Colourful Dreamer

Mark’s gospel starts with a bang. After just 39 verses we already have had John the Baptiser preaching and baptising, Jesus baptised and tested in the wilderness, Jesus preaching and calling his first followers, Jesus casting out a demon on the Sabbath in the meeting place (synagogue) in Capernaum. “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom!” (Mark 1:15) And now we have this intimate story of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law – still on the sabbath. Her response can be understood in many ways. She joins the angels in serving Jesus and becomes a model of what discipleship looks like – serving Jesus in our service to others. And this is just the beginning. We are also observing the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple ; which falls on 2 February, 40 days after Christmas, marking the end of Christmas-Epiphany season. As the law required of a first son, Jesus is presented at the Temple. And we hear Simeon (The Song of Simeon or Nunc Dimittis) and Anna.   The name Candlemas comes ...

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...

What a week it has been, overseas and here. Covid has sniffed the edges and kept us a little anxious for a while. And now she is back in our midst, reshaping our lives once again. For now, we hunker down, wear our masks, wash our hands, stay safe, and wait. For the last five Sundays we have circled around Jesus “the bread of life”.   It began on a Passover with Jesus feeding the 5000 in an outrageous act of uncalled for generosity. This whole section is set at Passover – the foundational celebration of God’s liberation of these once slaves – with the hope of liberation from all current oppressors with the ultimate hope of liberation for all people and all creation. We have slowly walked from there to this week’s reading, circling around and reworking this story of feeding so many and God’s feeding mana in the desert. It culminates with “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats (gnaws at) this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give fo...

This sermon can be listened to here Gate Pa – Year B   5 th Sunday in Epiphany 2021,   Readings Psalm                         Psalm 147:1-11,20                                                       First Reading               Isaiah 40:21-31 Second Reading          1 Cor 9:16-23                          Gospel              ...