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One Was Taken, One Was Left

One Was Taken, One Was leftAdvent 1; Matthew 24:36-44In the last desperate weeksof my father’s life,my mother had a dream:a vision of Jesuswho waited for Dad with open arms.I tearfully imaginedthe carpenter and the wood turnersharing their love of creating,so that Dad would feel at home there,having always had too many questionsto feel at homeContinue reading “One Was Taken, One Was Left”

Forgiveness

ForgivenessChrist the King; Luke 23:33-43They nailed him to the cross but still he prayed:“Forgive them for they know not what they do!”They’d learnt the hard way might must be obeyed:defiant soldiers forfeit life they knew.What sort of choice is kill a man or die?Not only death, dishonour lay in wait.A soldier’s lot was not toContinue reading “Forgiveness”

Stones Thrown Down

Stones Thrown DownPentecost 23; Luke 21:5-19See, stones like bones still litter sacred ground,raise disembodied limbs into the sky.Remembered words passed down preserve the soundof prayers and chants until the echoes die.Beware of pride in massive building blocks,in gilded vessels, jeweled robes and glass.The rot begins with disenchanted flocksand pompous clergy who misuse their class.Rapacious empiresContinue reading “Stones Thrown Down”

Responding to Sadducees

Responding to SadduceesPentecost 22; Luke 20:27-40At High School, I was good at debating,but our arguments there were not heartfelt,just a mind game where stances were random:“Yes” or “No” was assigned, not self-chosen.Now real arguments set my gut seething.If beliefs are deep seated and fervent,seems my tongue and my brain lose connection.If I speak, it isContinue reading “Responding to Sadducees”

Belonging and Receiving

Belonging and ReceivingPentecost 20; Luke 18:15-17It is to such as thisthe realm of God belongs:the baby learning how to bewhose sustenance is love.Her joy is to explorethe colours, shapes and sounds;to her, the world’s new born,created for delight.Safe held in cradling arms,she smiles to know a face,then seeks her mother’s milk,warm flowing from the breast.ShowContinue reading “Belonging and Receiving”

The Need for Prayer

The Need for PrayerPentecost 19; Luke 181-14I’ve got a problem with prayerand it’s not just my discomfortwith Jesus’ teaching story.I don’t think the God I knowis anything like the unjust judgeworn down by determined nagging.Do we think that incessant prayingwill prompt God to enforce justice?I get Jesus’ point about the needto pray always and notContinue reading “The Need for Prayer”

All the Earth Shall Worship

All the Earth Shall WorshipPentecost 18; Luke 17:11-19, Psalm 66:1-11, 2 Timothy 2:8-15Ten lepers were cleansedand one returned to give thanks.He praised God with a loud voiceand Jesus said to him:“Your faith has made you well.”Yet he was a Samaritanand some despised his faithfor worshipping on a mountainand not in the templeand for incorporating beliefsfromContinue reading “All the Earth Shall Worship”

Is It Faith?

Is It Faith?Pentecost 17; Luke 17:5-10Is it faiththat causes my heart to liftas a pair of black cockatoos soar into my sight,the slow surging strokes of their wingsin perfect unison?Is it faiththat brings tears of joy to my eyesand bids me cry outin gratitude:“Oh beautiful, beautiful!”Is it faithin the Creatorof these winged messengers,or is itContinue reading “Is It Faith?”

Chasms Between

Chasms BetweenPentecost 16; Luke 16:19-31Over the years and across the wide Earththose who have much exclude those who are poor –maybe with claims of superior birth,whiteness or maleness, tradition or law.Some say that wealth is a blessing they’ve earned:fittest survive while the lesser won’t thrive.Those they keep down find best efforts are spurned:doomed as outsiders,Continue reading “Chasms Between”