Markathon!

First page of the Gospel of Mark, by Sargis Pi...
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“Let’s do a public community reading of Mark’s gospel!”

“Oh yeah!” I thought. “Who’s going to come?”

So 40 people aged from 7 to 90 gathered on a hot Sunday evening for our first public community reading of Mark’s gospel. It took 90 minutes, three narrators, and about 12 voices to read various characters. (For some reason I was allocated the voices of the unclean spirits and Judas!)

By the time the women fled the open tomb (we used Mark’s short ending), several observations could be made:

  • the event had a strong effect on all gathered , from youngest to oldest – some commented that they had come to appreciate Mark’s gospel in a new light
  • although Mark is an action gospel, Jesus still had plenty to say – lots of “red letter” words.
  • Mark’s gospel has a continuity of narrative that is easily missed through a habitual selective focus on its many vignettes.
  • Immersion in a total public reading of the gospel leads to a sense of participation in the flow of the narrative.

Some will wonder whether this non-analytical approach short changed us. No worries –  internationally renowned New Testament scholar, Professor William (Bill) Loader will be conducting a series on Mark’s gospel over the weeks between now and Easter. We combine with the Wembley Downs Uniting Church who will be hosting the series.  The topics are:

26 February – “Good News” according to Mark – what does salvation and faith and eternal life look like in Mark – in comparison with others?

4 March – Mark on Scripture – looking at the controversy stories and how they reflect different approaches to Scripture.

11 March –  An evening with Herod the Great: Sex and Power in the world of Jesus and Mark (a lot of fun as well as informative)

18 March – Mark on Miracles – looking at the problems and possibilities posed by miracle stories for Mark and other NT writers.

25 March – Mark on being human and being God – looking at the conflicting models of humanness, Jesus and God between Jesus and the disciples.

Should be fun!

 

 

 

Angel wrestling – which hold is best?

How to wrestle an angel – Eureka Street.

I love both these poems – especially the second one. In my humble opinion, theology is better expressed through poetry than propositional debate. It takes us to that place in human experience that is beyond, but not dismissive of rational thought. We should read more poetry. Maybe even write our own!

 

An Open Letter to the People of Australia

Sometimes, when one is greeted by a plethora of email messages in the morning, a particular message stands out and one feels that a kairos moment has just brushed by. This morning was such an occasion and I share it with you:

Good morning,

Please find attached a joint statement to the people of Australia on constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from the Australian Reconciliation Network.

An Open Letter to the People of Australia

On the fourth anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, the Australian Reconciliation Network encourages all Australians to consider carefully the recommendations made by the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

We believe that recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution is another positive step forward for our nation. The Panel has produced an excellent report that shows viable options exist to achieve this goal.

Many Australians would be surprised to learn that our Constitution currently allows Governments to discriminate against any group on the basis of race. We believe this is out of touch with modern Australia and does not reflect who we are as a nation today.

Historically it has been the Australian people who have lead the way towards reconciliation— overwhelmingly voting YES in the 1967 Referendum to count Aboriginal people in the census, walking across bridges in crowds of hundreds of thousands in a show of reconciliation, and turning out in droves to watch as Kevin Rudd made the formal Apology— unifying moments in our history that should not be forgotten.

Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution continues the unfinished business of the recommendations made by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation in 2000.

Extensive community consultations and polling that informed the Panel’s report suggest that changes are worthy and capable of support for a referendum.

We have before us a tremendous opportunity to define our nation’s story and take another step towards a reconciled nation. We share a vision for an Australia which recognises and is proud of our unique Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, and celebrates the diversity which makes our nation great.

We therefore encourage all Australians to consider carefully the Panel’s proposals to amend the Constitution.

Signed:

Dr Tom Calma and Ms Melinda Cilento, Reconciliation Australia Co-Chairs
Kristy Masella and Kerrie Murphy, NSW Reconciliation Council Co-Chairs
Aunty Heather Castledine and Peter Jackson, Reconciliation Queensland Inc Co-Chairs
Renai Dean and Keith Gove, Reconciliation Victoria Co-Chairs
Jim Morrison and Keith Bodman, Reconciliation WA Co-Chairs
Prof Peter Buckskin PSM FACE and Hon. Robyn Layton QC, Reconciliation South Australia Co-Chairs

 

Thank you.

