coromandel preachings

Jesus has authority

2012-01-23T00:03:00.001+10:30

The readings for Sunday January 29th 2012: Epiphany 4 - Deuteronomy 18:15-20; PSALM 111; 1 COR 8:1-13; MARK 1:21-28

In this first chapter of Mark we are gradually brought into the process of understanding who Jesus is.
We have seen how individual disciples
are called to follow him
and now we have declared about him
that he has Authority.
The authority is no less than that of the authority of God.
This is why he is so important
he puts us into touch with the reality of God.
If we want to know God’s will,
if we want to understand God
then we look to Jesus.

The problem of authority is not without issue
Moses tells the people how to discern whether a person speaking in God’s name is an authentic prophet:

His principle is “If prophecy comes true then it is vindicated!”
This may raise more questions than it answers
Paul also tells people that they need to exercise discernment about what they believe and practice
While there are no longer “rules” not everything is necessarily helpful.
He tells people to be sensitive to other people’s weaknesses.

What Mark’s statement is about this is...that we have a new seat of authority
Jesus….the signs and wonders that he does, and principally his resurrection, validate his authority.

How then can we be in touch with Jesus?
It is simple and it is hard!
Simple because it is the straightforward job of just doing it: through, prayer, scripture, worship, talking with Jesus. By serving Jesus in others.
It is simple basic Christian stuff

But hard because we are also a bit deceptive about this sort of stuff
and it requires
honesty, openness and integrity
It is interesting to note that this does not always go down well.
And we ourselves can be slow to respond
or even just plain wilful.
This week:

What is Jesus saying to me about my life?
How can I better respond?
Can I pray deliberately each day to pay attention to God’s will for my life and to respond to that

Returning to God

2012-01-19T21:50:00.000+10:30

Reading for Sunday 22nd January 2012 are for the 3rd Sunday in Epiphany and can be taken from: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:5-12; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; and Mark 1:14-20

Unfortunately most of us know only one thing about the prophet Jonah
and that is that he was swallowed by a big fish!
It is of course a compelling story, but what is it actually about.
Most of us don’t know that Jonah was actually running away from God
nor that God had asked him to go to the roughest toughest place in the world and tell the people to repent
(no wonder he ran away)

When he finally yields to God’s will
he gets annoyed with God
because God accepts the repentance of the Ninevehites
and doesn’t just blast them out of the water!
This repentance is a call to change our ways
As we continue to focus on the call of Jesus
are we like Jonah and running hell for leather in the other direction?
and/or are we also angry that some people seem to get closer to God than we do? Particularly angry that so often it seems they are the ones who don’t deserve it.

The Call to Repent is genuine
This call that we hear to get serious is a genuine one
God is not playing games with us
but are WE playing games with God
The time is short
people need to be healed
Sinners need forgiveness
It is not a call to wait until it is convenient
It is a call to act now.
So we see:
these disciples drop everything and act
those who, like Jonah, run away are pursued by a devouring spirit. The sources of discomfort and disease may well be our own wilfulness

Where am I being invited to act, and to act now?
Where am I running scared?
Where am I resentful of God’s grace to others?

The call to repent is a genuine one
It is not only to other people via my mouth (it may be)
It is also to me...to you
And yes, the time is short
...the time to act is now….

Who's that?

2012-01-11T12:53:00.004+10:30

Readings for Sunday January 15 2011...The 2nd Sunday after Epiphany include I Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20), Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18;I Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51

I find the story of Nathanael (or Bartholomew as he seems to be known elsewhere) in the first chapter of John

to be strangely intriguing.

John is still setting up for us

the thrust of his gospel

and thus having declared

that this is the Word made Flesh,

the Lamb of God,

the Messiah

people are drawn into the circle of faith

Simon Peter and Andrew respond readily and quickly,

Philip is not far behind

but Nathanael...is not so easily convinced...

his natural instinct is to be dismissive...he has perhaps (like us)

heard all this before.

Philip says to him...Why don’t you just come and check it out!

Because Nathanael does in fact then respond and decide

to adopt this open attitude

he is able to hear Jesus.

Jesus speaks to him in a fairly low key sort of way

….here is someone who calls a spade a spade….

and Nathanael, I think, likes being taken seriously

and finds this Jesus engaging,

and so follows.

A lesson for us

the two dimensions that I think we can well pay attention to are:

not taking the call of God for granted or just hoping it might go away (this is echoed in the Samuel story)

this is often the way we deal with our religious conviction

...let’s not take it terribly seriously…..

I suspect that this is the cause of great spiritual weakness in the church today

Nathanael’s stance (and indeed Samuel’s) is

give God the opportunity

and God will do what is necessary

....but we need to give God the opportunity.....

The second thing that we can note is

that another person encourages a positive attitude

Philip is a source of encouragement to Nathanael (as Eli is to Samuel)

Without that comment...Come and See... or Go back and listen again...

would Nathanael or Samuel have taken the final step

Is there someone who we have to support in a similar way?

Can we ask God to show us that this week,

and also to give us the faith and the courage to be quietly and gently supportive?

Are we prepared to look again at what God is seeking of us?
is there someone I need to encourage?

The Illustration is Open Voyage by Michel Rauscher

My Son the beloved

2012-01-07T12:18:00.000+10:30

Readings for Sunday January 8, 2012...The Sunday after Epiphany include Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11- often called the Baptism of Jesus

In these weeks after the feast of the Epiphany (January 6th...or Twelfth Night)
we focus on how Christ is made known
beyond the bounds of the inner circle of God's revelation.
It begins on January 6th
when the Christmas story is expanded
by the arrival of the Wise Men
this is to show us
('epiphany' means to manifest or to show forth)
that this Christ,
is not just for the narrow concerns
of a little group of people
in a strip of Mediterranean Land
--which has been and is presently much-troubled--
but for the whole world.
The Wise Men are presented in Matthew
as the fulfillment of prophecy
that shows God will be made known
through this Messiah
to all peoples
As the story moves
on we see one of the incidents
in which the identity of Jesus is declared
...the event is his baptism by John,
which Mark offers as the beginning of the Good News..
What is interesting to us
is what this baptism confers
It is an understanding that
as God speaks into the situation
this is what he says
"You are my son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased"
These words will be spoken again
at the Transfiguration
when the disciples recognise Jesus
for who he really is.
And because the climax of Mark's Gospel
is the Crucifixion
we are invited to see
that these are words that are spoken at that time,
this time by the centurion who says for all to hear
"Truly this man was God's Son"
are indeed insightful and true

Because in Mark's Gospel we are being invited to share
in this journey
These are words that we might see
are being spoken to us
"This is my Son, the Beloved"
"You are my daughter, and I love you"
I find these words deeply assuring
and perhaps we need to hear God
saying this to you and me
often and deeply
during this Epiphany season.
--You are my son, and you are my daughter--
and I love you!
This is not the message of idle comfort,
rather it will lead us, like Jesus,
to the Cross.
Our faith tells us
that the Cross,
though it looks like death,
is the way to fullness of life.
THIS WEEK

Allow God to assure you of his love for you, and to confute everything that says anything less than ...I love you, and I am well pleased
Pray for Grace to respond to that love, and to open yourself to the power fo the Holy Spirit
Pray for Courage to embrace the Cross

Christ in the world - Christ in our lives

2012-01-02T18:15:00.000+10:30

In this season we have "Twelfth Night!"...you know the twelve days of Christmas!...which is January 6th we call this day "Epiphany"

Some readings for this season include Isa 60:1-6, Ps 72, Ephesians 3:1-12, Matt 2:1-12.
I like to burn incense on this day because incense reminds us that, apart from everything else, Jesus is the object of our prayer.
And the smoke of incense is meant to remind us of the holiness of Jesus,
and that Jesus is the source,
the motivation and the mediation of our prayers to our loving Father.

In the Christmas story
Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Magi, the Three Wise Men as we often call them.
In our church (All Hallows Blackwood) they have been walking round the church(!) since Christmas Eve
.....see the picture above.
They were probably not there at Bethlehem
(this may seem, but is not, controversial. They were coming from a far off land)

Thematically this event expresses the Christian Gospel moving outside the narrow confines of Israel

to all the people of the world.
So we think about God being made known (epiphanised) to all people.
This is in fact what the word "epiphany" means.
--demonstrating, showing forth, exposing,----
This is a most important theme.
Christ is for the world
not just the temple or the Church.

