rome. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with their local priest, Zeger Polhuijs. We shared a coffee and walked through their remarkable building, the Mozes & Aäronkerk on the Waterlooplein. As we know, buildings often reflect the theology that underpins them…..

Dear Friends,

On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to hear Sam Wells, the Anglican priest of St Martin-in-the-Fields, speak at De Waalse Kerk. His talk, titled “Faith in the Public Square,” was deeply inspiring. Drawing on the book of Isaiah, Sam offered a compelling reflection on the role of the church in contemporary society.

He outlined Isaiah’s vision as fourfold:

(i) a society that is truly for everyone;

(ii) a society grounded in values that endure;

(iii) a society in which relationships—rooted in trust—are central; and

(iv) a society that leaves room for mistakes, recognising that those who have failed often have the most to contribute.

Reflecting on how the church might relate to such a vision, Sam suggested three possibilities.

Dear Friends,

For some time now, I’ve been observing a growing trend in the fashion industry and retail spaces. The lines are becoming more distinct, the colour palettes more muted: beige, white, soft browns dominating the scene. 

One large fashion brand in particular has become synonymous with this minimalist aesthetic: pristine white walls, clean edges, thin lettering almost vanishing into the background. If you glance too quickly, you might miss it entirely (if it weren't for the bright white lights!). 

The store on Kalverstraat is often too crowded to notice the details, but their outlet at the Cape Town waterfront feels like something else altogether. It’s like stepping into an oversized clinical theatre. It’s striking how we’ve come to embrace this streamlined, minimalist style. Not that I’m trying to pass myself off as a fashion critic; I’m far from it. And I know that minimalism is a thoroughly studied, even celebrated, topic in fashion conversations. As a kid growing up in my gran’s delightfully cluttered 90s home, I totally get it.

But what intrigues me…..

Dear Friends,

This week I had the wonderful privilege of visiting Rome with a diverse group of people from across society. Together, we tried to connect with different communities in the city, to listen to their stories, and to link them to our own search for hope.

Among the communities we visited was the Community of Sant’Egidio, founded in 1968. Their hope is simple and profound: to pay attention to the periphery and to those who live on the margins. They gather people of all ages and backgrounds, drawn together by a shared commitment to the Gospel and a free, voluntary service to the poor and to peace. They speak of three reference points: prayer, the poor, and peace. These aren’t abstract ideals—they are lived realities in the life of the community. A school for refugees, a free hospital, and a vibrant evening prayer are just a few ways these pillars take flesh.

We met in a room that, for me, carried great significance. On October 4, 1992, in this very space, Joaquim Chissano, then president of Mozambique and secretary of FRELIMO, and Afonso Dhlakama, leader of RENAMO, signed a General Peace Agreement that brought an end to 16 years of civil war. A million people had died. Over four million were displaced. And yet, peace became possible in that room.

Hanging there is a striking painting of St. Francis wrestling with a wolf. It’s a familiar story and image, but in this version, the scene is set in a modern city. The legend tells of a wolf that terrorised the town of Gubbio - killing livestock, attacking residents, impossible to defeat or tame. St. Francis approached the beast, made the sign of the cross, and was attacked. He repeated the gesture, and the wolf became calm, laying its head in his hands. From that moment, Francis called him “brother wolf.”

Those who admire St. Francis in the Sant’Egidio community were quick to say that the story likely didn’t happen quite that way. It’s more likely that Francis encountered a violent, feared man—a bandit, a figure others…

Dear Friends,

Why do you stand looking up toward heaven?

That’s the question the men in white robes asked just after Jesus ascended. A rhetorical question, no doubt. Honestly, if I had witnessed something like that, I’d be staring straight up too, probably not blinking. It’s hard to blame the disciples for getting lost in the moment.

But the question still echoes: why are you looking up at heaven? What are you waiting for? Who are you expecting? It’s the old question, really. The Psalmist asked it too: “I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?”

Reading through the…..

Dear friends,

About two weeks ago, I had a rather sobering moment while exchanging my South African driver’s license for a Dutch one. Standing at the Gemeente desk, I handed over my documents, only to be met with a concerned look from the clerk. “This is not a recent photo,” he said, eyeing my passport pictures with quiet judgment. I assured him they were recent. How could they not be, given the endless photo-taking required for visa applications these past months? But he wasn’t convinced. Pointing to the solemn expression on my face in the picture, he said, “You are much older now than in this photo... even your hair was….