Shannan Dodson
Communications Officer
Reconciliation Australia

If Dickens were alive today – Eureka Street

I know there are still Charles Dickens fans out there. The blogosphere, Facebook and Twitter have been quietly partying on the 200th anniversary of his birth. The local newspaper contemporised some of his more memorable characters – Miss Haversham, Fagin, the Artful Dodger. And now this thoughtful reflection that ponders a space/time transplant of this great literary figure…

If Dickens were alive today – Eureka Street.

Is it ever OK to humanise notorious figures?

Portrait of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. (no ...
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The twin cinematic retrospectives on the careers of Hoover and Thatcher, both notorious conservatives that packed a lot of clout in recent Western history, invite this question. Today’s article at Eureka Street, Humanising Hoover and Thatcher – Eureka Street, takes rather a dim view of the practice.

I wonder though. As one privileged to work across a wide spectrum of the community, embracing idealists from the extremes of both the right and the left (and all the places in between), I consider it important to contemplate the human element that we all share. Heaven forbid – it might give rise to compassion for those who have committed the inexcusable! Well, compassion springs from knowledge, knowledge leads to understanding, understanding leads to constructive dialogue for improvement.

Maybe if we saw the human in each other rather than competing ideologies we may be able to deal more effectively with some of the contemporary challenges confronting us.

How successfully these two cinematic efforts achieve the task of putting flesh and bone on  these historic figures is another matter. However, I do not question the desire.

Related Articles

Exousia…

Gospel Graffiti II
Image by Peat Bakke via Flickr

… is our word for the week. When we speak, act, relate out of exousia, we are doing so from the very essence of our being. We are acting out of the passion of authenticity.
The source is deeper and wider than ourselves however – it taps into the transcendent mystery of the universe.
Exousia is what makes Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech so great.
Exousia is what gives continuing muscle to Kevin Rudd‘s Sorry Day action.
Exousia is what gives power to the mild-mannered mum who advocates for the resources her special needs child requires to thrive.

Exousia is a Greek word that is frequently found in the Gospels of the Christian tradition – often translated as “authority” (as in Mark 1:22  “They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (NRSV)

A lot of Aussies, with our traditional larrikin zeitgeist, dislike the notion of  “authority” – ghosts and images of  “whipping parsons”, wowsers,  the nanny state  and Big Brother abound.

“Authenticity” on the other hand, draws us like bees to a honey pot. There is a hunch that not all authority is authentic!

If I had my way, the Koine Greek term exousia would be translated “authentic” where it appears in the gospels.

The Lobby & The Tent Embassy

Aboriginal Embassy and Mount Ainslie 29-10-06
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I visited the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra in 1982 – its presence was about ten years old then, and it was generating considerable angst in the orderly scene that is public service Canberra. My errand was to return an address/appointment book I had picked up in the street. It  belonged to one of the key embassy activists. I considered, given the sensitive nature of the contents, that I would deliver it to its owner myself rather than turn it in to “the authorities.”  The public was not on side at this time; the tent was an embarrassment and should go. Thirty years later, the Aboriginal Tent Embassy pitched on the lawns of Old Parliament House has hit international headlines again.

It’s not my desire to add commentary to this particular event, apart to point out that the incident illustrates the distance we still have to travel  before this country can speak of being unified.

Yet there remains enough positive energy from all parties to give it a go. Current anger and polarisation gives the appearance of sudden crisis. In reality, the crisis has existed for some time. Genuine and intelligent efforts continue to strive against all sorts of odds to address it. These efforts will not be diverted by the street theatre of yesterday, no matter who instigated it. The party of 22 diverse community leaders who have submitted the unanimous parliamentary report on changes to the Australian Constitution to acknowledge indigenous concerns remains promising. Today’s analysis: Long road to the Indigenous referendum – Eureka Street is both realistic and hopeful.

Another reflection on Australia Day

Some thoughtful words for the sake of those who go a little overboard on claiming Australia’s Christian pedigree:

The Great South Land – Synchroblog | RodneyOlsen.net.

Christians have a role to play in what is essentially a secular nation – but it’s one based on service rather than some notion of a divine right to rule. As one of my lecturer’s used to say “read,mark, learn and inwardly digest!”