I often say my job as a pries is

to stand aside

so that people can see Jesus

And, indeed, I think that despite all the Church troubles in recent times it is the Church that people don't like not Jesus.

Where is Jesus in your life?
Where do you need him
Where could he fit?
Where is he reaching out to you?
Where does Jesus meet us
Typically the words that trigger off responses
to these questions...are love, forgiveness, healing and intimacy
You don't have to be genius to realise that we all crave these things.
I try to bring people to Jesus so that we may know his love, care, forgiveness and healing.
You may wish to pray for yourself that you might know his real presence
touching those places where you are most in need.
Lord Jesus, come into my life today
that I may know your closeness, your care,
your healing and your forgiveness
Lord Jesus, make yourself know to me today. Amen

At the name

2011-12-30T20:30:00.003+10:30

Readings for today Sunday January 1 2012 ...which we are keeping as The Feast of the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus (but could also be New Year's Day and the Sunday After Christmas) Numbers 6:22-27, Psalm 8, Galatians 4:4-7; (also Philippians 2) Luke 2:15-21

I once pompously told some Mormons who knocked on our door
on New Years' Day that they were interrupting our celebration
(expecting them to think it was New Year's Day)
I then announced this was the feast of the Circumcison of Jesus!
(It didn't seem to bother them and their not-so-hidden agenda)
Strangely this festival does make sense
because it reminds us that
God is not just acting randomly or whimsically
the plan (which we seldom appreciate in its entirety)
is glimpsed occasionally.
By prophets, by scientists,
by ordinary people
by poets, and artists,
even by politicians and rulers.

We hold this to be a matter of faith.
Albert Einstein is oft misunderstood about his saying:
God is not playing dice with the universe.

So, although the birth of Jesus,
brings about a new phase in universal history
God is not saying
"Forget about everything that has happened"
Rather, we see Jesus being taken to the Temple
as a sign that God still honours the ancient covenant
of circumcision.
Traditionally the name is given on this 8th day ceremony
and so the baby is named "Jesus"---God saves
(Yeshua or Joshua)
God is not scrapping everything and starting again.
God is fulfilling the promise to bring about the salvation of all people.

So today we celebrate
that God is keeping his promise to his people.

God's promise to us
Can we hear what God is promising to you and to me from the readings today:
The Lord bless you and keep you
...make his face to shine upon you
...and be gracious to you
........lift up his countenance on you
............and give you peace

This prayer from Numbers is God's prayer of blessing ...sometimes called the Aaronic or priestly blessing.
A prayer of great generoisty and God's care for us.

And the psalm reminds us:
When we look to the heavens and see the moon and the stars
...why should you bother about humanity.
Yet you have made us a little lower than God and crowned us with glory and honour

St Paul reminds us in his letters that though we are in the Jewish tradition yet we (Gentiles) are not enslaved by it
...God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts....and
....we can call God, Abba.....Daddy.....
...we are not slaves .....but we are God's loved children.

Tremendously reassuring stuff

The Gospel reminds us that this all comes about
through God's faithfulness to us
through the loving faithfulness of Mary and Joseph
who received God's challenge and responded

...it is signified by this day.

For you and me
Take time this week
to give thanks to God for the way we are blest and kept in place
...we have so much to be thankful for at this time.
to be an agent of peace, where can I act for good, can I help someone know forgiveness

Take time to look at the stars on these beautiful summer evenings (in the south)
or the crisp, sharp winters (in the north)....and to remember that God gives us all this to us to care for.....How can I better care for my environment in 2012? (Plant a New Year tree, grow some vegetables, get rid of rubbish in your local park.....)

What do you want to tell your "daddy" Abba......speak quietly to God about your deepest hopes and fears for ..this year, your life...what's going on ...bring it to God

This is all about what God promises you and me
all because God is faithful to the promise
to bring salvation

Robust Christmas

2011-12-23T23:29:00.004+10:30

Let's think a bit more about Christmas.
There is a wonderful selection of readings over the Christmas season. Take your pick or read them all Psalm 96; Psalm 97;Titus 2:11-14;Titus 3:4-8;Isaiah 9:2-7, Isaiah 62:6-12,Isaiah 52:7-10;Hebrews 1:1-12;John 1:1-14;Luke 2

Since I celebrated Christmas last year
it has been my great privilege to visit the Holy Lands
(I use this term in plural form advisedly)
so Bethlehem takes on a whole new vista of meaning
Bethlehem is surprisingly close to Jerusalem
many may not realise
that Bethlehem is in the Palestinian domain
known as the West Bank.
we often think of this
as being war-ridden
and centre of much conflict.
Some of that reflexion is true.
Last year and the year before
it was particularly difficult for pilgrims to be in Bethlehem
because of tight (often bizarre) border controls
that the Israeli government imposes.
It is just so sad.
One of my key reflexions this year
has been of of the handsome 23 year old Palestinian
who spoke to us about life in
The Daihesheh Refugee settlement.
It is unimaginable for those who live in the
Privileged World
to realise that people live, have lived
and look as though they will continue to live
in situations of helplessness,
at the mercy and whim of unresponsive government
to their plight.
That young man said of his lot in life

"I was born here, I grew up here,

I do not want to die here!"

I found these words chilling. Not the least becaus I don't feel I can do much to help him.

This year our Christmas collections will be directed towards that refugee settlement
They might be used for the library
or the children's education program,
or the collective of women seeking to make a constructive life.

It won't make much difference (even if we send $2000)
except in your life
and mine.
We at least, this Christmas
might say,
however tentatively
there is more to life
than my pleasure.
I may not be able to solve the world's problems
But, I do believe God can and will.
And I commit myself to that.

Great time

2011-12-22T21:26:00.007+10:30

There is a wonderful selection of readings over the Christmas season. Take your pick or read them all Psalm 96, Psalm 97, Titus 2:11-14, Titus 3:4-8, Isaiah 9:2-7, Isaiah 62:6-12,Isaiah 52:7-10, Hebrews 1:1-12, John 1:1-14, Luke 2
There are a couple of reflexions for Christmas here.
It is such a wonderful time that there is much to think and pray about
and to act upon.

The cohort you contact

Most of us have a group
with whom we can clearly identify.
It probably includes
our family
our neighbours,
those with whom we work,
our friends,
those who interest us,
and some others we like or are fascinated by.

As we read the Christmas stories
we come upon a lot of these people
the family...Elizabeth and Zechariah,
the local yokels...commonly called
the shepherds
and the wierdos
or as we know them
The Wise Men.
We all live with a diverse group of people.
Christmas invites us to connect.

And the connection
is interesting, fascinating and weird!!

Might this be what Christmas is about for you and me
The people we are stuck with!
Those who won't let us go!!
And those who we won't let go!!!

I invite you during this season to sneak into a corner
perhaps you are feeling tired
or overwrought
and just run through
your list!!!

At the very least
if we spend a few minutes connecting
with real people
we escape something of the madness of the season.

