Season of Growth
Grace and works
22 March 2009
Lent, Season of Growth, Seasons, Year B
Lent 4B – Ephesians 2:4-10 Last week we had the 10 commandments (Hebrew: mitzvot); this week we have the final verses from the Hebrew Bible (Tanaka) in 2 Chron 36 which record the failure of Israel to live up to these commandments which resulted in the destruction of Jerusalem and exile. It is only through…
Lent 2B – The binding of Isaac
7 March 2009
Lent, Season of Growth, Seasons, Year B
When studying Biblical Studies at Sydney University many years ago, I studied under a lovely Rabbi who highlighted the significance and power of this passage from Genesis 22 – the binding of Isaac – called the ‘aqedah sacrifice’. It still disturbs and challenges us to reflect deeply on the nature of faith and the call…
Exclusion and Embrace
14 February 2009
6th Sunday (B) – Leviticus 13; Mark 1:40-45 It did not take long during the week before we began to hear victims of the terrible bushfires that ravaged Victoria last weekend ask why did this happen? Who is to blame? Was it the fault of the arsonists who lit the fires, or the greenies who…
Exclusion and Healing
14 February 2009
6th Sunday (B) – Leviticus 13; Mark 1:40-45 During the week we have heard many stories from the bushfire-ravaged centres of Victoria – many incredibly harrowing and horrific of great loss of life and possessions; some magnificent and miraculous of escape and rescue. Among these stories we have also been presented with others as victims…
Immediately
8 February 2009
During this liturgical year, we read from the Gospel of Mark. Each Gospel has its own style and personality. In John there are long discourses from Jesus with rich theological insights; Luke, written to a Gentile audience, has beautiful parables like the prodigal son and the good Samaritan; while Matthew, written to a Jewish audience,…
Teaching with authority
31 January 2009
The words and teaching of Jesus were always closely united. This was clearly the intention of God from the beginning – this was the way that he wanted for his people. God wants us to know the truth, and he wants us to be changed by our encounter with him. This is only possible when…
Samuel and discipleship
18 January 2009
Discipleship, Season of Growth, Teaching, Year B
The call to discipleship is strongly expressed in these readings – Andrew inviting his brother Simon to meet the Lord. Having spent the week at Summer School of Evangelisation in Bathurst, many young people want to know how to discern the will of the Lord. In the first reading from 1 Samuel 3, we see…
Saying ‘yes’ to God
21 December 2008
Advent, Season of Growth, Seasons, Year B
Advent Sunday 4 (Year B) – 21 Dec 2008 We are presented with the powerful image of the virgin Mary,’deeply disturbed’ by the angel Gabriel’s message – and yet she says ‘yes’ to the Lord with all her heart. The great contrast is between Mary’s ‘yes’ and the desire of King David (2 Sam) to…