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A reflection for Trinity Sunday

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Trinity Sunday June 7th

On Trinity Sunday it is a fine and long held tradition in the Church of England to get a special guest preacher in. The assistant priest from Nung Nung south, the bishop, an unsuspecting parson from Kalangatuck west … any one will do, so long as the regular vicar doesn’t have to explain the mystery of the Trinity.

Well what with COVID and everything else that is going on this year, I really didn’t have my stuff together and so I find that Trinity Sunday has come round all to quickly. Here I am and you are quite rightly expecting an enthralling homily on the chemical formula, the DNA genome of the holy and blessed and undivided and glorious Trinity.

Sorry to disappoint but I know none of these things. This was probably explained in one of the many lectures at college where I saw the title of the lecture and decided that the intricacies of refreshing beverages at the local inn were preferable to going to a lecture on the Trinity.

So I thought that today I would tell  you a story instead. It was a crisp, autumn day, the temperature was chilly but the sun was out and the leaves were turning magnificent colors.

I had been called to the local palliative care establishment to see a gentleman I had never met before.

His wife was there and they were both senior in years. His eyes lit up when saw me. He clasped my hand gently but firmly and thanked me for coming. We did what the Church does. Anoint, pray, read some scripture and commend. A sure and certain sealing into the mystery of Our Lords death and resurrection. When such occasions do happen, and they are always moving  and exquisite in flavour.

But then there was something else which was left hanging in the atmosphere. Something more that needed to be said.

So in a rare flash of pastoral intuition that happens only on a full moon, on the 2nd month, of a year with the number 5 in it, I sat down again and asked

“Is there anything else that you would like to say  or need to say?”

And with great tenderness he said

“I would like to tell you about the first time I kissed my wife. I tried not to blush, but of course my curiosity was piqued.

He told a story of how he and this attractive young woman found themselves one day walking together on a beach. The sky was overcast, it was cold and blowy; there were very few people around and the only sound was a few gulls cawing in the distance. As they walked on, their conversation quietly evaporated. Then they simply turned to each other and in the gentlest, tenderest way, they kissed.

“And you know Father” he said excitedly. “You know in the movies when a couple are kissing and the camera spins around and around while the violins play and the music swells.” I tried to nod sagely. “You know it was exactly like that. The earth seemed to tilt and spin and I can still hear the music even now 46 years later”. Clearly for him, it was though it happened just yesterday. So vivd and real and powerful for him was this memory.

I turned and looked at his wife, tears of love and joy streaming down her face.

So vivd and real and powerful for her, was this memory. “Now tell me Father, how did that occur? What made it happen?”

I had to confess I didn’t know the chemistry and the physiology of unbidden music and earth the rocking, but the gent and I came to the conclusion that the moment was of such significant and powerful love, that if affected their physical senses and ultimately it would affect their whole lives.

It was rare and lovely visit and when the gentleman did die,  this was a story that was told and savoured.

And that my friends is your Trinity Sunday parable. Two people who’s love each other was so powerful that it was as if there was a third person, wrapping them up together and enfolding them in an endless, luscious embrace.

A love that affected their lives just as Gods love affects our lives and changes us daily into people who are so more beautiful and courageous than we ever dared to be.

The Trinity who’s love calls us on the adventure we call life and who really doesn’t have to say a lot. The God who loves and laughs out loud. The one who feasts and drinks and listens and sings and dances with us. The one who even today just simply says to us. “Come… enjoy me.. as I enjoy you”. All we have to do is turn again and look into His eyes. And then we may well find, just rarely, but no less authentically, that  the earth spins, the music swells and the party begins.

Fr David’s Musing

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I noted with a smirk the arrival of the elusive Gorilla man into our midst here in Hamilton. He seemed to be a very fit athlete encouraging to us to healthy exercise. At this early stage it is impossible to speculate how many have taken up this exciting initiative, but the effort is worth while, even if our body resists with every hard won step. Perhaps I will see him at Park run when it begins again? I’m sure that he would be made to feel very welcome.

