Blog

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 16 [21]. Matthew 16:13-20; Romans 12:1-8) Paul’s words challenge us to understand that transformation is firstly an internal process of having our minds renewed that then works its way outward into the world. If any of this material is of use to you in your p

From what, or when, do we need saving? Not just at the beginning of our faith journey but now? (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 14 [19] Matthew 14:22-33.) Many of us begin by feeling a need to be saved from sin but as we travel through life we find we also need saving from weariness, despair, flagging hope or just the sense of overwhelm and distraction. Sentence: “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” Romans 10:10 Collect: Gracious Lord, place within our

An undivided heart: wouldn’t that be a state of peace and grace, to not know division and uncertainty and contradiction within our own heart. An undivided heart: isn’t that in some ways the goal and destiny of faith? An undivided heart: isn’t that what our spirit’s groan for as we labour toward the fulfilment of God’s work in us? (Eight Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 11 [16] Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.) And yet most of us know what it is like to have a divided heart. A heart div

This talk of reward is curious and potentially misleading if we think of it as primarily about “How will I personally benefit from being a disciple or supporting others?” Especially in the context of our other readings and the state of our world. (Fifth Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 8[13] Genesis 22:1-14; Psalm 13; [Jeremiah 28:5-9; Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18] Romans 6:12-23; and Matthew 10:40-42.) Sentence: “ … and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones

And so we begin the Season after Pentecost by returning to the story of the call of the disciple Matthew. But our gospel and other texts (Proper 5 [10], Genesis 12:1-9; Psalm 33:1-12; Romans 4:13-25: and Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26) speaks to an already radical and rather inconvenient gospel message – that the life giving truth is being shared with those who are dubious, that Jesus enjoys the company of those on the edge of proper society, and that membership is simply to know and

This week we have one of the most uncomfortable stories about Jesus where he ignores then appears to reject the Canaanite woman. And then...

This week (Second Sunday after Pentecost, or Proper 5 [10]) we begin a season of reading St Paul and his letter to the Romans. It is...

We are told not to be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our mind. This requires seeing with different eyes.

In life we are informed and formed by what we attend to. Our choices make this a life giving circle or a vicious circle that diminishes us.