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The Prophets, Challenging the World and Redemption | 04/12/2009
What is the message we have for the world? That God is a redeeming God. We have been saved (and justified) in and through Jesus Christ (Rom 3:24; 1 Cor 1:30). The great biblical Truth uses the language of the Roman Empire where ransoms were paid for slaves and for prisoners of war. Money was paid and the slaves were freed and prisoners able to return home. But we need to go back to the Old Testament for the roots of this idea of redemption. The Bible tells us that God is a redeeming God. He set the Hebrews free from slavery in Egypt (Ps 111:9). He is goâel, redeemer. He is the divine kinsman who sets out to buy back one of his relatives from slavery (Isa 41:14; 43:14; 44:6; 47:4).
THE CHURCH: Called to reconcile the world to God | 15/10/2009
The obvious starting point for any reflection on reconciliation is Lukeâs parable of the Forgiving Father (15:11-32). In that story we have a younger son who sinned heinously for all kinds of human reasons. He left his fatherâs house and sought to make his own way in the world. But it did not work and he found himself filled with shame, humiliated and eating pigâs swill. Jesus shows the power of love in that the father never abandoned the son to his sin. His love never faltered and went out each day willing him home. Then, when the son returned he was given a feast, for the son that was lost was found, who was dead was now alive.
Renewal, Communion, Walk of Faith and the Diaconate. | 31/01/2008 | Number of Comments (1)
And so a new year begins.....I do not say that in calendar terms but in liturgical terms. Most of our parishes undertook an Advent programme on the theme of discipleship and towards the end of the season we made faith commitments about how we might go about pursuing our lives as followers of Jesus Christ. This was much more significant than the annual round of New Year resolutions that seem to get so much attention. All too often these resolutions do not continue too far into the new year. The reason is clear. Their fulfilment depends on ourselves. Discipleship commitments depend on our willingness to open ourselves up to the grace of God to strengthen us and enable us for ministry. It was pleasing to see the majority of our parishes engage in this process and undertake the Advent studies and participate in our commitment Sunday.
General Synod | 30/10/2007
I am beginning to write this from the back row of General Synod (day 6), though will have to finish it when I return to Ballarat. We are, at the moment, debating a canon calling the Church to undertake some specific steps in addressing the environmental issues facing our planet. It is a strange sensation and really does speak volumes about who we are as a Church. There is nothing in the proposed bill that is objectionable. It is all good stuff but the whole idea of setting in place some specific mechanism for reducing our carbon footprint as a Church is crazy. Laws will not change us. The proposals put into the canons cannot force any church community to change. Nothing wrong with the content but in reality it is little more than just a 'feel good' bill. And, as we near the end of synod, I suspect that this is what is of primary importance to our Church: being correct, or at least, appearing correct and looking good in the eyes of the world around us.
The Drought, Women in the Episcopate & General Synod | 30/09/2007
I was in the Wimmera on the weekend and talking to farmers and community members there, it is clear that the drought is far from over. It continues to grind away at the lives of most families and we are still to feel its full impact. It must be really nice to live in Melbourne and know that there is water to spare on gardens and lawns - even though there are clearly going to be problems over the summer. City people are insulated from the drought and its impact, except when they feel the bite on the cost of food. But in the rural communities, it hits families and individuals at all kinds of levels.