Colourful Dreamer

This sermon can be listened to here Easter 5 – Year C 2022 Readings: First Reading :              Acts 11:1-18      Psalm:                          Psalm: 148 Second Reading:         Rev 21:1-6        Gospel:                        John 13:31-35 What I want to say: Explore the story of John 13 to see how crunchy “love each other”. explore examples of Henare Wiremu Taratoa and Heni Te Kiri Karamu as examples of the risk of loving as Christ loves     What I want to happen: People to consider as hear this simple command today -           how and who are we invite...

There is Jesus, with his trusted friends and disciples. Gathered in a room for one last time. One of them is about to betray him and begin the short march to crucifixion. One will three times renounce being his disciple. Ï do not know him!” Most of the other men will run away and hide behind locked doors when it gets really dark and threatening. Only the beloved disciple and some of the women will stay with him. There is Jesus with these friends and disciples. He acts as a slave and washes each of their feet, even Judas’ feet. He feeds them. He shows them the kind of care and love that exists between himself and the father. And then he says “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” (John 13:34-35, Common English Bible). Love even those who betray you, deny being your follower, desert you. Love them care and generosity. There is the wr...

Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers. I wonder what images and feelings come to mind when you think about your mother? I wonder what role your mother played in shaping who you are and how you engage with the world today? This morning’s readings from both John’s letter and gospel are all about love. As I said last week, love is a tricky thing. Love can mean so many different things, and often is simply a word to describe how I feel about something or someone. Our understanding of love is in many ways shaped by our experience of love in our early years. Our relationship with our primary caregivers, particularly our mothers, is what we use to understand God’s love. And for too many people this is very “me” focussed, always conditional on what is offered in return. God’s love is seen as conditional on my response, and too often our love is conditional on what I get in return. The passage we are reading from Johns gospel is part of Jesus final all important speech. It is a pastoral speech ...

This sermon can be listened to here  Gate Pa Easter 5 – Year C 2019 Readings: First Reading :   Acts 11:1-18 Psalm:                Psalm: 148   Second Reading: Rev 21:1-6     Gospel:              John 13:31-35      What I want to say: Discuss what questions and ideas people bring to this readying -           In what way is this new? -           How did Jesus live love? o    removing cloak authority, status, leadership, honour, power o    humbly washing the feet of those who deny, betray and dessert him Loving one another is not easy – as New Testament (Acts, Pauls writing) show or as history church shows failure to live out this “simple commandment” has led directly to us to r...