That's the very least!!!
We also connect with what seems to be
the Christmas truth.
Christmas is not really about
"How do you cook a goose?"
(something that has rather fascinated me this Christmas)
But we live in a decadent and safe (relatively) world.
But the people,
the brothers
the friends
the neighbours.
Well they are not so neat and tidy.
They'll not all line up
and make themselves presentable.
Can we rejoice in this?
Rather than regret it?
Jesus is rather good at this.
he seems to accept difference
and love the unlovely.
Can we this Christmas
thank God that Joe is gay
that Mary and Fred have decided to build a house
whoops...they're not married
and Tonto Junior is on the way

Let's rejoice that Christmas invites us
to just simply love those
who God has given us!!!
Not nice, not neat
not even logical
But my brother, my friend,
my curious neighbour
diffficult.....whoever
And the Word......was made flesh
and dwells among us. AMEN

O LITTLE TOWN

2011-12-13T20:47:00.009+10:30

READINGS THIS WEEK CAN INCLUDE 2 SAM 7:1-16, PSALM 89, MAGNIFICAT, ROMANS 16:25-27, LUKE 1:26-38

Since I last reflected on the Christmas story
I have actually been to "the little town of Bethlehem"
This place which figures so much
in the Christmas story
can easily be romanticised.
We may not see the wood for the trees.
It was a bit like that for me.
So intent on seeing everything
I found myself at the manger shrine and wondered
"What now?"
I am a bit shocked that I did not have a profound revelation!
All we Christians have loved Bethlehem
since our childhood.
And, if not Bethlehem, then the idea of the stable
and the birthplace of Jesus.
The modern shrine has
no stable
no inn

Indeed our learned Course Director, Kamal Farah,
invited us to critique
much of that which passes as 'truth' in the Christmas stories.
I am perhaps getting distracted. And am reminded that there is much about the Christmas story that needs to be unpacked

We experience a lot of Christmas input at this time
One good question I heard asked about various school and church presentations was:
Why all these stories and plays with a Christmas theme
What's wrong with the story of the stable at Bethlehem.........?
There are of course many representations of that story
and it is rich in symbolism, myth (in the finest sense of that word)
and cultural nuance
When in doubt we should allow God's Word of Scripture
to do its wonderful work in our hearts
So take time this week to read the readings
and just to allow them to speak to you.
As you sit through the Carol Services take time too to be a little more open. Remember, as we see in this week's readings,
hat Christmas is God showing himself to us in human form.
It is about understanding who God is,
and what God is about. So we find that Mary, when confronted by the angel has to begin on a journey of discovery because she does not understand what all this might mean
^"29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be"
And Paul tells us at the end of Romans as we read today
"the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages ²⁶but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith"
The sort of message, that so puzzles Mary,
is God revealing in Jesus what has been true for all time.
This is the overarching message of the Christmas story.
God is revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ.
He is, what controversialist bishop, John AT Robinson
describes as The Human Face of God.
This is a description I find really helpful.
God cannot (or perhaps may not )be described...
he is indeed "the mystery that was kept secret"
our philosophy, our history, even our theology
does not come close to fully disclosing who God is
if we want to know what God is like
then the fullest revelation is Jesus.

So what do we see
We find at Christmas a deeply confronting story.
God chooses a young girl about whom we know remarkably little.
In the short passage of this morning's Gospel we know more about Joseph
.... a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David
than we do about Mary herself

In fact we know more about Zechariah and Elizabeth than we do about their cousin: belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. ⁶Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. ⁷But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

What might this say to us?
At the very least we are reminded
that God views people differently from the way we do.
We make different choices about what is important
so we look for wealth, success, power and prestige ..
God looks differently.
There is an invitation here in the Christmas story
to look with different eyes at the world in which we live.
In the reading from the Hebrew bible too,
we read of David's desire to build a Temple.
This seems like a righteous desire, a good thing.
But it is not what God wants.
We do not always get it right,
we are often fixated on the material when God is inviting us to look deeper.
These are two modest insights
that we get from addressing the stories of the Bible
rather than sidetracking it.
Making room
Part of the frustration for us at Christmas
is finding Jesus amidst it all.
Let us not so much complain
about what Woolworths and Target do,
let us rather see the challenge to point ourselves and others to Jesus.

Ask tricky intelligent questions of your youngsters:
Why did God come as a baby?
What is he trying to tell us by being born in a stable?
Why did the shepherds and the wise men come?
and what do you think they said to Mary and Joseph?
What, indeed, would we say to them?

Reality and la vida loca

2011-12-06T17:16:00.000+10:30

What is your lifestyle choice?
This is something of a modern question.
Today's readings invite us to identify our lifestyle as Christian
How do you live faithfully as a modern Christian day to day?
Once again we have a pattern for faithful living in each of the three readings.
One thing that is striking is that "faithful living" is not lived out in a vacuum, but rather is the act of living vigorously and actively in this world in which we find ourselves.
Though many religious words are used,
the emphasis of the passages is not on the narrowly pietistic
it is on the dynamically active a life lived in full communion with God
and totally engaged with human life.
Fully in communion with God,
totally engaged with human life.
These themes flow through all the readings but in this reflection I will focus on the reading from 1Thessalonians

6Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise the words of prophets,but test everything; hold fast to what is good; ²²abstain from every form of evil. 23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴

The call to worship

I am struck always when I read this passage of its absolute nature..."always" ; "in all circumstances""without ceasing"

Paul anticipates here

that worship will not be an occasional, Sunday-only,

type of activity

It will be all of life.

Two points can be made about this.

One, we need to get down and do it!!!

We need to do it.

So find the place and start.

Pray daily,

for your family, for yourself for your concerns.

Decide that this is a life-habit

that you are going to commit to and do it.

Try, too, to seize the opportunity

to turn your day to day activities

into deliberate, unobtrusive prayer.

Some years ago I was asked by a woman

who was very upset about blasphemy

"What do you do you when people punctuate there speech with "Jesus!", this and "Jesus" that!"

My response was

that I try and use this as an opportunity

to pray.

It's not always easy.

We can find our own little ways to be more attentive

to the need to pray constantly.

One of the great benefits of afternoon and evening walks

is that we can use the opportunity to give thanks to God

for our local environment and to pray for our neighbours.

This may not work for you....

but find something that turns your heart to God

is a GOOD thing and we will reap benefits.

The great traditions of meditation call us to "mindfulness"

not just allowing our day to day experiences

to go to waste

While we might take this to mean

that we "should take time to smell the flowers"

and we should!

it also means that we should treasure

our daily emotional and spiritual experiences.

How often do we have ups and downs...and simply not do anything about them other than fret!!!?

Take time to debrief yourself and commit to God

The American farmer-poet Wendell Berry

reminds us that we are called to engage with life

He says we are called to live the given life

not the planned life.

It is a reminder

that what ever else we think

we are to do

we are in danger of avoiding living the life

we are given

in favour of the life we think we should have

or that we so desperately long to live.

We are called to live the given life

...not the planned

being mindful of what we have.

The kings missed the Christ child

because their plan had him somewhere else!!!

In this season of craziness....la vida loca

we are called back to the given life

and Christ really present with us

Trusting and hoping

2011-11-29T12:18:00.000+10:30

Readings for Sunday 4 the December 2011 - Advent 2 can include Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85, 2 Peter 3:8-15; Mark 1:1-8

I trust that you are all making progress with your Christmas presents.
I once put to my children
an idea that comes out of such agencies as the Christmas Bowl
Let's give each other presents of about $5-$10
and then each give $20 to another cause.
They looked aghast...well if not aghast then askance!
Another hair-brained, unrealistic idea of that priest
we are (un)fortunate enough to have as a father.
The youngest one got it...
...enraptured with caring for a girl in Tanzania
through a school project
it is easy to get her to understand
that $10 spent on her
what might otherwise be ---another Barby, a fluffy pen, cheeky knickers....or whatever
is here today and gone tomorrow!

But for the little Tanzanian girl
it can do so much more.
She was taken by the notion
that in Africa the wealthy send their children
to Europe as soon as they can
and so there is a "brain drain"
(I am impressed that a 12 year old
can get this quite difficult concept.)

Understanding that by supporting strong education
in Tanzania
then most people will stay if they can.
And thus halt the brain drain
This stuff is fairly self-evident
if and when you think about it!
Comfort and Trust
Today we are invited
to reflect on the theme of Trust.
There is presented for us
an image of a God who we can trust
Amidst all our troubles and difficulties
and no one escapes this...
we trust that God will care for us and sustain us.
The readings tell us that God willBring us back...we can trust God to restore us
that God is ...patient with us
we often think God is slow
but God is actually patient
That God will empower us with the Holy Spirit
Even John the Baptist says, " Don't be like me!"
rather open yourself to the one who comes after
and he will pour out his Holy Spirit on you..

These are promises in which we are invited to trust.

God cares for us
God is patient with us
God empowers us

In our life
I hope that you might see here
that what is being offered is a chance to be real and genuine.
It is not unlike
getting the Christmas present idea right.
There is nothing wrong with presents
there is an issue about proportion,
and about what is important.
We can trust God to give us the right gifts,
but can we trust ourselves!
Can the world trust us to deliver
on God's behalf?
or have we been distracted by the trivial, the unimportant?

