Reflections

A reflection for the 15th of January. In May 1987 a band called U2 released a song called “Still haven’t found what I’m looking for.” It has influences from gospel music and its lyrics describe our familiar spiritual yearning. Listen to the first verse. “I have climbed the highest mountains| I have run through the fields Only...Continue reading→

The perfect opportunity to be gracious. We love our sport in the summer. As I type the world cup and also the cricket is all happening. And yes it’s nice to watch your team win. Yippee! But it’s also interesting to listen to the speeches afterwards.  To see how the person/team who lost responds to their...Continue reading→

Don’t kiss the kanga It happened on a Wednesday on a leisurely drive from Halls Gap to Dunkeld. I wasn’t speeding and I had spent a languid time in the company of a priestly colleague. All of sudden, out of nowhere a kanga kissed the left hand, the front side of the car. It made...Continue reading→

Baptism of The Lord 8/1/23 Today Christmas season where we celebrate God showing himself to us through Jesus comes to an end today with the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. We had God showing forth his son at his birth in a manger. Then he was shown to the world by the visit...Continue reading→

Trust Sister Silence The retreat master said it in passing. Tossed it quickly into the air and smartly went on to the next exciting story. 'Oh!' I gasped. 'I could use that’. Sure it needs a little bit more head-scratching and soul-searching, but that’s a really good phrase. Over in the Yarra Valley, we were...Continue reading→

Darkness can be your friend. A reflection for Epiphany This travel log of the magi only happens in Matthew and initially, I had the idea of writing about the work of the camels. How they diligently soldier on with little or no recognition and yet are essential to make the whole story happen. But then...Continue reading→

I got the music in me. I recently had the undeserved and thrilling privilege of attending a concert starring Marina Prior and David Hobson. Perhaps you were there too. It was a sparkling evening with great company and sublime music. Marina spoke about her formative years and how the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber inspired...Continue reading→

Freddy the forgetful Shepherd. I had fallen asleep that night, but Rufus woke me up by shoving his stinky foot under my nose. The others were already running to Bethlehem. Rufus filled me in as I half ran, half stumbled along the way. So great was my rush to get to the manger, so full...Continue reading→

The Workshop “Welcome to the workshop” muttered the cheeky priest as he entered the chapel for morning prayer. The greeting had come to me unbidden and unprepared, but the symbolism can be pushed around and out in a myriad of ways. What are our implements in this ‘workshop’, here in the chapel? Our tools are...Continue reading→

Advent 4 Joseph 18/12/22 In his book ‘Walking backwards through Christmass’ Bishop Stephen Cottrell writes in a first-person style with some of the characters that were around when Our Lord was born. One of these characters was Joseph. Bishop Stephen writes I come from a long line of dreamers. You wouldn’t know it to look...Continue reading→

A reflection for Advent 3 In his book ‘Walking backwards through Christmass’ Bishop Stephen Cottrell writes in a first-person style with some of the characters that were around when Our Lord was born. One of these characters was David the shepherd. Bishop Stephen writes My mother’s sense of humour was noteworthy and renowned. She named...Continue reading→

I have a friend who plays in a band with a rather curious name. “Whisky soaked redemption.” It’s a bit rock n roll, a bit country, a bit blues, but the name of the band is both sublime and insightful. And before going any further I should point out the obvious that whisky is like...Continue reading→

Midwife Martha Advent 2  -  4/12/22 In his book ‘Walking backwards through Christmass’ Bishop Stephen Cottrell writes in a first-person style with some of the characters that were around when Our Lord was born. One of these characters was Martha the midwife. Bishop Stephen writes… ‘I’ve had seven children,’ I told her. ‘I’ll help you with this...Continue reading→

A Polite Reminder. The wise old bishop sipped gently on his tumbler and listened attentively to my tale of woe. I was foolishly berating myself for being incompetent, forgetful and unthinking. “I am slow of speech and dull of mind.” I bewailed. In fact, I was quite good at this pretence of false modesty. Analysed...Continue reading→

And there was no place for them in the inn.  So there was an inn that Mary and Joseph were turned away from. This got me thinking. Who were the people that ran that pub? What follows is completely unsubstantiated speculation. Bertie is your average, built like a rugby player publican. He is a no-nonsense...Continue reading→

The valley of the shadow death Not the most cheerful subject to write or read about I’ll admit, but bear with me it does get better. I came across this phrase the other day and those of you who have been to a funeral recently or read the psalms spasmodically will know where I saw...Continue reading→

A reflection for Christ the King. On May the 6th of next year, Charles will be crowned King Charles the 3rd, at Westminster Abbey. I have good reason to believe that the Archbishop of Canterbury has the occasion firmly in his diary. The Prime Minister of England will also be in attendance. There will be...Continue reading→

The 7th dimension I went to see a film the other day. It was cathartic just to sit quietly in the dark and watch the moving images on the screen. An engrossing film takes you out of yourself and for a little while you are in a different dimension or is its dimension(s)? In the...Continue reading→

Construction through conversation  A reflection for Sunday 13th of November First a bit of background. When Luke sits down at his study desk to write today’s gospel, he is painfully aware of the persecution of the early Christian church. Hence he gives this rather ominous warning to his readers. “They will seize you and persecute...Continue reading→

The interconnectivity of us all ... Today’s story begins on the 8th of August, 36,000 feet above planet earth, on a plane somewhere over Europe, when someone suddenly falls seriously ill. The pilot is forced to touch down at the nearest airport and the patient together with their family is transferred to the nearest hospital....Continue reading→