Colourful Dreamer

Merry Christmas! After the three long years of dealing with Covid and all that has done to us, merry Christmas. After this year of war in Ukraine, high inflation, covid tinged normality, merry Christmas. In the simmering confusion and stress, impatience and frustration, weariness and longing, merry Christmas.  We have spent the last four weeks in Advent reflecting on the themes of living in hope - believing in spite of the evidence, and then watching the evidence change (Jim Wallis); centered in God’s peace – shalom - when all is as God desires for this world; knowing God’s love for all creation while nurturing the divine gift of joy. For the great Franciscan theologian John Duns Scotus, this is what Christmas is all about. The coming of Christ was not to fix anything or to save anyone, but God’s first thought. Christmas is God being born in a food trough not in a palace. Shepherds are the first witnesses, not the powerful. This is a statement of God’s commitment to the poor, the broke

You can listen to this sermon here   Gate Pa –  4 th Sunday in Advent - Year A - 2022 Readings: Psalm -                         Psalm: 80:1-7,17-19 First Reading -              Isaiah 7:10-16 Second Reading -       Romans 1:1-7 Gospel:                        Matthew 1: 18-25     What I want to happen: Let’s read Matthew on its own terms and not in Luke’s shadow Today we read the stories of two men, one faithless and untrusting (Ahaz in Isaiah) and one faithful and trusting (Joseph in Matthew). When I read this, I am reminded of John Dun Scotus – Francisan theologian of high middle ages - "The Incarnation is caused simply by God's generous and free love, and is not provoked by anything a mere human creature has done [i.e., because of the Fall].” Finish with quick overview of Advent -          Peace – shalom (שׁלום) is derived from a root denoting wholeness or completeness. Shalom more than absence of war, but the overcoming of strife, quarrel, and social tension,

And just like that we are at Advent 4. I don’t feel very ready. That peace and hope and joy are trickling away. It is hard to hold all that Advent offers in all that needs to be done. Maybe that’s the point. This week we have the stories of 2 men. Isaiah tells of Ahaz who was faithless and unwilling to heed the sign of a child born and to trust God to save him. Matthew takes that sign and applies it to Jesus and tells of Joseph who was faithful and did trust the dream – embracing this somewhat difficult situation as an act of the Holy Spirit. He becomes our role model. But I find myself with Ahaz far too often. When we read Matthew, it is helpful to let go of Luke. This is a very different story. No census, no travelling to Bethlehem, no stable or manger. Luke’s focusses on Mary, while Matthew’s is centred around Joseph. It is short and to the point, establishing Jesus’ credentials as “God with us”, the one who saves us from our sins. How do you respond to God is with us? Not all

You can listen to this sermon here  Gate Pa –  3 rd Sunday in Advent - Year A - 2022 Readings: Psalm -                       Psalm: 146:  5 -10         First Reading -        Isaiah 35: 1 -10                                        Second Reading -    James 5: 7 -10       Gospel -                    Matthew 11: 2 -13                                                     What I want to say: Joy reminds us that for many, Christmas is not a time of joy. For many reasons it is very hard. John was finding life hard too. Explore some different ways of reading John’s questions. And then reflect on joy, and where we see God’s joy in the world, and what we might need to hear and see to know joy What I want to happen:  People to reflect on what joy means this advent The Sermon 1.      Introduction: The theme for this Sunday is joy But as our CWS video reminds us   - for many people Christmas is not a time of joy For all kinds of reasons -          War and violence -          Natural disasters

Here we are in week three of Advent – this time of waiting and preparing for Christ in history (Christmas), while paying attention to Christ in mystery (the ongoing work of Christ today), and looking ahead to Christ in majesty (when all God hopes for this world is fulfilled). What is it we are looking for this Advent? We join John the Baptiser asking the big Advent question, “Are you the one or should we wait for another?” There are a number ways we can read that question. Is he doubting Jesus,   tis wasn’t what he expected. Or is he just wondering, looking for a quiet affirmation that he is the one. Or is he having his mind blown and seeing his hopes for the messiah completely reframed in a good way. And in light of that what do we hear as we listen to Jesus’ response? A list of medical miracles? A call out of exile? A healing of the fabric of their community that had been the breeding ground for so much ill health. A fresh way of seeing God at work in the world?   He promises so

You can listen to this sermon here Gate Pa – Year A -  2nd Sunday of Advent, Readings: Psalm                          Psalm: 72:1-7, 18-19 First Reading                Isaiah 11:1-10 Second Reading           Romans 15:4-13                                Gospel                          Matthew 3:1-12         What I want to say: Ask “Why does God send a messiah” How we answer that shapes how we read this story and what we are preparing for in Advent and what we are celebrating at Christmas. Explore identity and repentance in light of this. What I want to happen: take time at the end of each day to give thanks for ways God brought peace and hope into your day,  and to reflect on the roots that might help you to live peace. The Sermon      1.      Introduction:    As we normally do on the second Sunday in Advent -          get to hear about John the Baptist, o    Matthew’s version. Had quite and interesting conversation with this on Tuesday Some read John like a good