God cares for us and brings us home how do we care for others
and restore them
How do we act as agents of reconciliation
and bringers of peace?

God is patient with us have we given up on people,
have we stopped talking to someone who has hurt us
or have we settled for second-best in our relationships

God empowers us has our relationship with God
gone stale
do we allow ourselves to be open to the Holy Spirit
do we pray with vigour and with power
We can trust God
and we need to be trusted as God agents.

Looking forward

2011-11-20T22:39:00.005+10:30

Readings for the First Sunday in Advent , November 27 2011. These can include: Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37

Some Christians are fascinated by the so-called
Second Coming of Christ.
This doesn't surprise me
and in a way it is good to keep one's eye on the ball
.....or perhaps to realise that the ball is still in play....

God's work is not yet finished.
And though we see and understand
that everything that is necessary to be done,
in order to reconcile
humanity and God,
has been done
by Jesus on the Cross
and through his resurrection
And God continues to pour out the Spirit so that this work of salvation
may be taken up by us
and that we may live the new life,
yet there is also a sense that this is not all complete;

it has to be worked through and made real.

A weak analogy is that it is like a house that has been built
at great expense and with great care.
It is the house of the future.
Indeed one of my friends was telling me only the other day
about such a house that she is building in the next couple of years.
It will replace an old house
and will be designed to cope with all sorts of modern needs,
not the least of which is that she is older
and her lifestyle has changed.
It will no doubt be executed
and there will be a day when we will be able to say
...this house is complete....
and yet in a real sense it is only the beginning
....the ball is still in play...
the house has yet to be lived in
and that will open it up
to a whole new range of possibilities.
As yet undreamt of.
As yet unrealised.

The coming of the kingdom
When Jesus talks about the coming of the kingdom
he talks about it in range of ways.
At times it is as if the kingdom is something that will be instituted
at the end of time
and yet he also says "the kingdom of God is amongst you"
He can also tell his disciples to pray
"your kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven"
While the house has been built
it is yet to be experienced
and lived in
...the ball is still in play.....
we need to keep our eye on the ball.
Advent and Christmas don't so much point us to the second coming
but rather warn us that we should be alert, and awake
to the possibility of Christ's kingdom here on earth.

We have the heavenly image, the ideal if you like,
of what it might be like when the heavenly kingdom is realised
and Christ will come with shouts of acclamation.
But are we also alert to the signs of the kingdom
that are in our midst.
Are we sufficiently awake to see that there are opportunities
to proclaim the kingdom
right where we are today?

Small possibilities
I am reminded of a wonderful poem
that our life is worked out in the small stuff rather than the big stuff

Answers

I keep my answers small and keep them near;
Big questions bruised my mind but still I let
Small answers be a bulwark to my fear.

The huge abstractions I keep from the light;
Small things I handled and caressed and loved.
I let the stars assume the whole of night.

But the big answers clamoured to be moved
Into my life. Their great audacity
Shouted to be acknowledged and believed.

Even when all small answers build up to
Protection of my spirit, I still hear
Big answers striving for their overthrow

And all the great conclusions coming near.

Elizabeth Jennings

This kingdom that we are called to experience
is at least as much in the small answers
for us
as it is in the big stuff.
In a real sense, sometimes the "big stuff"
threatens the small things
and yet, for most of us, for most of the time
it is the small answers
that are the authentic ones.

The kingdom of God is close at hand.
It will be in our care for our children
and the care that we take in our relationships
the gentleness and the kindness
the generosity of spirit
and the day to day forgiveness
that God's kingdom will be known
on earth as it is in heaven.
We need at the very least to pay attention
and be awake for the coming of the kingdom.

Let us not be too distracted
looking for the stars
that begin to fall
(which Jesus tells us is not something that should essentially concern us)
but rather pay attention to our own little patch of earth.
And live in the house in which we find ourselves;
it is at least
in paying attention to the process of living that we
may discover the purpose and meaning
of this place where we dwell
and that God's kingdom
is in our midst.
This is our Advent Work!

The Reign of Christ---give us a break

2011-11-13T17:22:00.011+10:30

We call this day Pentecost 23, but more importantly (being the last Sunday of the Church's year) it is the Feast of Christ the KingReadings for Sunday 20 November 2011 can be taken from Ezekiel 34, Psalms 95, & 100, Ephesians 1 & Matthew 25:31-46

As time goes on I become increasingly more republican!

So, the feast of Christ the King, (strangely promoted, perhaps even invented, in that most republican of countries, the USA.)
rather goes against the grain

But it has important themes for us to attend to
Even if we do have demythologise the language of monarchy!!

We get the idea...Christ is to us
like the King is to his subjects
We need to not see this in a brutal way
but rather to embrace the idea
that we are the willing/contented subjects
of King Jesus.
The Lord of the Cross.
We probably only need
to consider the Gospel (here)
which is pretty direct.
"In so far as you cared for the needy
you are caring for me!"
and then the converse
(perhaps more chastening)
"Ignore the needy,
and you ignore me"
More specific
We are directed to the hungry
the thirsty
the stranger
the naked
the sick
the prisoner.
This list might seem almost arbitrary
but it bears some consideration.

THE HUNGRY...there are indeed people who just don't have food
How can we respond to them
Is it through Anglicare, or World Vision
or simply by bringing food to church each Sunday for St Mary Magdalene's and Beacon
THE THIRSTY...thirst is is often an allegory for those
who have deep spiritual thirst
Are you attending to your own spiritual thirst?
Are you helping those who come to find an answer to their deep spiritual questions ( why is this happening to me?, Where is God? I feel purposeless!) Do we take these questions seriously?
THE STRANGER
Do we miss the miss "the stranger" in our midst?
Those who are lonely, those who have no friends
those who need to be connected to other people?
THE NAKED
It would be easy to think of the naked ...sexually
But I suspect there is something more important here.
Those who have absolutely no protection
against the the pressures of the world
(just as the naked have no clothes).
Can you think of anyone who is so vulnerable?
THE SICK
Christians have deep concern for the sick
I want them to be well
and I want to pray really hard for them.
This is the work of the kingdom
Fervent prayer and care for the sick
THE PRISONER
It is perhaps the prisoner who interests me
We are, I think, talking about those who are
actually in jail
But also those who are in jails of their own making
or who have been trapped by circumstances
..the jails of addiction, poverty, or accident
We don't have to think terribly figuratively
to realise that many of the world's people
live in jails that are not actually prisons

What then we hear is the simple message of Christ the King
Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty,
welcome the stranger,
clothe the naked,
release the prisoner.
Easy said
our faith commitment .....
...attend to this important stuff

Under the bed

2011-11-10T15:37:00.004+10:30

Readings for Sunday November 13 (Proper 28-Pentecost 22): First reading and Psalm:Judges 4:1-7: Psalm 123: Second reading:1 Thessalonians 5:1-1: Gospel:Matthew 25:14-30

The Gospel reading today seems a little culturally curious
It has hard words which are perhaps a little too redolent of the harsh times in which we live :
"Those who have nothing will even have what they do have taken from them!"
How, might we ask, can we take from people who have nothing?
There are a couple of interesting points:
This is a parable about life in God's kingdom.
The image/idea is that God has equipped us to live life
and we are to get on with it.
There is a sense in which we have been left to get on with it.
(This of course is only an image and we are not left alone)
But following the image
we see that some of us have 5 talents, some 2 talents
and some (probably most of us) have 1

The word talent here is a unit of money
rather than the way we often use it
to describe our personbal giftedness
As in Australia's Got Talent!
Why is this so? isn't it rather unjust?
No, I don't think so.
It's rather sort of how things are.
Some seem to have a lot of resources
some a modest amount
and some only a bit.
There is a point here: No one has no resources
We should remember this.
We sometimes think, that we are without any capabilities,
resources or gifts.
In terms of this parable
God has equipped every baptised person
(with the Holy Spirit)
to enable us to communicate/be Christ to the world.

THIS WEEK Consciously ask what am I to do?
What can I do? For Christ, to be Christ, to share Christ
(If we are tempted to think nothing then think again!)

