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The parable of the Sower is deeply familiar and as such can seem tame or exhausted of all new meaning and challenge. And yet when we come to this story in the midst of life when old and valued things seem to be failing or dying, when new seeds of hope look vulnerable, and we fear the harvest to come, we may benefit from looking again at images of the prodigally generous Sower and the abundant crop that may yet flourish. (Seventh Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 10 [15] Matthew

As soon as we think we can define the divine the divine turns up in our life in a different and confounding way! Or so it seems to me and many of us I suspect. (Sixth Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 9 [14] Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30.) We come to worship God as Creator and the divine shows up as lover leaping and enticing us somewhere different. We recognise the divine as king and he comes on a donkey not a war-horse. We see the holy messenger who does not drink nor eat more than

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

The Scriptures this week seem to be challenging us to see (and trust) that the world as we know it, with all its brokenness and its inequalities, needs to be allowed to die in some form so that the new life of God’s desired way of being can emerge. Sentence: “Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39 Collect: Creator God, Life giving Redeemer, Spirit that brings new life to bear, Grant us courage to trust

Our readings this week touch upon many important subjects. When read together I am challenged that the decision to follow, to be obedient, begins for us with a decision to step out, often into a place of discomfort or vulnerability, but to actually get started with the living of our faith before we are sure of everything. (Third Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 6 [11]. Genesis 18:1-15, 21:1-7; Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19 [or Exodus 19:2-8a; Psalm 100]; Romans 5:1-8; and Matthew 9:35-1

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

What terribly confronting readings this week which for many of us seem to describe the times we are living in, or at least witnessing! These readings (Twenty Third Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 28 (33). Luke 21:5-19; Isaiah 65:17-25; Isaiah 12; and 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13.) not only describes the fearful situation of the first century world in which the disciples would find themselves in but also describes the brokenness of our world! And the prophet Isaiah still speaks to ou

Jesus refers to God as the God of the living not of the dead. And in doing so Jesus claims the ever-living presence of God as the one in whom we, and those who went before us, live and move and have our being. And because of this we can dare to be a people of hope and justice and new beginnings. (Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost. Proper 27 (32). Luke 20:27-38; Haggai 2:1-2:9; Psalm 98; and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17.) Jesus spends a considerable amount of time in Luke

There is a theme running through much of scripture of the abundance of God and the desire of God to bless us. We hear some of that this week. In Joel and the Psalm we are reminded of God given seasons of plenty and replenishment. And the generous restoration of Israel. In Paul’s letter we hear of the abundance to come for the faithful. And in the gospel we are confronted with a new understanding of abundance – the plenty that comes to those who give up everything for the gosp

Sometimes I wish the gospel were different to what it actually is. Sometimes I wish Jesus had said “Ask for what you want and I will make sure you get all that you think you need and know that you want in a timely way that makes your life more joyful and successful and that you and those you love will never need to suffer.” But that’s not what he said. Even though sometimes some have wanted to interpret readings such as this week’s (Luke 18:1-8) in this way. But Jesus said so

Jeremiah told the remnant who were exiled in Babylon to pray for the welfare of the city which held them captive. To pray for the welfare...

“Go deeper”, said my friend’s spiritual director when her life was falling apart and no obvious way forward could be seen. And that seems...