Today’s Gospel reminds us of that hard topic – forgiveness, and once again sets out Jesus’ standards for our everyday behaviour. To forgive those who have hurt us, or caused us pain is one of the most vexing demands of being a disciple of Christ. In so many things, following Jesus is loving and practical; …
The fishing imagery in the Gospel story is a bit remote for those of us who get our fish from the market and sushi from bars. But despite this, the message is clear; in the course of his ordinary working life, just getting on with his job, running his fishing business – Peter is confronted …
The Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple that we celebrate today, is also known as Candlemas. For Anglicans in the northern hemisphere, this Feast, that dates back to the fifth Century, is a reminder of the coming of light in the darkness of winter as they look forward to the arrival of …
This weekend we mark Australia Day, a day when wecelebrate our nation’s history and heritage. Dorothy Mackellar’s poem evokes a real sense of what it means to live with the Australian landscape, of the way we have to hold together the rugged beauty and the terror of this country that’s our home. The heat, storms …
When I started to think about Jesus’ first miracle at the Wedding at Cana this week, the first image that came to mind was Rowan Atkinson’s parody of a Church of England Vicar telling this story. ‘On the third day there was a marriage ag Cana of Galilee and it came to pass that there …
As we move through the season of Epiphany, we continue to reflect on the meaning of the Incarnation: Emmanuel, God born for us. Although the nativity is a beautiful, warm fuzzy story, we need to take care that this doesn’t disguise the real truth of this season. God is with us, in our believing and …
The Christmas season is upon us once again; for most of us it is a time of joy and celebration, of coming together as families. Yet it’s so easy for the great truths of this season to get lost in all the rush, and in the relentless commercialism that takes ownership of the Christmas story …
The third Sunday of Advent is known as ‘Rejoice’ Sunday. We light the pink candle on the Advent wreath as a reminder of the hope and joy ahead of us in the incarnation. Traditionally this third Sunday in Advent has been a day to lighten up, to be joyful. Indeed, the whole of Advent is about …
Get ready! As we come to this second Sunday in Advent it’s time to start getting Christmas preparations underway. In my family, emails are starting to fly around – what are we doing, who’s house, how do we organise presents this year, what about the children? Perhaps cards are being written and posted, meals are …
This week we begin a new liturgical year, the year of Luke, and at the same time we enter into the rich and ancient season of Advent. For most Australians, Advent passes virtually unnoticed, as the celebration of what has become the very commercial feast of Christmas dominates everyone’s thinking and time. Yet taking time to …