The week ahead – from 3 to 9 May

Fish shops and the Letter to Diognetus. The origins of the Liturgy of the Hours. A detailed walk through Lauds (Morning Prayer). Episode notes.

The first mention of Christians. The disciple Jesus loved and why his Gospel is different. How the Apocalypse nearly didn’t make it into the Bible, and why we should be glad it did. The importance of Saint Joseph the Worker. Episode notes.

The saints are back again! Mark; Justin (165); Ephraem, Marcellinus, Vincent, Domninus (4th century); Erkenwald and Egbert (7th century); Adalbert (10th century); Anselm (11th century); then back to George. ANZAC day and the secrets of the warriors. Episode notes.

Back to normal, but keeping up the Easter joy. The hands and the side: nothing abolished but everything healed. The same thing in our own lives. Dante, Lethe and Eunoë. What Thomas needed to know. Faith and reason are not opposites: a mathematical example. The first steps of the baby Church. The Easter Alleluias in Universalis. Episode notes.

Without hindsight, the desolation of the Apostles and how we share in it. The Easter Vigil and the ultimate surprise of the Resurrection. What Jesus’ resurrection can tell us about our own resurrected life. Episode notes.

Original sin: a chemical parable. The Atonement or At-one-ment: a tale from school. Love as a blank cheque: ‘Whatever happens – shall happen’. The days of Holy Week. Episode notes.

The Sun and Moon as timekeepers; the rivers proclaiming our place in Lent. Science as a love letter from God. The final miracle: the raising of Lazarus. Being together in desolation. The strong women of salvation history.

St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland: his life and his breastplate. Sin: what makes a sin a sin? The Seven Deadly Sins and the Divine Comedy. The other story of the healing of a blind man. Episode notes.

The Samaritan Woman at the well. Sin: responsibility and healing: ‘I did it’ and ‘I didn’t do it.’ The readings of the week. St Etheldreda’s and the tax-collectors. Episode notes.

The Transfiguration and Duccio’s Maestà: a Lenten puzzle for art history and for theology. The command not to pass judgement, and the duty to judge. Episode notes.