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?”
Category Archives: theology
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!”
Whatever happened to Moses bronze serpent?
Some questions are never asked but you come across the answer anyway. Another way of putting it – “When do life-saving traditions turn sour and useless?” Now that’s more useful. To know what happened to Moses’ artefact, read 2 Kings 18:1-8. It had long outlived its purpose and become something detrimental to the life of theContinue reading “Whatever happened to Moses bronze serpent?”
Snake on a stick
When we were kids on a long road trip, we would end up complaining loudly about the time, the length of the journey, each other and life in general. The parental reaction was “If you don’t stop I’ll give you something to whinge about!” Something like this happened in the wilderness where the Israelites wanderedContinue reading “Snake on a stick”
Drought-time faith
Jeremiah 14:1-9 takes us into a real-time angst-ridden experience of drought where no relief is in sight. How do people pray in such circumstances? Lay it all out as it is – don’t hold anything back. Be impolite and complain – God is not so fragile that God cannot handle it! But Jeremiah also identifiesContinue reading “Drought-time faith”
Scandal and folly
The church is no stranger to either and often bears both at the same time. This morning the resolution of a strange and very public dispute between a local priest and his diocese is in the media. No doubt it will add fuel to the fire of the public perception that the church is aContinue reading “Scandal and folly”
Wondering Pilgrim 