Colourful Dreamer

This Sunday our gospel (Luke 15: 1-10) is two of the three “lost” stories – the lost sheep and the lost coin. For some reason we do not get the third lost story – the lost sons – or the unfinished story of a father who had two sons. Never mind. It is surprising to hear how often these stories are understood to be about the need for repentance. Sure Luke does give that editorial edge to it. But there is very little repenting in these stories, and the stories were told because Pharisees and Scribes were grumbling about sinners and tax collectors coming to Jesus, and Jesus not only been ok with that, but welcoming it and even celebrating this by eating with them – not the done thing socially or religiously! Even then there is no indication these tax collectors or sinners were repenting. Just searching. Rather than being about repentance these are stories filled with loss, searching, finding, relief and communal celebration. They invited the original hearers to name their own se...

This sermon can be listened to here   Gate Pa –  23 rd Sunday in Ordinary Time- Year C - 2019 Readings: Psalm             Psalm: 139:1-6, 13-18   First Reading  Jeremiah 18:1-11 Second Reading Philemon 1-21   Gospel             Luke 14:25-33 What I want to say: Using Luke 14:25-33 I want to explore what might blind us to where God is at work in the world, and what stops us joining in that work. What I want to happen: People to reflect on what stops us taking Climate Change more seriously. The Sermon     1.      Introduction: Good to be back excellent time away 3 days exploring Chicago -          grand -          highlight was bike tour which introduced me to Chicago style hot dogs – very healthy – ...

I have often said that when we read the gospel we need to read them not as biographies, or even histories, but books of theology. The writers believed that in Jesus’ life and ministry, his death and resurrection, we see God. We meet God at work in Jesus so that we can see God at work in our world. Luke offers us a picture of God who brings good news to the poor, release for the captives, recovery of sight for the blind, and who sets the oppressed free (Luke 4). The hard question Jesus asks his disciples in this week’s reading (Luke 14: 25-30) is what in our lives prevents us seeing God at work in our world and what stops us joining in this work. The reading finishes with an admonition that those listening relinquish their possession. Mitzi J. Smith from Working Preacher suggests that “this is a challenge to reject greed, hoarding, and overabundance for the sake of overabundance and in favor of sharing and the elimination of poverty and its effects (Luke 12:13-21, 33-34).” She ...