But what impressed me more was the effect that Gorilla man seems to have had on the people who are fortunate to encounter him. Once we push through the element of surprise and wonder we are taken outside of ourselves and our worries, albeit for a few brief moments. Perhaps we are left scratching our heads, bemused, maybe even inspired; but for the briefest of moments, we are thinking about something other than you know what. The dreaded ‘bug a lug’ that cannot be named. And this being ‘taken out of ourselves’ and helped to grin, can only be a good thing.

In those few moments when we are taken aghast, we realise that life is short, that our vocation is to inspire and nurture others. To help us realise that the world within us, which we so easily allow to be polluted with worries and things we have no control over, is actually much bigger and boggling than we ever thought.

So a big thanks to the person in the gorilla suit. Thank you for the inspiration to get fit and Thank you for a brief moment of sanity when all seems quite mad. Go Gorilla man… you legend!

Reflection for Pentecost 2020

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A reflection for Pentecost May 31st 

It’s the evening of the first Easter Sunday and the Master appears to the apostles. He gives them an appetiser of Pentecost, then sends them out to carry on the unending mission.

Now a couple of weeks ago, I pointed out that the intimacy and relationship that Jesus has with his Father, is the same intimacy and relationship that we are called to have with Jesus and with each other. Today, the same principle applies, only we take the plan one step further. Listen carefully

21 Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22

So … just as the Father sent Jesus on a mission to bring healing, wholeness and reconciliation to the world, so to Jesus sends us on that very same mission of healing, wholeness and reconciliation.

Uh huh

Just as the Father sent Jesus on a mission to bring healing, wholeness and reconciliation, so to Jesus sends us on that very same mission of healing, wholeness and reconciliation.

Now this is a marvellous adventure that we are called to embark on. It is thrilling and exciting, but it is also perilous and we need a lot of help. The help is given to us by the same Holy Spirit … the breath of God. Where do we tap into this spirit?

There are all the traditional places - the sacraments.

a) Through Baptism The Holy Spirit washes away sin and makes us children of God and heirs of Heaven.

b) Through Confirmation, He makes us temples of God, warriors and defenders of the Faith.

And to this day the service of confirmation goes. Strengthen Lord your servant Mildred with your Holy Spirit…

Through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual nourishment by converting bread and wine into Jesus’ Body and Blood. In fact there is a part in the Eucharist, just after the Holy Holy Holy, part where the priest asks for the gift of the Holy Spirit to come down and change the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus. The flash church word for this part of the service is epiclesis and this morning the words are

“Lord you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness. Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy, so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ”

At the ordination of a priest there is a part in the service where the bishop says to the candidate.

“Receive the office and work of a priest” and then continues with the very same words that Our Lord said to the apostles.

“Who so ever sins you forgive they are forgiven and who so ever sins you retain they are retained.”

Now these are just some of the places that we know with absolute certainty that the Holy Spirit is accessible and in top gear.

But we are also aware that much of the Holy Sprits work happens out side of these traditional channels of grace.

The church has never and should never, claim to have a complete monopoly of the Holy Spirit.

In John’s gospel Jesus is having a fireside chat with Nicodemus and explains

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Some of the more high profile movements where I think Holy Sprit has been at work outside the sacraments and active within our society are with things like

Our heightened sense of vocation to care for God’s creation. Calling out the absolute wrongness of domestic violence and the Me too movement.

But how do we know? How can we be sure this is the work of the Holy Spirit? It is by their fruits that we know if God’s Spirit is work.

And the fruits of the Spirit are

love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

So whenever you see a movement, a person, an action, or you hear a word bringing these things to life, then you can be very sure that the Holy Spirit is at work.

Love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. On our mission, the same mission that Jesus went on, these things are our tools of trade and they are also the fruit that we called to nurture, to blossom and flourish, in the lives that we are privileged to touch.

And on this day of resurrection, just as He did on that very first day of resurrection, The Master breathes on us. He sends us out as He himself was sent out. With all its joy, with alls its scrapes, with all its disappointments, with all its delight, with all its adventure and with all its love,… this is His work, this is the Spirits work, this is our work yours and mine.

Fr David’s Musing

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Fr. David's musings

There are many different narratives that are woven together to make up the COVID coverall. There is the thread of the the redundant and those who support them in so many hidden ways. There is the thread of those who are in ICU, separated from loved ones. There is the thread of anxiety and fear.

