The Gospel reading is set in Holy Week, a day or two before the arrest of Jesus. He had caused uproar in the Temple and spoken to the crowds. Both sets of religious leaders, the Sadducees and the Pharisees, tried to trap Jesus in arguments. At first glance this passage can seem full of big, threatening images. Yet, if we keep reading, we see the signs of hope: the buds on the tree heralding summer; the signs of God’s kingdom; and the encouragement to ‘raise your heads’ (v.28).

Sometimes it can be hard to see the joy that awaits, that will come…in time. But even in the most hostile of environments, there are signs of life. Indeed, life often needs a tough start in order to grow – e.g. a hard winter or a forest fire. Perhaps it’s the same for us, too. In tough times, we need to look for those little signs of hope.

This week we explore looking for small signs of hope.