Today the lectionary gives us Mark’s terse account of the crucifixion. Why so early? We haven’t even engaged the joyful and celebratory Palm Sunday celebrations yet. Worship planners are often flummoxed when coming to the Revised Common Lectionary to plan Palm Sunday celebrations. They are confronted with a choice – Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday. EitherContinue reading “8 days B4 Good Friday”
Category Archives: Spirituality
Radical Palm Sunday
This Sunday’s Palm Sunday Walk for Refugees from Perth’s St George’s Cathedral will repeat a tradition that has grown over recent years. Palm Sunday events commemorate the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem riding the colt of a donkey – the ultimate symbol of peace. It was a high festival time in Jerusalem with pilgrims fromContinue reading “Radical Palm Sunday”
Psalm 71 – a cry for help
Some Psalms are best reflected on from a meditative stance. Paradoxically a survivor and advocate of the free church tradition, I usually find the ancient rhythms most conducive to praying Psalms like No.71. (I note the Jerusalem Bible translation heads this “A prayer for old age” !!!)
A teacher’s lament
I have hung around enough educators to know that a teacher’s lot is not always a happy one. Today’s lament in Isaiah 50:4-9a probably resonates with a few. The teacher here is different, however. It is a collective group – the people of Israel in exile aware of their usurped role as those chosen toContinue reading “A teacher’s lament”
Who/what is Melchizedek?
Most readers would struggle with today’s text from Hebrews 5:5-10. Martin Luther attempted to remove the book of Hebrews (and some others) altogether! It uses ancient Hebrew concepts, symbols and metaphors to explain the role of Christ in brokering access to G-d. If you can work through that – you come to the clincher – that, after all, ChristContinue reading “Who/what is Melchizedek?”
Welcoming the “other”
When Greeks in the festival crowd came looking for Jesus, the fourth Gospel describes a scene of conniptions! It seems their agent and Hellenistic namesake, Philip, part of Jesus’ inner circle, takes their petition to Andrew (arguably and anecdotally a little closer to the main man). When Jesus finally hears the request, we enter aContinue reading “Welcoming the “other””
“Contract” of the heart
In these days of contractual focus and litigation, it is rare to hear of the “contract of the heart.” At least, that’s what I thought until I decided to google it and see what came up. Apparently, it is a thing! Put simply, it is a mutually agreed “code of conduct” to be exercised atContinue reading ““Contract” of the heart”
Age and purity …
Today’s short text from the very long Psalm 119 asks “How can young people keep their way pure?” Apart from my instant retort that this question also applies to old fossils like yours truly, I hesitate to pontificate from a lofty platform of age and experience when I have never had to face the kindsContinue reading “Age and purity …”
Fading out, Fading in
Change is in the wind. Transition is a process of letting go in order to grasp the new thing. Sometimes the process is swift and decisive, leaving us reeling and wondering where to grab on to something – anything – simply to stay oriented. Or the process can be slow, planned and deliberate. And weContinue reading “Fading out, Fading in”
Snakes alive!
Who would have thought that John 3:16, that enigmatic slogan that appears in crowd scenes at major sporting events, behind sky-writing planes and in many references to the passing of the late Billy Graham, had much to do with this week’s discussion of a snake on a stick (here and here)? The fourth gospel’s burdenContinue reading “Snakes alive!”
Wondering Pilgrim 