Colourful Dreamer

You can listen to this sermon here   Gate Pa – Year B   Easter Sunday 2024 Readings: First Reading:             Isaiah 25:6-9                             Second Reading:         Acts 10:34-43                           Gospel:                        John 20:1-18    What I want to say: Our friend died this week. The resurrection affirms that she is with God now. Swallowed in God’s life. I don’t know what that means or what it looks life. That is ok. I trust God for all that. This story is bigger than Liz, or me, getting into heaven, if that is what being swallowed by God’s life is. Jesus death is more than Jesus dying on a cross for me and my sins. It is God dying on a cross, showing us where all our greed, selfishness, lust for power. The powers of death thought they had won, but God would not be held in death. When all seemed lost God’s life prevailed. When all seems lost, God’s love and life will prevail. I trust God for that. Mary watched her friend die, a humiliating

We walk in their footsteps those women so afraid of loss and grief. Afraid of life lessened and dulled. Past dreams shattered amidst uncertainty and death. We walk in their footsteps. They were afeared and yet  they followed  all the way  to  the darkest places Gethsemane, Antonia Golgotha, the tomb. They followed in despair farewelling life as hope unravelled. At the end Jesus was not there. Too much life to be lived, too much hope to be to be held. They were afraid those women as life erupts in love. He has gone ahead! We walk in their footsteps.

You can listen to this here Gate Pa – Palm Sunday 2024 Readings: Psalm                           Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Gospel:                        Mark 11:1-11 What I want to say: I want to help people enter into this story to Where are we in this story? What do we see? What I want to happen: Who is Jesus? Let go of our stereotypes and engage with the one presented in the gospels The Sermon this symbolic journey neatly planned the colt prepared and ready begins in Bethany this revolutionary act begins on the hill overlooking the holy city   we begin on our hill Pukehinahina in Hori Tapu hidden behind trees old memories of battles and deaths under our feet as we look back and remember.   it begins with his friends his disciples and supporters             those who have risked everything on him men and women all those who have journeyed to this point with shouts and joy they throw clothes on the colt sing the p