Author Archives: wonderingpilgrim

Advent Voices – Human Rights Day

  This day’s reminder to respect and uphold universal human rights is more than the left of centre pre-occupation – it is fundamental to maintaining and enhancing our integrity as people. The beatific vision of Isaiah 65:17-25 that rhapsodises new heavens and a new earth, while initiated by YHWH, can be imagined to be addressedContinue reading “Advent Voices – Human Rights Day”

Advent Voices – plain speaking

“For I, YHWH, love justice…” So continues the rest of the oracle in Isaiah 61:8-11. Isaiah’s euphoric response to God’s affirmation assumes a community that is equally responsive, having embraced an equal love for justice tempered with loving-kindness and mercy.  It is infused with the life-giving Spirit that binds all together.  This reality goes far beyond personalContinue reading “Advent Voices – plain speaking”

Advent Voices: a manifesto against our latest law

Isaiah 61:1-7 is repeated in Luke 4 by Jesus when he announces the blueprint of his operations. It is the antithesis of the Immigration Bill allowed by the Australian Senate last Thursday night. It is a strong Advent voice that calls the Australian people to account. It comes not as warning, but as proclamation of theContinue reading “Advent Voices: a manifesto against our latest law”

Advent Voices – Peter

In a world that is growing increasingly dystopian, the realisation of the realm of shalom ushered in by Jesus seems to be getting further and further away, or perhaps being driven further underground. “Patience!” counsels Peter to his persecuted community: “with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years areContinue reading “Advent Voices – Peter”

Advent Voices – John’s cousin

John could not go around saying the things he was saying without attracting the attention of the authorities and he ends up in Herod’s dungeon. By now the one to whom he had been pointing, his cousin, Jesus of Nazareth, is traveling the land, teaching and healing in the manner that John had predicted. EvenContinue reading “Advent Voices – John’s cousin”

Advent Voices – John the Baptizer

Zechariah’s son certainly made up for his father’s speechlessness before John’s birth! John’s call is to repentance – an intentional reorientation of heart, soul, mind and action. Zechariah’s silence had been the stillness before the storm that sweeps clean. Such was John’s magnetic appeal that crowds went out into the wilderness to hear him. HisContinue reading “Advent Voices – John the Baptizer”

Advent Voices – Mute Zechariah

Can the voiceless speak? Zechariah was struck mute when he questioned the veracity of an acutely personal Advent vision while he was performing his set priestly duties in the temple. Luke 1:5-17. (Never say serving on a church roster is boring and humdrum!) Apparently so. We read on and find that when he emerged from theContinue reading “Advent Voices – Mute Zechariah”