Developing this a little further...
The condemnation that is reserved in this parable
for the person who has only one talent
and then takes it and hides it under the bed
is this
There is essentially only one failing
about what we do with our giftedness
and that is not that we are not as gifted as Mother Teresa,
It is not that we should have been a missionary, or a nurse,
a priest or a doctor.
It is not that we can look at someone else and see they are so much better than we are, musical, practical, influential
.....that is sort of how things are
Perhaps we will leave easier and better lives if we just accept that.
But the failing is, that in recognising that some are more gifted than we are,
we make the mistake of thinking either

that we are not gifted at all or
that we should leave it up to others

Each of us is called to use our talents
whether great or small

So, this week, the question is not:
Why am I not as holy as someone else? Or why am I not as gifted?
BUT what can I do with what I have been given?
Hiding our talents under the bed is not an option.

Did you hear the one about?

2011-11-01T05:22:00.001+10:30

Readings for Sunday 6 November 2011, 21st Sunday after Pentecost --thoughts about Joshua 24, 1 Thess 4:13-18, Matt 25:1-13
We are now moving on
These last few weeks are called in the Church of England, our sister church,
Kingdom season
I think this is a very useful reminder
that what we are about
is God's work
is establishing the kingdom.
we are not just meandering around
God is working a purpose out as year succeeds to year.
And that purpose is the kingdom which proclaims
Good News
to the poor
the imprisoned
those in need of healing
the blind
the crippled.
As years go on I realise that these 'categories'
are both figurative and actual
...there are many imprisoned who are not in gaol...
but that should not let us escape the reality
that there are people actually in gaols!

So any way the Gospel reading !!!!

It almost reads like a joke
Did you hear the one about the bridesmaids
who got locked out of the reception?
You know they spent the best part of the last two years
preparing for this wedding
and then they got locked out of the reception venue!!!!

The point?
Don't forget what's important
For the Christian...
You know the Anglican Covenant discussion
may be important
but there are people in jail!

For the Australian
The political fascination
of parties that hate each other
...there are people flooding to our shores
whose lives have been devastated
by greed, rape, poverty
famine.
for God's sake!!!!
And I use that expression advisedly

On a scale of one to ten ...how holy are you?

2011-10-26T17:34:00.002+10:30

If celebrating All Saints Day either on 30th October, or 6 November readings can be taken from Sirach/Ecclesiaticus 44:1-15; Rev 7:9-17;Matthew 5:1-12 We are privileged in our parish to have a Church dedicated under the title of All Hallows Though it is often mispronounced - All Hollows I sometimes wonder if people think we are shallow or empty but we are not And people often make the mistake that All Hallows means "All Ghosts" or "All Spirits" because of the connection with Halloween (why would you so dedicate a church?) the word Hallows actually means Saints. (and the 31 October-Halloween connection is because it is the Eve of All Saints Day -Nov 1 ie Hallows Evening...but I digress) Now Anglicans love All Saints Day (November 1) and I think it is one of the series of Saints Days which is a reminder of what it is like to be God's person. Because that's what Saint or Hallowed means In the early days of the Church (eg when the New Testament was written) that's what Christians where called Saints...or Hagioi which is Greek for you guessed it Hallows!!! All the baptised are Hallowed (made holy) by God. Set apart not to be separate from the world but commissioned to bring people back to God. We are not always good at this but that's probably not the point As I think about Frances, and Maureen, about Rob and Cathy, about Jenni and Bill, about Kath and Cath, and Peter and David, Elizabeth and Wendy Judy and Ailsa....you get the picture there are a number of us and quite a few who went before...Hilda and Doris, Norm, Cec and Rex and Luke, Jean and Rene, Bill and Esme....too many to mention, many of whom I have never met personally. At times we must have pleased God with our faithfulness and at times tried God's patience At all times we have been loved by God and some times we have been able to show that love to other people. It is our absolute joy to be under the title of the Apostle of Love St John and the title of All Hallows. May Jesus' name be praised in all we seek to be and do. Alleluia!

Hearing the word

2011-10-23T15:46:00.000+10:30

A reflection I Thess 2:9-13 for Sunday 30 October 2011..The 20th Sunday after Pentecost

St Paul writes in this Sunday's epistle

We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers.

what does this mean to receive teaching as God's word?
Does it mean it is a sort of fairy story? Not quite earthed, and having an air of the supernatural about it?
We sometimes think of the Bible like that.
When we are really desperate and tempted to flick open the Bible
in the hope we will get some inspiration
or direct message from God (hoping not to get Matthew 27:5)
we are rather treating the 'word of God' with a high level of contempt.

Paul uses the expression "God's word"
to the matter of his own teaching
This is a useful thing for us to remember.
We actually think...teaching, and preaching
and perhaps counselling and other ministries
...are not just dumping of information
they are one of the ways (and I use that expression "one of the ways" advisedly)
that God communicates with us.
How different might this make the way we approach the Sunday sermon or homily
If God might be speaking to me
then perhaps I need to try and listen
(I am bad at this myself...as a preacher I am not always good at listening to others)
So we should (and I try to) discipline ourselves to say
something like
"I expect to hear you today"
Even though the words, and the delivery, and the preacher themselves
may be flawed
That's not the point.
If God is speaking then perhaps we should try to listen.

Our Christian tradition suggests also
that we receive the Word of God through
Bible reading
Christ speaking directly to us
In the way we encounter Christ in the poor, the marginalised and those who the world finds hard to love

Again I say: If God in Christ is speaking to us
Perhaps we should be listening.

THIS WEEK

When I heard preaching this week what one thing did I hear? Did my anger, my carelessness, my apathy mean that I heard nothing?
It is not that God is not speaking. It is more likely that I am not listening

Can I read some Scripture this week...not as a magic trick...but take one of the Gospel stories and talk to Jesus about what he might be saying?

In my life what one thing has happened this week that would seem to me to be God speaking important words into my life?

Vision and insight

2011-10-16T15:21:00.000+10:30

Some reflections on Deuteronomy 34 for Sunday 23rd October 2011

I am not quite sure where I will be when you read this
(you could check my personal blog
and I may have had opportunity to post)
but as I will be in the Holy Lands
I will be considerably closer to the place where Moses died than I normally am!
Although this chapter at the end of Deuteronomy
tells us that we are not sure where
the actual burial place was
This gave rise rise to the legend that he was taken up (assumed) into heaven
but how are we to know such a wonderful thing?

The figure of Moses towers over the Exodus story
and the journey to the Promised Land.
But he dies before the great journey is completed,
and it is left to Joshua, his successor,
to complete the work.

We often make the observation
that it is not about the destination
it is about the journey.

This is true of Jesus
Although Jesus' journey is to Calvary
he is only briefly there (three hours)
as dramatic and climactic as the Cross is
it is not the ultimate destination.

He moves to it, though it, and beyond it.

We need to think about our own lives not as destinations
but as journey.
It is easy for me to do this this week
because I am in the midst of
what is, for a Christian,
a pilgrimage.
Not a destination
but a journey.
I will leave Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem
the sea of Galilee, Cana and Capernaum
behind.
They will have been important places.
But as St Augustine puts it
our hearts are seeking not a shrine
or a country
but they are restless until they find their rest in you, God
A modern commentator observes
there is also a sense in which God is restless until
God finds us
Can we stop and let God catch us?

THIS WEEK
Where am I missing God in my ordinary life's journey?
Am I seduced by false destinations, or lost commitment
to keep journeying
Can I find some way today to offer myself more wholly to Jesus.

Truth seeking

2011-10-09T14:48:00.002+10:30

For Sunday 16 October...18th Sunday After Pentecost...thinking about Mtt 22:15-22

When I was a young man I liked nothing better than to have a good argument about almost anything. It was hereditary. Both my father and his mother, my grandmother, were rather like this too. I well remember my mother saying about her mother-in-law "She could argue black was white"
And so could I, and so could Dad. And we sometimes did.
As I have got older I have rather tired of this sort of "death by argument" sort of existence. These two little stories in Matthew 22 perhaps give us an insight into why this might be so.
First, they both have a sense that they are 'tricky'.
That is, although they seem fairly straight forward we soon discover they are not.
"Is it lawful to pay taxes?" Should immediately alert us to this
In our own country as soon as we started calling the process to price carbon not a charge but a "tax" people became wary.
Although we may like the benefits of taxation, none of us likes paying it.
In reality it looks like the questioners are not interested in the answer. They are trying to trap Jesus.
If he say "Yes it is lawful to pay tax" then the people will hate him. If he says "No, it's not lawful!" then he may be hauled before the courts
We may have arguments, we may ask questions.
But there is often a deep seated hidden agenda.
I suspect my grandmother, father and I really liked beating people into submission.
Not so much about the subject, as about power.

