Colourful Dreamer

This can be listened to here Gate Pa – Year B, 30 th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2021 Readings: Psalm                         Psalm 34:1-8 First Reading :               Job 42:1-6, 10-17                                Second Reading :          Hebrews 7:23-28                                Gospel :                          M...

Last week I asked, “what do we think God was up to in Jesus?” and “what does that say about God?”   These are the questions at the heart of each of the gospels, and the whole New Testament really. This week our readings remind us that we often need to let go of our old answers before we can begin to grasp what is really being offered. Too often our old answers get in the way. They got in the way of Job and his friends. Job knew God to be righteous, and as such rewarded the upright and punished the sinner. And Job was as upright as they came! And yet calamity had come upon him. His friends came to comfort him and ended up trying to fix his theology and pleading with him to confess his obviously many sins to end the calamity. Not great pastoral practice by the way. Job wanted none of it and demanded his time in court with God; and got it. But instead of being the prosecutor, he found himself on the end of God’s questions about creation and the meaning of life. He could not answer –...

It might be that the last year and a half have raised some big questions for some of you. Questions about why this has happened. Questions about what being a follower is really about. Today’s readings, especially the readings from Job and Mark, are full of some of these big questions. We can join with Job in his absolute bewilderment at what is happening with him. Or more precisely in his pleading’ “why O God have YOU done this to me?” How often have we heard people ask that question? How often have we asked that question? At the heart of this question is our understanding of God, and God in our lives. It is such a fundamental question. And we will have to wait another week to hear how God responds. As we wait and ponder that question it might be helpful to remember that the lectionary has led us from the initial story of Job’s misfortune and completely missed his friends’ unhelpful attempts to aid him. They live in a very narrow theological world and they invite us to wonder in what...

My sermon on Sunday did not get written in any shape or form. Life was too busy, and I had to create it while preaching.It turned out ok. You can listen to it here. In it I try to explore how our images of God blind us to God and to each other.  Some questions then that mark the way - How did Job end up with that happy ending, and is it that happy really?  - Why did Job's friends not join him praying TO God, rather than trying to convince him ABOUT God? When do we do that? - How does Bartimaeus act as an icon to the disciples blindness both to him and to what Jesus was teaching them about God? Who are we blind to? Because October 28th is also the Day of Remembrance, when we remember the New Zealand Land Wars, John wonders how the British image of God allowed them to act as they did around their empire, and how that is still at work today.

Seeing and not seeing are the big themes in our readings this week. Job’s friends were so busy defending their idea of God they became blind to Job and did not take the time to pray to God with Job in his despair. Job too is blind, basing his ideas of God on what he has heard. But he at least is willing to engage with God, and is rewarded with sight. Seeing God is dangerous stuff. It shakes him out of all he thought he knew and he recants all he said and all he held dear - they are but dust and ashes. The disciples too have been so blind. Since the first blind man was symbolically healed in Mark 8: 22-26,   they, like that man, have been seeing people walking like trees. Despite Jesus’ threefold teaching about his impending death and resurrection, Peter rebukes and is rebuked; James and John ask for greatness and power. Bartimaeus might be blind, but he can see Jesus for who he is. And he will not let those around him not see him. He cries out defiantly claiming his personhoo...

Last week, being my first week back from my time in the USA, was a pretty busy week. I did not really write my sermon, but on Sunday wrote out some wee notes. That is why I did not post anything. To be honest, this week is looking pretty busy with two funerals and my daughters 30th birthday party in Auckland on Saturday. I will write a theme, but don't get too hopeful for sermon notes. These are pretty rough notes, so the actual sermon may be a little different. You can listen to that here .   Gate Pa – Year B  29 th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Readings: Psalm                          Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c                                  First Reading :   ...