One of the narratives that troubles me most, is the narrative that this is a war that is being fought. The enemy is COVID and there are those who are in the front line of the battle. Now I well understand this parable, but what disturbs me is that it assumes that some lives are expendable for the greater good. That our dollars somehow take priority over human life. The reality is that life is infinitely precious and it doesn’t matter whether it is the life of our ‘pollies’, our policemen or our pensioners.

To label our healers as ‘soldiers’ actually does them a disservice. It white washes the elective nature of their sacrifice. It diminishes their noble choice to go back to work, hour after hour, day after day. It normalises their potential death as just an inevitable consequence of ‘the war’.

So at the end of the all this, we could just shrug our shoulders and say “Oh well it’s sad, but at least our economy and shops are open again. At least we are all exercising our democratic right to be where we want to be, when we want to be and use ‘free speech’.”

So lets not trivialise what our health care workers are doing for us by assuming they had to do it and that they are expendable for the greater good. That would be worse than the disease itself.

Fr David’s Musings

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250 words 19th of May

The Healing of Lake Hamilton.

Runners.. check, old t-shirt… check, music… check, beanie… check. Looks like I’m all set to head off around the lake.

My exercise regime really began in 2010 when my doctor gave me a very serious talking to. Quite firm he was and while it sounded harsh to my ears at the time, I shall always be grateful for his censure.

In Ballarat I used to ‘do’ Lake Wendouree. When the time came to leave and come to Hamilton, I wondered if there would be somewhere to keep my weight and blood pressure under control.

You can imagine my surprise and by extension my doctors relief, that there was such a facility. The thoroughly enjoyable, healing and scenic Lake Hamilton.

So most mornings I have a jog around this impressive lake. With its gentle curves, its bird life and the odd “Morning / Hello” its a rather good place to be. Sometimes I go round twice and feel very virtuous. Now here’s the confession bit.

Its not just my physical and mental health that is being sorted out as I stumble around. Theres the music in my head,… but also I’m thinking. That delicate letter I have to write. How could I phrase that a bit better? Mmm… mustn’t forget to get in touch with so and so and ask them about whatsamadoover… and that uncomfortable phone call might go better if I took another approach. Much is thought about, chewed over reflected upon, changed around, sorted and healed.

I give thanks for whoever took the initiative and made the Lake ‘happen’. Their ministry to me continues and we are all the richer for having such a wonderful place on our doorstep.

Reflection

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A reflection for Sunday May 24th 

Easter 7  May 24th

A school teacher once gave me some very wise advice. They said that in order to know the student, it was helpful to meet the parents. Meeting Mum and Dad often helped to explain all sorts of things about the student and gave you a bit of background.

I thought about this as I read John 17:3

“And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent”.

So in order to know Jesus, it might be helpful to reflect on Mary and Joseph. They are the bits of the jigsaw puzzle that surround the central figure of Jesus.

Mark and John start their gospel with an adult Jesus. It is left to Luke and Matthew to give us the scanty bits of infant narratives and reveal something of the people who had most the intimate connection with Jesus.

So what do we learn?

From Lukes gospel we learn that Mary and Jospeh set out when Jesus was old enough to go to Jerusalem for the rite of purification. And…

Each year they used to go up to Jerusalem for the feast of the passover.

Jospeh and Mary were good practising Jews. They would have gone to the synagogue on a regular basis and this in part explains why we read in Jesus adult life.

“When Jesus came to Nazareth, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as… was… his… custom”.

And I reckon there must have been times when the homily at the synagogue was tedious, or their local rabbi made a mistake, or the parishioners, like us, struggled with their faith. But Mary and Joseph would have persisted and got themselves to synagogue on the sabbath.

So thats one thing we learn about Jospeh and Mary - faithfulness.

What else do we learn?

Mary and Jospeh were open to Gods surprises for them. The Archangel Gabrielle was a surprise for Mary. Jospeh is a man tormented by dreams where he is encouraged to take his fiancée as his wife when he has privately made up his mind to do other wise. Their travel plans back home to Galilee were messed about first by Herod and then by Herod's son Archelaus.

When they lose their son in Jerusalem they are surprised at Jesus response when they vent their understandable angst and relief.

“Did you not know I must be about my Fathers business?’