The second story is intriguing the 21st century person is left with a sense of the unreality of this question...Who will you be married to after you are dead? It is a a question about a religious divide which we don't fully understand...again
it is rather like the political arguments of today
no one is being convinced
but that's not what they are trying to do
they are attempting to expose the foolishness of their opposition
rather than get at the truth.
Mostly when I discuss this passage, people look blankly
it is clear WE all think that as interesting as this all might be we have moved on!
Jesus, in entering into the discussion, only seems to make it more ridiculous.
I suspect he is exposing the futility of it all by taking it to the logical extreme.

A reflection
As important as it might be to correct error
we are often self-deceptive about the way we question and debate.
What looks important for Jesus is not the sort of logical niceties
and the technical merits of an argument
but rather the character of relationship
St John says (15:13) Greater love has no one than this, that they lay down their life for their friends
This is one of those cornerstone verses
The gospel in a nutshell
Love is not shown by pointing out the error of their ways
or by winning arguments
But by self-sacrificial service
This is the message of the Cross.
It's often easier to argue
and may even be abusive.
It is far harder to love

Who get to be a saint? -who get invited to the wedding?

2011-10-02T10:28:00.001+10:30

Lectionary Readings for Sunday 9th October include Exodus 32:1-14, Psalm 106:1-6,19-23; Philippians 4:1-9 & Matt 22:1-14

No sermon I have heard about saints in the last 50 years
has failed to remind the modern Christian
that "We are all saints"
As we look at this parable (Matt.22:1-14) of the wedding feast
(read it online here)
We might ask ourselves what Jesus says
in this in answer to the question
"Who gets to be a saint?"

I do

In many ways the last line of this parable reminds us of the inescapable reality
"Many are called!"
God does not hold back on his offer of fulness of life.
So, as we ask, Who gets to be a saint?
We can at least answer:Everyone gets the opportunity."Many are called!"
I am fortunate in that I can recognise
that there has never been a moment of my life
when that has not been true.
Less than a month old, I was walked across the road
to St Peter's Church, Kells
and I was baptised.

Baptism, in this sense, is a reply to the wedding invitation
that this parable is talking about.
The invitation to participate in a relationship
with the living God
which is called "eternal life"

(I sometimes think we understand that term better
if we say fulness of life or abundant life)This gift is so abundant and free
..it is truly gracious, freely offered...
that we can and should sayMany are called...perhaps we could addavailable for allWhat we also need to remember and add
is that this version ends with the words
Few are chosenThis process of selection
is not a sort of
whimsical game that God plays with us
it is, as these parables demonstrate,
also a process of self-selection

They do

The invitation is extended
but some, even many,
choose to not come
Two things happen
as a consequence:
those who have heard the invitation
but who choose not to come
are excluded!
And those who we don't think are the ones
who should be chosen
actually get the chance.
In historical terms
Jesus might be addressing
his own people
Pharisees and Saducees
who hear his teaching and yet
they fail to turn back to God.
We see then he turns
to social outcasts
poor tradespeople
fishermen, and anxious young men.
More than that
there are the tax collectors, the lepers
and the prostitutes.
These people with empty, desperate lives
are the ones who hear
and receive Jesus gladly.
As we reflect on religious history
this sort of pattern has often repeated itself.
In our terms (as of old)
it is the people who have always known
the Gospel
whose parents walked them over the road
to be baptised.
They have heard
and in many cases
rejected.
This parable might remind us
that we have to live with that
as a reality.
It might also remind us that
when we try to focus our energies
at bringing people in
it is to the highways, and the byways
we should be going.
Can we honestly critique our parish life
and sayWe are geared to welcoming
those who are usually rejected?I think not

I don't

There is thena salutary warning for those of us who are "in"
it is not a game.
It is a genuine invitation
which requires a genuine response.
If we think it will be about -game playing-
dressing up, social nicety or pretense
then we are mistaken.
We are to be clothed properly.
We are to set about our job.
It is this that we see the saints doing in their different ways.
Whether it be through faithful hours spent caring for the poor,
or a diuligent devotion to bringing up children,
it may be simply a commitment to live
a decent and honourable Christian life
as best we can.
It is not particularly about coming to church,
it is about how we live our life.
This is a serious mistake we often make
with these parables of the kingdom.
We some how seem to think
that they are about our involvement in church.
That is not the case.
It is about how we choose to live life.Not about how oftyen we receive communion
but whether we practice forgiveness
and care for the poor.
Not about how much we give
but about our relationship with GodWill our life show that we take this invitation seriously?
Take some stock this week,
ask a telling question...
you know one of those tricky ones..if I was on trial for being a christian
would there be enough evidence to convict me!?
Would the jury find love, mercy, forgiveness.
Reaching out to the poor, standing alongside the weak,
caring for the sick and the lonely.
It is not a game.
Do we say yes to the invitation
to eternal life?
Do we say no, to the hypocrisy of pretence?
Nothing less will do.

True responsibility

2011-09-26T17:56:00.003+09:30

Readings for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost (proper 20) 27th Sunday of the Year. Oct 9 2011, Ex 20:1-20*; Psalm 19; Philippians 3:4-14; Matt 21:33-46

We have today a triptych of readings
about our relationship with God
and how we are to respond to the call of God on our lives.

The Ten Commandments are an essential statement of universal values
which are widely, some would even say universally, accepted. They could be seen as a legal code, I suppose,
but in reality the spirit of the Hebrew Scriptures
contained in the prophets sees them more as a distillation
of a way communities might live together
and some of the fundamental principles
like the sanctity of life,
the respect for property,
the importance of truth and integrity in relationships
Preceding all that is the key idea
that we are worshippers of the one true God,
the God who is (for want of a better word) jealous
and who will brook no rival.

The Gospel story is about
recognising that there is a responsibility
for those who are in this relationship.
The responsibility is not to be legalistic
but to participate in a dynamic and active way
in the life of the kingdom
The condemnation that Jesus holds out in this parable is
for those who make the mistake
of thinking and acting
that this relationship is legalism
or for those who take the privilege of the covenant
without any responsibility.
It is a sombre warning
for those of us who religiously inclined.
God will try and try again
to draw us into relationship
but if we simply ignore that invitation
or prefer legalism
then eventually we will be excluded.
Not because God is damning us
But because we remove ourselves
from the generosity of God's grace.

Relationship with Jesus
Paul's wonderful dissertation in Philippians
which also continues today,
reminds us that we can have perfect credentials
our ancestry impeccable
but all this is rubbish
by comparison with what is being offered in Christ.
A relationship in God.
It is this that will motivate.
It is taking responsibility
to have a vital life in Christ
and not apportioning blame
or creating an elite
which will see us drawn into the kingdom.

This week

Is there one thing that may be standing in your way to being more faithful in Christ?
Is there one thing where God may be inviting a deeper, better response (an act of forgiveness, more fervent prayer, an act of charity...etc) and can we make that transition instead of preferring a legalistic way of little or no accountability.

