It's nearly Advent - what might that be about



Another church year has ended, and with Advent we begin a new one.  We have much to look back on and be grateful for. I am grateful for so much. I am very grateful that I was called to be part of my generous parish and for the aroha I receive from all those who are part of it, shown in the wonderful service celebrating 30 years a priest, with such a lovely fish and chip lunch (with great salads and desserts) and a lovely card and gift. 
One gift of Advent is that it is a time to take stock and give thanks for all these things. And it is a time to reflect on our role in the life of our church and in God's mission.
In his book “Immortal Diamond: The Search for our True Self”, Richard Rohr uses the work of medieval Franciscan theologian John Duns Scotus to offer these thoughts on Christmas. Rather than the coming of the Christ in Jesus being an afterthought in response to God’s plan going awry and humanity being bad, Scotus says that the coming of Christ was God’s first thought. The incarnation of God in the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was God’s intentional, pure, gracious unconditional choice and gift of Godself to humanity and creation. Jesus did not come to change the mind of God about humanity in his death, but to change our mind about God. In Jesus we are offered God’s infinite forgiveness and love for each of us and all of us. At Christmas we are reminded of the depths of God’s love for us and the lengths God goes in search for us. We are invited to live in response to that love. In Advent we are invited to reflect on how we respond and how we are stewards of all that God has given us.
Maybe Advent can be a time of refelcting on all that God has given and hearing again the invitation to take stock of our response.
May this Advent be filled with God's peace and goodness

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Get those PSA Blood Tests Done Boys!

I had a strange conversation a few months ago. I was lying back in a chair, naked from the waste down, holding a nappy over my bits while I waited for the skin under my bits to go numb enough from liquid nitrogen or some such thing, so that they could inject the local anesthetic and then punch a couple of holes through to the prostate. All in all a fun experience. And while I waited the nurse made small talk and asked what I did. "I'm retired", I replied. "Oh, what are you planning to do now you are retired? any travel?" "Turns out not" I said, "It seems I'm just keeping my dairy open for dealing with health things." And I am still keeping my dairy open and still dealing with them. This journey began last year. I was already dealing with two other things, including a lump in my parotid gland which has been slowly growing there for about 3 years. When I got back from being overseas on sabbatical my doctor called me in to talk about that an
Read more

What a Ride! - Thankyou and Goodbye!

Image
You can listen to this sermon here   Gate Pa - Ascension Sunday and Easter 7 Year B, 2024 Readings: Palm                            Psalm 1 First Reading:             Acts 1:1-11, 15-17,21-26                     Bible Page 884 Second Reading:        1 John 5:9-13                                       Bible Page 991 Gospel:                         John 17:6-19                                        Bible Page 879 What I want to say: A sermon to say thankyou -           To explore the process we are all going through – and that it is ok -           Use the ascension to invite us all to trust God in all this -           Offer some thoughts about what the future might be What I want to happen: People to embrace all that the liminal space might offer with thankfulness, hope and trust. The Sermon 1.      Introduction: Pancake Monday in 2012 – nearly 12 ½ years ago Bishop David Rice installed me as vicar of Gate Pa Telling everyone I didn’t know much about vicaring -          Outraged some
Read more

"Just Enjoy The Coffee"

I was just sent this on Anglicans All. Being a coffee enjoyer and a Franciscan I enjoyed it. I hope you do to: Even if you are not a coffee drinker...Have a good day!!!! A group of graduates, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain ,plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee, the professor said: If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the simple and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it is just more ex
Read more