I wonder if Mary and Jospeh told child Jesus about the interruptions to their humdrum life. Certainly if Mary was anything like my Mum, she would be frequently recounting his mysterious, yet joyful birth and the time he wandered off all by himself. Perhaps Mary told Jesus about or fleeing from Herod.

My guess is that Jesus knew he also worshipped the God surprise and mystery. Always just getting a small part of the picture which tantalised and drew you into wanting to know more and understand more deeply.

Jesus grew up knowing that God interrupts with surprises and plans of his own and sometimes they are not altogether to our liking and certainly they are frequently beyond our understanding.

One final thing about Mary and Jospeh. They knew that it wasn’t about them. Yes they were important and without Mary saying Yes and Jospeh’s protection there may not have been the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus.

But after all the dreams, surprises, tricks and giggles, Mary and Jospeh understood that it must always be about what God wants. They lived that out in all its ache and sparkle and wonder as they watched Jesus grow and mature. As Luke so beautifully puts it. “Mary pondered all these things in her heart”  and … “the child grew and became strong in Spirit”. It was never just going to be about them. It was always going to be about their son Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, the son of God.

So too, Jesus knows that He is sent to do his Fathers will and this wrestle is made very clear in the Garden of gethsemane and on the cross.

“Not my will but your will”. “Into your hands I commend my spirit.”

So what might we learn?

That our vocation is to simply to be faithful. To rock up as often as we can and connect in what ever way we can, and love him as passionately as we can.

We learn that we worship a God of surprise and that we ought not to be surprised, if we are surprised.

Finally its always been about Him and clergy in particular need to be reminded that it always about the one true high priest.

So by reflecting on Mary and Jospeh, we get a  more comprehensive understanding of who Jesus is and nudge each other just a little closer to eternal life.

Remember where we began?

And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Sunday Morning Streaming

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The Sunday Morning Mass on the 24th of May will be live streamed at 10:30am from Christchurch Hamilton We are pleased to announce that  there will be weekday services for up to 10 people at Christchurch Hamilton.

Morning Prayer 7:15am Tuesday - Saturday

Evening Prayer 5:00pm Tuesday - Saturday

Eucharist  10:00am  Wednesday

In order to ‘book’ one of these highly desirable places, please contact Fr. David no later than the day before you wish to attend.

Ph. (03) 5571 1317

M / Text 0423 671 692

Email droulton72@gmail.com

We need to keep your details in order to comply with government regulations.

If you aren’t feeling well, it is probably best that you wait a while before attending.

In order to maximise social distancing all 4 church doors will be open and these services will be held in the main body of the Church.

We look forward to welcoming you back!

The Sunday Morning Mass will be live streamed at 10:30am.

We’re back!

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We are pleased to announce that  there will be weekday services for up to 10 people at Christchurch Hamilton.

Morning Prayer 7:15am Tuesday - Saturday

Evening Prayer 5:00pm Tuesday - Saturday

Eucharist  10:00 am  Wednesday

In order to ‘book’ one of these highly desirable places, please contact Fr. David no later than the day before you wish to attend.

Ph. (03) 5571 1317

M / Text 0423 671 692

Email droulton72@gmail.com

We need to keep your details in order to comply with government regulations.

If you aren’t feeling well, it is probably best that you wait a while before attending.

In order to maximise social distancing all 4 church doors will be open and these services will be held in the main body of the Church.

We look forward to welcoming you back!

Stage 1 – the way back

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From Tuesday 26th of May there will be weekday services for up to 10 people at Christchurch Hamilton.

That’s great!!… what else do I need to know??

In order to ‘book’ one of these highly desirable places, please contact Fr. David no later than the day before you wish to attend.

Ph. (03) 5571 1317

M / Text 0423 671 692

Email droulton72@gmail.com

We need to keep your details in order to comply with government regulations.

If you aren’t feeling well, it is probably best that you wait a while before attending.

O.K… So when are these services being held?

Morning Prayer 7:15 am Tuesday - Saturday

Evening Prayer 5:00 pm Tuesday - Saturday

Eucharist  10:00 am  Wednesday

In order to maximise social distancing all 4 church doors will be open and these services will be held in the main body of the Church.--
Fr. David Oulton