Questions about authority

2011-09-18T13:17:00.001+09:30

Readings for the 26th Sunday of the Year, Sunday 25th September 2011 Exodus 17:1-7 Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 ;Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32 (proper 21)
The authority of spiritual teachers
is often called into question
so we are not surprised to read this week
that Jesus's authority
was called into account.
In fact it happened on a number of occasions,
and one thing we can see from the passage
is that the question is complex.
So there are a couple of observations we might make.
One is that we often question authority,
when we are trying to trip people up.
So often, as in this case, the questioners are not interested in getting the right answer
but rather in getting the replier to put himself offside with one group or another.
We are used to this because we see it all the time in the political arena.
Second,Matthew gives us a bit of an illustration to help us better assess.
You would be better, he suggests,
to look at what a person does
rather than what they say.
Even if a person says
"I am going to do the right thing"
but then doesn't do anything
we should look at the action
rather than believe the words.
Even, bizarrely, if someone says they are not going to cooperate with you
but then does
Then believe the action rather than the words.
Children do this all the time
they believe what we do rather than what we say.
It is interesting that as we read Philippians 2
and we are here reading about the nature of Jesus again
we read about what the action of being godly is like
...it puts aside pride and selfish ambition,
it is humble it is obedient it does not presume on greatness.
And in fact it deliberately puts these things aside.
How unlike you and me this is!
So often, full of our self-importance
we forget that we are urged to not presume on our own rightness, goodness, holiness, intelligence or strength.
St Paul in another place reminds us that the reason for this is because
it is not when we are strong, powerful and great
that God is glorified
But it is when we are weak
aware of our limitations and trusting only in God
that God can be God for us.

THIS WEEK

Where are we guilty of not practising what we preach? Is there a way we can better put into action what being a faithful Christian means?
Look for one opportunity this week to humbly follow Christ, so that we may better trust.

Lord Jesus, you became obedient you offered your life, that others may live. May that same Spirit infuse my life this week, and every day. AMEN

Strange Attractors

2011-09-15T18:07:00.001+09:30

Sunday Sept 18, 2011. 14th ^h Sunday after Pentecost.. Exodus 16:2-15; Ps 105:1-6, 37-45, Phil 1:21-30; Matt 20:1-16

It’s easy to think that the story of the workers in the vineyard (this week’s Gospel reading)

is a commentary on labour relations

however, commentators on the New Testament

remind us to be careful about assuming a parable is a detailed analysis of the human condition.

The great British Scholar CH Dodd makes this point:

At its simplest a parable is a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness, and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application to tease it into active thought."
(C. H. Dodd, The Parables of the Kingdom, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1961, p. 5)

Jesus tantalizes his listeners with these challenging stories that invite us to engage

with what God is like

What do we make of this?

This story challenges us about how we will “live …life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Phil 1:27)

What is God like?

And how do I put this into practice?

The point of the parable is that God is a generous, loving and forgiving God

and we are called to do likewise.

We are not always like this!

We very easily get sidetracked.

We grumble when we are treated well

because others (who we judge less worthy)

are also treated well.

Paul at the beginning of his letter to the Ephesians reminds us that God’s character is a generous character

In a wonderful way Paul says of God

“God who is rich in mercy”

The strange and tantalizing thing about this parable is that even though the owner of the vineyard

is outrageously generous

we still find those who demand that they should be treated better.

The sad story of events in the Exodus journey that we are also following (today in chapter 16) is that the God who deals with his people richly

is soon deserted when the going gets tough.

But I also want to ask about events of our own day.

How easily we forget

· that the God who we believe deals with us generously

· forgiving our sins on demand

· hearing our prayers and responding

· always overlooking our faithlessness

· and giving his only son that we might be made whole

Also calls us to act likewise.

How easily we forget to be generous

to refugees

to drug addicts

to gay people

to aboriginal people

the list could go on…

Are we like God?

Are we rich in mercy?

This week

• Where is God calling me to act more generously?

• Where am I being invited to repent and change my small minded attitudes?

• What do I need to do in practice to better reflect my Christian life and witness?

Will I live differently

If God is for you

2011-09-07T20:40:00.004+09:30

If you keep the Sunday of the Year (Proper 24) then the readings are
EXODUS 14; Exodus 15:1-21; Psalm 14, ;Romans 14:1-12 , Matthew 18:21-35 but we will BE PARTICULARLY FOCUSSING ON BACK TO CHURCH SUNDAY

The wonderful story of the crossing of the Read Sea (Exodus 14)

is an archetypal story

That is: it is a story of the human condition....not just a recounting of a story that may or may not have happened

but a story owned by humanity

the "Crossing of the Red Sea"

This story says that if we trust in God

we sometimes come to points
where we cannot go forward
we are at the bank of the sea
and the enemy are amassing behind us.
What do we do?
The Moses story tells us
if we trust in God
then even though it looks as though we cannot go forward
we go forward.
What does this mean?
Apart from (and above) everything else
when we we don't know where to go
faith tells us to trust God.
It's easy to give in
but God calls us to go forward.
When we are invited to forgive' or to 'love'
or to 'act''
Stick with it
Where is God inviting you/me
to have the courage of faith
the promise is that ...though we might be frightened
yet...if we are sure God is telling us
Love, forgive act
then trust God.

Let the faith of God be your steadfast rock
it's worth it!!!

Practical application

2011-08-29T10:28:00.001+09:30

Readings for Sunday 23, 4th September are:

Exodus 12:1-14 and Psalm 149 •

Romans 13:8-14 •

Matthew 18:15-20

What a lot of people don't get about Christianity

is that it is about living together

How do humans live with God, and how do they live with each other?

While there is no doubt that religion can seem to be remote and ritualistic,
this dimension only makes sense when it connects to life

Nowhere is this truer than in the Eucharist.

As we gather together to worship God
and share the Bread and Wine of Holy Communion
we are recognising that good experience of God

Is as fundamental
as the food and drink we share

That God is present to us
in the ordinary stuff of life

So we expect that
the key stuff that we talk about

Should not only just sound good in theory
it should be practical in application

Matthew’s advice about how to deal with disputes

Is sound and practical.

It emphasises discretion and forgiveness.

It has about it mutuality and care

What else would we expect?

Apart form anything else
it also says we should try.

A lot of reconciliation doesn’t happen
because we can’t be bothered.

We would rather ignore conflict

Than be reconciled.

Pride, embarrassment, arrogance, wilfulness

All stand in the way.

Christian principles suggest

That we should at least
try!

It won’t always (or ever) be easy

But we are called to try, to engage seriously

In the practical implementation of the gospel

This week

Where do we need prompting to be reconciled
What do I need to do? What precautions/supports are there that need to be applied?
Are my strategies genuinely kind, patient, forgiving and loving?

IF I FORGET LORD
THAT I AM NOT CALLED TO BE SELF-RIGHTEOUS
THEN GENTLY PROMPT ME.
ALWAYS ENCOURAGE ME

TO BE HUMBLE AND KIND

FORGIVING AND LOVING

Get real

2011-08-23T11:50:00.005+09:30

Sunday 28 August, 22nd Sunday of the year. Pentecost 11. Exodus 3, Psalm 105, Romans 12:9-21, Matt 16:21-28

For all Peter's realisations that Jesus is pretty important in the scheme of things
( as we read last week)
and he is rewarded with some pretty dramatic words....I will build my church on you
Words which the Church has been keen to exploit,
they are not so keen to observe that moments later
Jesus is berating this Prince of the Apostles and saying
"Get behind me Satan!"
And that he who was once a foundation
is now a "stumbling block"
Equally strong words in the other direction.
I think we see here what is an observable phenomenon for spiritual people.
There are times when it is all pretty clear,
and we can make it hang together
And then it evaporates and, once again, we lose the plot.

Equally well we have the seminal story of the burning bush. This too is the experience of people.
God grabs our attention and if we are attentive we hear and receive then we can hear what God might be saying
[I am not too worried about how a bush might burn or what it might mean this is not a story about supernatural phenomena, this is a story about how God catches out attention
how we hear God
and what we might then do]
As Christians who believe in an ever-present, and transcendent God
experienced in and through the world
we experiece "burning bushes" all the time.
Do we just take any notice?
Moses, we note, had to turn away from what he was doing and go and take a look.
Our problem is that we may often see
but then just go on with what we are doing.
So we don't see or hear God
saying to us I AM WHO I AM.
Instead we return to the sheep who are going crazy.
But it is when we turn aside
take off our shoes
because we realise the encounter is holy and powerful
as we listen
and then act out of that experience
that it all makes a difference.

