Colourful Dreamer

Sundays sermon was based on my reflection I posted last week . It can be listened to here . Life was hard life was very hard it had gotten harder lately each day defined by back breaking poverty the struggle just to eat to live but there are moments when that can be put down moments when the daily grind to survive can be put to one side forgotten for a moment lost in moments of celebration like when two families agree on the marriage of children date set village gathers bringing their koha to add to the putea to add to what meagre food and wine those families have been able to scabble together people gather women out the back the ringa wera ensuring food is ready wine is available overseen by kuia whanau from there or near joining in overseeing enjoying the party in their way. And so it was in this poor village they gathered people food wine and celebrated as well as they could and then after some time the win...

First Sunday back and it’s all about an abundance of great wine. 500 litres of awesome wine. Not mid-shelf stuff. Top shelf where I never look because I don’t have that kind of money.   Provided for a gathering of whanau and friends in a small poor community in the middle of nowhere. People whose lives are defined by back breaking poverty and deprivation, surviving from day to day, who have gathered with their meager koha to celebrate this new beginning and all the hopes that held. For these days they will forget that life is not as they hoped and they will enjoy each other and what food and wine they have gathered. Jesus’ mum is there out the back with the other ringa wera keeping it going. But too soon the wine has gone and the party will end. Reality will bight. Celebration to lamentation is one breath. Except Jesus’ mum does her best to fulfil her role and suggests Jesus might be able to help out. And he helps out. 500 litres of the best wine. That party was not stopping any...