Hyperbole and one-up-man-ship often mark the national discourse where controversy is concerned. In the midst of the sloganeering and major political parties competing to see who can offer the greatest deterrent to “stop the boats,” are men, women and children detained in off-shore prisons awaiting their indefinite and uncertain fates. On the reception of asylumContinue reading “Love finds a way…”
Category Archives: Personal
The one who marches out of step…
… may be the only one who is in step! Isaiah 50:4-9a is one of the so-called Suffering Servant songs. Appropriated by the Early Church to describe the Passion of Jesus, it initially describes the despair and desolation of the people of Israel as they are led off in chains into Babylonian exile. Suffering the indignityContinue reading “The one who marches out of step…”
Spanning pain and love
Romans 8:1-27 is its own commentary It speaks cosmologically of the restoration of all creation and how the followers of Christ are called to emulate him in, as N.T. Wright says, standing “between the pain of the world and the love of God,” not as a wall or barrier, but the span of aContinue reading “Spanning pain and love”
Zesty Zeke…
When the molasses are thick, what keeps some folk swimming while others succumb? Ezekiel seems quite upbeat in the midst of most depressing circumstances. He is a welcome guide as we tread the heavy Lenten journey to Jerusalem and the cross. Todays text, Ezekiel 37:24-28, holds out to exiled Israel a beatific vision of aContinue reading “Zesty Zeke…”
The next blockbuster?
Now that Noah has wowed the big screen, will Ezekiel be far behind? Ezekiel was a multi-media entrepreneur. As our current Lenten guide, he uses the stuff Hollywood loves to use to relieve the burden of getting his message across – the triumph of God’s love expressed through people so oriented in a desolate andContinue reading “The next blockbuster?”
What dry bones hide…
As our Lenten journey draws closer to climax, we find the path winding through Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones. We don’t have to look far around us to see our own dry bones… empty promises, bored transactions, indifferent encounters, and defeated dreams. We are called to Ezekiel’s vision that ”even these dry bones can live”.Continue reading “What dry bones hide…”
Shining light into dark places
Government leaders need to be careful of hubris when talking about requiring the community to shine light into dark places. They might find someone has already claimed that function. On a well-noted occasion, it resulted in clear sight and clarity of mind for someone unintended by those who believed themselves in charge. Those ruling held anContinue reading “Shining light into dark places”
Mutual Submission
Ephesians 5:21-32 is one of the most manipulated texts for those misguided enough to champion male domination in marriage. Many camels swallowed here while straining at gnats. The kernel of Paul’s argument is mutual submission to one another out of respect for the Way of Christ. No room for misogyny and domestic oneupmanship here. TheContinue reading “Mutual Submission”
Light’s offspring
The national discourse does not currently inspire much hope. Hope is to be found in the values espoused by such passages as Ephesians 5:1-14, today’s Lenten text. If one is patient enough to sift the ancient language and thought forms, one discovers some evocative phrases. For example, the exhortations to live as “a fragrant offering”Continue reading “Light’s offspring”
Improving Hansard…
Behold a life coach’s pep talk: Ephesians 4:17-32 While our contemporary politicians fight to enhance the right to insult and offend, the writer to the Ephesians appeals to those practices and behaviours that enhance our life together. If there’s a handle to grab, in this wall of text, you can do no worse with thisContinue reading “Improving Hansard…”
Wondering Pilgrim 