Colourful Dreamer

Can be listened to here Gate Pa – Year A 8 th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Parish AGM Readings: Psalm                          Psalm: 131                                                                  First Reading :                         Isa 49:8-16                  Second Reading :                    1 Cor 4:1-5                  Gospel:                        Matt 6:24-34      What I want to say: What do we live for? What is it all about? What distracts us from being perfect? What I want to happen: People to use lent to become more righteous, more perfect, unhindered The Sermon      1.      Introduction: Start with a confession While re-reading my report about Centrepoint             Noted that I seem to have left out the fact that our tenants upstairs have left – for variety of reasons             Currently negotiating with Ministry of Education for a class from the Tauranga Special School to go up there And that this is taking a lot l

This week’s gospel reading (Matthew 6:24-24) makes me want to break out and sing “Don’t worry, be happy.” But I also want to say, “it’s just not that simple.” Over the last few weeks we have heard Jesus teaching us in the Sermon on the Mount. He has invited us to be perfect, righteous, blessed. By this he did not mean morally pure or without fault. He means being image bearers of God. Several years ago I suggested the three big questions are: whose are we (or who is this God we seek to follow); who are we (in light of the character of this God); and what is ours to do? In the Sermon on the Mount the answers are – God is love; compassionate, generous, merciful beyond measure; and we were created to be the image of God’s character in this world and in our community. To be righteous, perfect, blessed is to enflesh Go’s compassion, generosity, aroha. This week Jesus tells us not to be riddled with anxiety and fear. Because when we are we forget who God is, and we forget who we are

Gate Pa – Year A  7 th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Readings: Psalm                          Psalm: 119: 33-40 First Reading:             Lev 19:1-2, 9-18                      Second Reading:        1 Cor 3:10-11, 16-23   Gospel:                        Matt 5:38-48    What I want to say: I want to explore vs 48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” – what does it mean to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect? This is not about being flawless but about living the Sermon on the Mount What I want to happen: This provides our agenda for Lent The Sermon       1.      Introduction: Hands up if you would describe yourself as perfect? Hands up if you aspire to be perfect? If you don’t – what do you do with the last verse we just heard in gospel “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Talk neighbour for moment             How is God perfect? How are you perfect? What questions do you have about this