John the Baptist – Wondering Pilgrim

Reclaiming Epiphany

Down under, we are in that part of the year “when nothing happens.” Christmas/New Year is done and decorations are being boxed and put away. While a few are returning languidly to their daily labours and many are still enjoying the long vacation, many wait with bated breath for the contentious date of our officialContinue reading “Reclaiming Epiphany”

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”

Advent Voices – the Pointers

There have always been those who point the way – often only to the next marker, for even they cannot see beyond the fog. John’s gospel (ch 1:6-8, 19-28) introduces us to one who points to the source of life and light. Such pointing often leads to confrontation with those who are committed to pointing only toContinue reading “Advent Voices – the Pointers”

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”

Peace is a Pair of Shoes

I love preaching at my church – it opens up so much thoughtful dialogue. This week we tackled the Advent theme of peace in relation to charitable giving. It had been the week of a photo of a NYPD cop buying a pair of shoes for a homeless vagabond. It had gone viral. Something ofContinue reading “Peace is a Pair of Shoes”

Peace is a Pair of Shoes

Advent Reflection: Peace – not absence of conflict

It may strike one as absurd that a day given to reflecting on peace revolves around that fiery wild figure that stormed out of the Judaean desert preaching repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins. John the Baptist seems an incongruous figure for what we imagine to be peace – serene narcosis wrapped inContinue reading “Advent Reflection: Peace – not absence of conflict”