Author Archives: wonderingpilgrim

a reflection on the Parables of Matthew 13 “Riddle-me riddle-me riddle-me-ree,Perhaps you can tell what this riddle may be:As deep as a house, as round as a cup,And all the king’s horses can’t draw it up.” These childhood rhymes from long years pastTaught by our parents, oh what a blast!Oh what agony, Oh what blissAsContinue reading “Riddle me”

A meditation on the Parable of the Weeds among the Wheat There are rotten folk among us while we are trying to do goodWhile we work to patch the world up, they’d prevent us if they could.Let’s raise a holy army to rout them out with glee.But You come and tell a story that counselsContinue reading “Let it Be”

A reflection on the Sower Parable in Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 “Words are trucks full of meaning,” he said.Sent out from the source of our head.The import bestowed on those so endowedWith hearing determines their spread. A reach to the heart is what’s neededAnd life throws out much to impede it.Words and deeds go to waste,Continue reading “Wasted Words?”

My experimental “bush poetry”approach to the lectionary has elicited a mixed reaction. Some love it; others plead with me not to give up my day job (but I’m retired!) Anyhow, here’s a go at the Gospel for this Sunday, which is: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30‘But to what will I compare this generation? It is like childrenContinue reading “But John held up a mirror…”

I’m trying something different after decades of writing homilies guided by the Revised Common Lectionary. Two years after release from the weekly necessity to deliver, I still find myself wedded to the rhythm of the three year cycle, particularly where the Gospels are concerned. Although I am occasionally granted the opportunity to deliver a harangueContinue reading “Meet the Pub Test!”

“In the name of the Father, the Son and into the hole he goes!” Thus a seven year old evoked the blessing of the mystery of the Trinity as he buried his deceased canary. Over fifty years of church ministry, I have never been able to satisfactorily explain to Western conditioned minds the phenomenon ofContinue reading “Into the Hole He Goes!”

Glory be! Yesterday our Premier announced Stage 3 – the lifting of many restrictions on daily life due to COVID-19. Today’s media is full of celebration in anticipation of life in the city and across the state becoming almost “normal.” Physical distancing will reduce; cafes and restaurants can seat more patrons; cinemas and theatres, gymsContinue reading “Stage 3 – Worth Celebrating?”

One of Australian TV’s most “swallow me now!” moments was when the pizza “make me one with everything” gag backfired as it was told to a somewhat bemused Dalai Lama. Click here to view the excruciating moment. The journey to the depth of union, however, is at the heart of the quest for all worldContinue reading “Unity & Pizza”

Looks like I drafted this 11 months ago but never posted it! It’s strangely prescient. Soon after I wrote these words we were plunged into a collective housing and financial security crisis as victims of fraud and regulatory negligence.  With fellow survivors, we are campaigning towards the conclusion of a heroic journey marked by drama,Continue reading “The Dread of Mileposts”

There are things I heard and believed in my youth that I see quite differently from this high up the mountain on life’s journey. Take some sound bites (as often employed)) from the passage set for the fifth Sunday of Easter – John 14:1-14 – part of the monologue presented as Jesus’ final conversation withContinue reading “A deeper way of seeing!”