Reflections

Orson the deviant This gospel reading has always made me grumpy. I could never understand how Jesus could praise someone who was dishonest, and shrewd.  Today’s gospel tells us the story of “The Dishonest Steward.” Here’s how it goes. A steward I’ll call him Orson. Orson was fired because he had squandered his boss’s property. Nothing...Continue reading→

It was going to be a great lunch. I knew this to be a fact because after we were seated, a tonsured gentleman swiftly appeared with a basket over one arm and a pair of tongs. The contents of the basket were covered in a white piece of linen which he deftly flicked open to...Continue reading→

Some of you will be familiar with C.S. Lewis’ lamplights. How in the land of Narnia, where all is frigid and freezing, these lamps point the way to the next exciting adventure. The curious thing about them is that they don’t actually say anything out loud or move about. They just simply stand there, give...Continue reading→

9/11 and all that I’m writing this well before we leave for New York, but I can tell you that one of the things I would like to see is the September 11 memorial. Not the museum… that would be far too confronting, but I do want to go and pay my respects and offer...Continue reading→

Seeing others  - seeing ourselves. The story of St. Christopher Today’s homily begins in Townsville. Jeanine and I went along to the local aeroplane/war museum. It was an interesting little show and we were greeted warmly and shown around. There was however a rather curious exchange when our guide said something like. ‘It was a near...Continue reading→

The privilege of praying with a person I have been very fortunate in this parish because from time to time people have popped in and joined me in the saying morning and evening prayer. It’s about a 15-minute service with prayers, readings, the Lord’s Prayer and some canticles. Harmless, but potent stuff. The overall effect...Continue reading→

Homily for 28/8/22 Some of you may remember the film from 1967. It had a great cast of famous actors. Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn to name but a few. The plot went like this. Joanna Drayton, a 23-year-old white woman, returns from her Hawaiian vacation to her parent's home with Dr John...Continue reading→

Of Aromatherapy I never actually thought that I would be writing about aromatherapy. From this old codger's perception it's a relatively new age thing, but the idea that aromas, good or bad, has been around for years For example, the smell of a hospital ward with its hand cleaners and antiseptic is very potent. You...Continue reading→

There’s a fair amount of shame slushing about in the synagogue story today. There is the shame of Jesus' opponents “When Jesus calls out his opponents they were put to shame;” There is the shame of the woman who is stooped over. It cannot have been easy for her, what with the gawping of the...Continue reading→

The funeral of Fr. Graham It was the funeral of a priestly colleague who died from death at his own hands. The homily was particularly outstanding, in fact it was so good, that I wanted to offer it as it is the best I can do for you. Most of us have been confronted by...Continue reading→

Maybe it's just me. Maybe it's because my eyes have grown dim and my perception has been dulled over the years, but I fail to see and be inspired by great and illustrious leaders. Maybe I am expecting just a little too much, or maybe they don’t get the attention they deserve and so I...Continue reading→

14/8/22 homily In praise of the God who never sleeps. Time is a wibbly wobbly old thing. I’m actually typing this week's reflection before Jeanine and I go on our adventure but it will magically and mysteriously pop up while we are in New York. At least that is the plan and that is what...Continue reading→

The idea for this reflection came from someone much wiser, astute and perceptive. They pointed out that life is a bit like a bowl of ice cream. Chocolate with chocolate chips would be my preference. With a bowl of ice cream, you have two choices. First, you can just look at it and let it...Continue reading→

3 cheers for Fr. Scott, Fr. Robert and you. Over the next 5 weeks, Jeanine and I will be going on quite an adventure. We will go to places we have never been to before and in fact, if we are brutally honest, never quite actually planned to go to in the first place. And...Continue reading→

The parable of the pots of jam One of the very good things about holidays is that you see things with fresh eyes when you get back. This happened to me recently and what I saw upon my return was many pots of jam. I was surprised at how many levels I operate on and...Continue reading→

Homily for 31st July It had been a most un-pretty day. A priestly colleague had died in tragic circumstances and so come the time when I sat down to pray about it all at evening prayer,  I was completely gazumped. And then I remembered this prayer. Come Holy Spirit kindle in our hearts the fire of...Continue reading→

Time to fess up. I am a first-generation Australian. Yep, my dad was a pom and came to this land as a teenager. This confession should not come as a complete surprise. Most of us would only have to go back three or four generations to discover that we are relatively fresh to this land....Continue reading→

This prayer business… Today, the disciples have glimpsed something. They are aware that John the Baptist has taught his disciples to pray. Now they are watching their own Rabbi / Teacher / Master / Guru praying in a certain place and decide that this prayer thing is actually a bit of all right.  They want to...

The tale of Miss Cindafred Miss Cindafred lived in a parish many crow flights away and in a different age when dinosaurs and woolly mammoths ruled the earth. Cindafred had been widowed young and had three burgeoning children. Her options were limited and she resolutely worked at least two jobs that I knew about. She...Continue reading→

Homily July 17. “The better part” In the scene from today's Gospel Martha and Mary welcome Jesus to their home, but they seek to welcome him in two different ways. Martha seeks to please the Lord by doing various things for him. The Gospel doesn't specify exactly what she was doing, but I reckon she was...Continue reading→