Colourful Dreamer

  Last week’s gospel reading (John 14:1-14) invited us to live the way of Jesus – the way of compassion, hope, justice and love. Or as one of the commentators puts it “The Way of Jesus is the embodiment of the dream and hope of God….We must be people of the way, being the dream and hope of God, as we participate in abundant life while here on earth together” [1] As we live the way of Jesus we will come to know the truth of God and God’s commitment or covenant to restore humanity and renew all creation. In this we are to find the life of God. This week we continue to read from John 14 as Jesus continues to be the good shepherd for his fearful and grieving disciples as their dreams come to an end. But it is not the end. Jesus has walked beside them, teaching them about God in the way he lived and how he saw and treated people. He is now sending another to go with them, another advocate, The Spirit, to walk alongside and within each of them that Jesus’ way might continue, and the...

We are more than halfway through the 50 days of Easter – a season to celebrate and reflect on the resurrection and how we are to live resurrection lives today. We have finished with the rousing stories of Jesus resurrection and will spent the next 3 weeks in Jesus’ final pep talk to the disciples as they and he prepare for the horrors that lies ahead. And we hear of Stephen being stoned. It somehow seems wrong. And it is also more real. Confusion is at play   in both John and Acts. The disciples are confused by what Jesus is talking about. They are afraid and want straightforward answers. Where is Jesus going and how can they follow? What is the way? And Jesus does not give straightforward answers. And yet so often we read this as if he is. Angela N. Parker says, “We must be people of the way (that Jesus lived) , being the dream and hope of God, as we participate in abundant life while here on earth together…. Our greater works must exhibit the way, the truth, and the life for ...

 You can listen to this sermon here Gate Pa – Year A   6 th Sunday of Easter,   2023 Readings: Psalm                          Psalm:  66:8-19                                               First Reading :             Acts 17:22-31                          Second Reading :         1 Peter 3:13-22                  Gospel :  ...