Reflections

25/10/26 Moses Mountain Misery Moment I want to begin by pointing out the bitter and unreasonable injustice of God in the first lesson. Remember that Moses has reluctantly but obediently done everything God has asked of Him. He didn’t want the job of freeing the Israelites from the bully boy Pharaoh. Moses calmly offered every...Continue reading→

Some time ago, I discovered that our church has a time capsule. It occurred to me that this device would be an ideal way to offer some thoughts, reflections and maybe even some wisdom to those who come after us. But what do you say to a people yet to be born? I’m writing this...Continue reading→

Of St. Luke This year St. Luke’s Day falls on a Sunday, so it’s an ideal opportunity to have a bit of refresher about St. Luke and about his gospel. Here’s what we know about the man. He was a young doctor, very likely in Antioch. St. Paul calls him a “beloved physician” (Col 4:14)....Continue reading→

There’s Something Else Here. I reckon everyone can remember where they were when they heard the news that Queen Elizabeth the 2nd had died. Jeanine and I had just touched down at Tullamarine Airport after flying back from Singapore. There was a collective gasp and a solemn silence. It was unrehearsed, quite spontaneous and utterly...Continue reading→

With Apologies to Lady Whistledown Dearest Gentle Reader, Cana is abuzz with gossip after the wedding of Lady Susannah Nelson to Lord Daniel Hivite. Lady Susannah wore a captivating wedding dress that turned heads and brought a mischievous grin to the face of her soon-to-be husband. It is rumoured that an entourage of latecomers to...Continue reading→

Today's little reflection came to me from the internet thingy they have nowadays.Two churches in an unnamed town got to arguing. And it was a very public argument, played out on the large signs in front of their buildings— the kind of sign with movable letters that can be arranged to spell out a sermon...Continue reading→

4/10/26 Hear the Word of the Lord The Master was a skilful storyteller. It was his main method of teaching, and we still use his stories today. In the gospel set down for this weekend He tells a real rip snorter and it finds its mark, in part, because the setting is very familiar to...Continue reading→

What’s a Deanery Day? A deanery day is a day for clerics to get together to consume food and quaff refreshing beverages. In the course of their conversation, they discover again that they are all flawed, all have their failures, and all do have some wins. We brag about our faithful folk who tirelessly support...Continue reading→

Recently I was privileged to see the musical ‘Pretty Woman’. You may have seen the film starring the handsome Richard Gere and the very attractive Julia Roberts. Near the end, an iconic exchange occurs when Edward (Richard Gere) conquers his fear of heights to climb the fire escape of Vivian’s (Julia Roberts) apartment building, playing...Continue reading→

21/9/26 Egbert and Fr. David The usual path for the aspiring preacher for today’s little parable of the two sons is, I think, as follows. Dad has two sons. One is devious and disobedient, and on our grumpy day we would call him a bare-faced liar. He says he will go and work in the...Continue reading→

20/9/26 A Special Kind of Blindness. The folk who compile our lectionary try to offer a common theme between the readings. It’s not always obvious, but it can be discerned with some time, effort and patience. The common thread in today’s readings could be titled ‘a special kind of blindness.’ Let’s start with the gospel,...Continue reading→

Anything which must be remembered must be said/shown. I am re-reading the book ‘I Heard the Owl Call My Name’ by Margaret Craven. It’s about a young priest sent to a scenic but remote part of British Columbia. He has much to learn but is blessed to have a ‘local’ who is wise and patient....Continue reading→

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→