Colourful Dreamer

This can be listened to here Gate Pa – Easter 3, 2022 (Year C) Readings: Psalm                              Psalm: 30   First Reading:                Acts 9:1-6                                                         Second Reading:            Rev 5:11-14                                                 ...

This Sunday we hear two stories about “call”.  We hear Paul’s call to let go of all his fear and follow this Jesus he chased to Damascus. He understood the consequences of what Jesus taught more than just about anyone else then or since. His yes led him to be the great planter of Christianity among those he would once not even eat with. His eyes are opened in so many ways. His yes turns him into a very unpopular radical. Peter too is called although we often miss that. Around a charcoal fire he had denied his call to be a disciple, a follower of Jesus. While Jesus’ resurrection was amazing, it changed nothing. His call was still denied. He didn’t know how to respond to a risen Jesus. So with no way forward he went home with some others, and tried to make some money. And even that bore no fruit, or fish. In the darkness of his despair and lostness Jesus meets him around another charcoal fire. Three times Jesus invites him to be his disciple – “feed my sheep”. Peter is invited to l...

This sermon can be listened to here   Gate Pa: Easter Sunday 2022. Readings: First Reading:          Acts 10:34-43                       Bible Page 895 Second Reading:     1 Cor 15:19-26                     Bible Page 936 Gospel:                       Luke 24:1-12                       Bible Page 860 What I want to say:     *         watch the holy moly  movie on resurrection *         What does it mean to be coloured in? *      ...

Here we are on the other side of Good Friday. On the other side of death. This lent we have been reminded, more than ever, of the power of death. We have watched with horror the events in Ukraine, let alone all the forgotten conflicts in places like Ethiopia, Syria, and Yemen. We have negotiated our way through another wave of Covid, trying to act in ways the keep each other safe, and grieving those who have succumbed and died. The IPCC released its latest report again drawing our attention to the growing urgency around climate change, as increasingly damaging weather events happen with more frequency. This lent we have been faced with the powers that seek to bring death. And amid that we were invited as our Lenten discipline to pay attention to what brings us life. To make more space for that, and, to let go of those things that deny life. We do that because more than ever we need this life. We do that knowing God is present in all this, looking to bring life in the most hopeless of...

In a year that has already been tough, and after a Lent shrouded by Covid and in which I invited us to find what is life giving in all that is happening and has happened, we once again walk into Holy Week towards Good Friday. It begins here with Jesus joining the Passover pilgrims riding a colt. No palms in this story. Just disciples going crazy for their man. How do we see these events we commemorate today? What do we think Jesus thought he was up to with this attention grabbing ride?  Passover – a rumbling festival pregnant with ancient memories and hopes of release from Empire and freedom from slavery and poverty. This is not the biggest festival, but it is one of the most turbulent. And in Jesus' time sometimes the most violent. Into this expectant mass come two parades trumpeting peace. From the west Pilate leads his legions astride his war stallion, stomping in through the wealthy part of town, warmly welcomed for the prosperity and peace he represents. A peace ...

This sermon can be listened to here Gate Pa – Year C 5 th Sunday in Lent, 2022 Readings: Psalm                       Psalm: 126 First Reading           Isaiah 43:16-21  Second Reading      Phil 3:4-14       Gospel                     John 12:1-8            What I want to say: -           Use my own memory of running around Vogel Street in Gisborne as a wee boy as a way in to exploring the power of our senses to hold memories alive. How does that help us into this story -           This is more than creating life giving memory. It is the story of someone found by love, who offers love. In contrast we have Judas. Sadly Jesus’ respon...

A father had two sons and loved them with such a fierce love. He loved when one told him he wished he was dead and fled to a freer life among gentiles. He loved even when one was unable to be a son and instead sought to be dutiful and devout enough to earn his place. He loved in scandalous ways that protected and welcomed and made space. Where do we know such love? Mary knew this scandalous and freeing love. She sat as a disciple at Jesus’ feet among the men cloaked in welcome and protection. She berated his absence as her brother died and they prepared him for the grave, anointed with costly perfumes. She felt his pain and reluctance as he reclined at her brother’s table, a breath away from the short journey to betrayal and unimaginable death. She loved him with such a fierce love; breaking boundaries, pre-empting his loving foot washing of those who would deny and betray, defiantly offering embalming to one who would never receive such care. Unlike Judas who used the poor for his...