This is what happened to Peter
when he recognised what God might be doing in Jesus(here)
this changed his life fundamentally.
As indeed Moses was changed
when he turned aside.
Because he now had the choice to live out of something new.
This is how it works for us.
As we ask ourselves
where is God's grace active and alive for us today
there is also the invitation to live rather differently.
Out of knowledge of the fact that God is who God is
---we use the shorthand term Yahweh, Jehovah or LORD
The Question then is...what do we do with this?
God's invitation is to live out of the new encounter
the temptation is to go back to doing what we did before.

As I ask myself, where have I experienced God's grace today
the next step is:
And what difference does that make ?
Will I choose to live differently because I have encountered God.
We don't always get this right.
This is Peter who was a "foundation" becoming a "stumbling block"
Having been granted the vision of the future do we choose to go back tot he past.
Too often yes!

This week

Where have I experienced the presence of God at this time?
What is God asking me to be and do? What does it reveal to me about the nature of God? What is the invitation to live differently?
What changes do I make to the way I live because I have encountered God on holy ground?
Will I live differently?

O God, you invite me to turn aside and be with you. Why on earth do you want to speak with me? What do you want of me? Give me not only this grace, but also the courage to live out of your life. In Jesus name. AMEN

For I desire love

2011-08-14T14:40:00.002+09:30

This Sunday 21st August 2011 we use the readings for the 16th/21st Sunday which is the 109th Sunday after Pentecost. These are taken from Exodus 1:8-2:10 (or Isaiah 51:1-6); Psalm 124 (or Psalm 138); Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20

One of the points I made last week was that we always bring a lot of baggage to the Scriptures when we seek to interpret their meaning
One of the biggest pieces of baggage is our understanding of 'authority'.
If, after all, Scripture is divinely inspired [however we interpret that]
then what it has to say about authority is important.
The Gospel passage we read this week is one of those portions
where the issue of authority is very much to the fore:
We read

16:18 I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

The Roman Catholic Church has taken this passage to speak about the particular authority that was given to St Peter
and then by extension to Peter's successors as Bishop of Rome
This Papal claim may be interesting but, in the end, to me it is difficult to sustain.
More than this, it obscures the insight that is being offered here to all Christians.
It is part of the baggage!
The dynamic that is going on here
is that in relationship with Jesus
we come to an understanding of who we are.
So Peter, though he might be tempted to think otherwise,
comes to understand that he can and will be
a foundation that God can use to build

Much of what is said about Peter in this encounter
would wait to be realised
It is often only in looking back that we see God's hand evident.
As we reflect on the Moses story, for example,
which we begin this morning also
we are able to frame a fairly hair-raising story of murder and cruelty
and see how God was able to take that and make something bold out of it.
This is not moralising or fable telling
with a view to getting an object lesson
but rather exploring a foundational principle of the faith-journey
that God takes the stuff of our life
and gives it meaning.
For Peter, for Moses
(and indeed for us)
it is encounter with God
which will give meaning to our lives.

This is what we are trying to 'explain' about Christianity
It is what happens to people when they are 'saved'
it is the 'grace' which God gives us
bringing meaning and purpose.

Our prayers, thoughts and reflections
might be well spent
listening to what Jesus is speaking into our lives

This is not an exercise in fantasy.
It is about getting in touch with the reality
of what God is saying to me today.

This week

Sit quietly and ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit
Lord show show me who and what you want me to be this week
Use one of the following scripture passages
Lord speak to me today

Romans 13:12
12the night is far gone, the day is near. Let
us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light;

1 Cor 4:13
13when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become
like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day.

Matthew 14:23
23And after Jesus had dismissed the
crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was
there alone,

Judges 13:13
13The angel of the Lord said to Manoah, ‘Let
the woman give heed to all that I said to her.

Hosea 6:6
6For I desire steadfast love and not
sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than
burnt-offerings.

What might God be saying to me ?
What does this invite me to do tomorrow and in the week to come?

Doris Howles- RIP

2011-08-10T18:02:00.003+09:30

John 14:1-6
One of my parishioners says to me "What are you going to say about me at my funeral?"
Let me assure you that more than one person has said to me about Doris
"What are you going to say about her?"
It was well known that she and I had a tempestuous relationship
And I suspect that I am not the only person who could say that about her.
She is the third senior member of the Movement for the Ordination of Women (MOW) whose funeral I have been present at in recent months (see here and here)
Like Alison Gent and Alder Hall this portrait shows the truth of the G&S word
"(See) my daughters all of whom are beauties."
Doris was also keenly involved involved with the
Prayer Book Society
which promoted the use of the Book of Common Prayer of 1662
I therefore found myself in deep agreement on one issue
and in disagreement on another
And we had our moments!
One day I had a phone call from the Archdeacon, who had had a phone call from the Archbishop
who had had a letter from the Primate of Australia
who had had a letter from Doris Howles!!
Like many of us
who are convinced that we should promote greater liberty
and great causes
we also think that everyone should agree with us
and are not terribly sympathetic to those who don't!
Doris was like it
I am like it!
And it makes for an interesting life.
Jesus reminds us
that God's house
is a big house
and that there is room for all sorts of people.
There is room for Doris
there is even room for me, and you!!!

This Gospel teaching reminds us perhaps
that what Jesus is saying
that we are the limited ones
God is the open one!
I give thanks for Doris
for her tenacity, for her commitment
for her difficulty
and give thanks that we don't live in a world
where everyone rolls over and gives in.
Doris certainly didn't.
Jesus says "In my Father's house
there is room for all!"
It is us, not God,
who has the problem with people who disagree with us.

Feeding on prejudice

2011-08-09T18:45:00.002+09:30

Readings for the 8th Sunday after Pentecost; Sunday August 14th, 2011Genesis 45:1-15 (or Isaiah 56:1, 6-8;) Psalm 133 (or Psalm 67) ; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28
Does Jesus struggle with prejudice?
I grew up in a community which had a lot of prejudices near the surface.
By and large we had no contact with people of different racial background
(There weren't any )
English people were always disrespectful fo the Irish,
and as an Anglican we held a firm suspicion of Roman Catholics.
These prejudices, and others, can be and, most likely, are part of any person's upbringing

When we encounter Jesus in the Scripture we naturally bring a lot of baggage to that encounter!
I would maintain, for example, that we almost always want to show him in a good light
This is to be expected
he is the hero after all.
He is, we would say the Saviour, the Messiah, the Son of God.
So it is difficult to paint him in other than bold, heroic strokes.

We do then have to deal with the fact that in the Gospel passage
for today (Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 ),
Jesus would at least appear to be rude.
Some how we don't like that.
Particularly those of us who are of British stock
seem to regard impoliteness
as the unforgiveable sin!
A lot of commentary spends a lot of time
trying to excuse the fact that Jesus seems to speak disrespectfully
(even the fact that I say seems to speak disrespectfully) shows that I am guilty of this too!
But Jesus says to this woman when she asks him to heal her daughter
that the food of the children should not be thrown to the dogs

But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me."
He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs."
She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters'
table."

It is difficult to not hear that he is calling this woman and her daughter dogs!
If I made this sort of comment in a pastoral encounter , I feel sure a complaint would be (rightly) upheld
Yet we say things like...Jesus wasn't really being rude, he was testing her
or that this is playful banter
(One pastoral rule I know is that you don't engage in such banter with people who are stressed out by sickness)
Or the other day we were being told that one commentator says this is a clever play on words,
because the word dog is linked to the word for worship.
I personally think that is a stretch.
What we must not miss is that Jesus has to engage with his humanity just as we have to.
If all we ever say about Jesus is that every human action he commits
is done perfectly and without struggle
then we are rather missing the point
that struggling with prejudice, carelessness, language
is actually part of what it means to be human.

Here we see Jesus struggling with the prejudice

that he had grown up with since his childhood

Canaanites were for Jews ----pagans,

Gentiles and beyond the pale,
Jesus would have known they were referred to by everyone in Nazareth as 'dogs'.
Here we see at least that this struggle is there for Jesus
as it is for us.
Part of what it means to be human
is that we have to engage with both the dark and light side of our character.
To do any less with Jesus
is to not take his humanity seriously.

This story also shows us that, as distasteful as our prejudices may be,
we do not have to stay locked in them.
Indeed, must not.

Can we see here an invitation to transcend our own narrowness and bigotry?