Colourful Dreamer

You can hear how these notes became a sermon by listening here Gate Pa – Year C  4 th Sunday in Lent, Readings: Psalm                          Psalm: 32 First Reading:                         Joshua 5:9-12                                      Second Reading :                    2 Corinthians 5:16-21                         Gospel:                                    Luke 15:1-3, 11-32    What I want to say: To have a conversation about how the names we apply to stories like “The Parable of the Prodigal Son” both help us understand it and blind us to what is happening in the story What I want to happen: No matter what title/s we apply to this story, how do we finish it in our lives? The Sermon       1.      Introduction: In Bible the gospel reading just heard has a number of headings here are some ·         The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother ·         The Parable

The titles for stories in the bible are not part of what was originally written. They were added much later by some publishers. Today some versions of the bible have no titles, and others include them. This week’s gospel reading is commonly known as the Parable of the Prodigal Son – the title given by the KJV. Other versions of the bible have other names including The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother, The Lost (Prodigal) Son and the Dutiful Son, and The Parable of the Lost Sons. Each title shapes how we read this story and how we understand it. They are both helpful and misleading. Another title given to this story by one commentator is “The Undesirable Son” which begs the question which son is the undesirable one? Another title I like is “A Prodigal Son, An Undignified Dad”. This parable is the third of three stories (lost coin, lost sheep) told because the rule keepers for the community (Pharisees) were unhappy at how Jesus was breaking the clear rules about who was to

This sermon can be listed to here. Gate Pa – Year C  3 rd Sunday in Lent, 2019 Readings: Psalm                          Psalm: 63:1-8                                                                First Reading :             Isaiah 55:1-9                                              Second Reading :        1 Corinthians 10:1-13                       Gospel:                        Luke 13:1-9   What I want to say: I want to explore repentance as re-visioning using “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life” by Mark Manson. What values do we use to ascribe success in our lives and what do we need to let go of? As we approach our AGM what values do we use to ascribe success in this parish and what do we need to repent of? What new ways of seeing might we be invite into? What I want to happen: What was one success for our parish last year? What makes this a success for you? Are