Reflections

13/9/26 From our heart I want to begin today with the Lord’s prayer and, in particular, that line that we not only prattle off, but which we heartily pray… Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.  You see the three-way link between… today’s parable, the forgiveness which we ask from...Continue reading→

When this one thing finishes … then everything else can begin. Over the decades, I have had the humbling privilege of walking alongside folk as they have transitioned from one ‘place’ to another, and perhaps this is a daily process. Some are subtle, like grey hair, a wrinkle and a common cold. Others are monstrous...Continue reading→

6/9/26 The Little Ones This is one of those many homilies that is about no one in particular but a collage of people whom I have had the privilege of trying to care for over the years. It began, I guess, with a topic in college called ‘Interpersonal aspects of ministry’. The lecture hall, or...Continue reading→

Be. Daily, I read a chunk of Psalms. Sometimes they are severely grumpy. ‘Appoint someone evil to oppose my enemy; let an accuser stand at his right hand.’ Sometimes they are gleeful ‘Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth" Other times there is sage advice. ‘Be still my soul.’ Odd that you can read...Continue reading→

Ambushed When I looked up the definition of the word ‘ambushed’ this is what I discovered. “To confront an individual, group, or vehicle unexpectedly from a concealed or hidden position.” Today we have the classic and well-known story of Moses and the burning bush. Moses is just quietly minding his father-in-law's sheep and his own...Continue reading→

Badges of Honour You know how you look in the mirror and notice a change or two. That somehow you weren’t quite as suave and smooth-skinned as you were 20 years ago. This especially applies to those of us who are in our dotage. The folk who have noticed some grey hairs. For me it...Continue reading→

23/8/26 Who You Are The usual path for the preacher today is as follows. In this Q&A session, Peter is open to the Holy Spirit, who reveals who Jesus really is—the Messiah. It is not flesh and blood that has revealed this to Peter. For Peter’s insight and faithfulness, he is given not only a...Continue reading→

Of Sin Sin is something I am eminently qualified to speak about. I went to every lecture in college about sin, and I diligently did my homework. But the sinning did not magically stop once I put on a clerical collar. Relentlessly over the years, I have become the master sinner. Once I thought I...Continue reading→

16/8/26 Of Homecoming At this time of year, there is a curious day in our lectionary called Mary Mother of the Lord. Our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters call this ‘the Assumption of Our Lady ’, and our Greek Orthodox brothers and sisters call it "The falling asleep of the Blessed Virgin Mary." It's a...Continue reading→

‘You have looked at it, but you haven’t seen it.’ It was just a sentence out of one of my favourite books, ’The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.’ A far-reaching compendium which includes how to make a pan-galactic gargle blaster. A refreshing beverage that theological students claim is a vocation. My more serious quote comes...Continue reading→

9th of August Mary Sumner … Thank You! Yippee! In our Anglican calendar, it is Mary Sumner Day. This year it happens to fall on a Sunday, so we’re making a bit of fuss. Mary Sumner was the founder of Mothers Union. This parish is gorgeously blessed because it has such a healthy, vibrant and...Continue reading→

Do I Really Need To Say This? One of the excruciating lessons that I have to learn and relearn continuously is the need to set and keep a guard over my mouth. I am privileged to have many conversations each and every day, and frequently I find myself falling into the trap of saying more...Continue reading→

Name Your Nemesis Today I want to explore the intriguing first lesson, but I need to go back a bit to Jacob’s youth, where he steals his brother Esau’s birthright. I spoke a bit about this on the 12th of July. Esau is “a hunter, an outdoorsy guy,” think of the Leyland brothers. Jacob, on...Continue reading→

What’s “angertainment?” This new word came from Ed Coper. In his book Angertainment, he outlines the theory that with the internet, we were promised a global village. Instead, we got a gladiatorial arena where our strongest emotions of fear and anger are manipulated for the profit and entertainment of those who should know better. These...Continue reading→

Our Happy Places. It was about 1969 when we moved to the family farm at Sheep-hills just outside of Warracknabeal. Christ Church was our parish church, as the Sheep-hills Church had become defunct and had subsequently moved to Halls Gap, where it continues a faithful, welcoming ministry to tourists and locals alike. I was baptised...Continue reading→

26/7/26 Love Has No Transaction Fees. Today’s first lesson about Rachel and Leah is one of my favourites. It raises several questions, has lots to teach us and is just a jolly good romping story. Here’s the go. Laban has two daughters. The older one is Leah, and Leah has weak eyes. Rachel, on the...Continue reading→

19/7/26 The sin of certainty … The holiness of doubt … Today I would like to explore the possibility that Certainty is a sin and that doubt is actually a holy thing. This concept should be quite liberating for us, for we all struggle with doubts and we can all fall into the sin of...Continue reading→

Allow Yourself to Learn It was an incisive phrase I snatched from a sparkling conversation. The other person was of more mature years, but time had not dulled their mind or blunted their wit. The glitter of the conversation was nurturing and enjoyable. ‘Allow yourself to learn.’ In a rare moment of lucidity, I caught...Continue reading→

12/7/26 Hairy and Grabber Usually in the homily we go straight to the gospel reading and have a bit of think and play there. Today’s first reading, however, is a cracking story about a family with all its sparkle, joy, failings and contentions. As such, it is a good story for us, for we all...Continue reading→

PS: I’ve Got Warts. Apparently there are things called dating apps. You can post a picture of yourself and a few notes. Eg. “I’m bright, witty, intelligent and fun to be with. When I’m not winning marathons, I’m completing my PHD in metaphysics. I’m impossibly good-looking and part owner of that famous winery/restaurant that people...Continue reading→