Category: sermon

Hosea & the cycle of violence

Not every image of God is faithful to Jesus. (Listen here.)

‘When Israel was young, I loved him … It was I who taught Ephraim to walk … I bent down to feed them,’ says God through the prophet Hosea. These beautiful words resonate deep in my body. They recall the love I had for my own little children, the hours I spent holding their upstretched arms as they tottered down the hall and learned to walk. I remember the thousands of times I bent down to feed them, wipe their chin, see eye-to-eye with them and hug them. So it’s a crying shame that I find these words nearly drowned out by a long litany of violence.

Continue reading “Hosea & the cycle of violence” →

Matthew | Love like salt

On law, exile, love and salt. (Listen here.)

Salt, light: no doubt most of you have heard a sermon or three about these before. And no doubt at least one of these sermons has talked about doing good in this world. I’m all for this interpretation: I’m a Protestant! So I’m a huge fan of running around for Jesus and doing stuff, for ‘faith without works is dead.’ (James 2:17). But I’m also aware of the risks of this approach. Too easily, saltiness becomes something we strive for rather than a description of who we already are. Too readily, we get caught up in being seen to be good people who are doing good works, and we forget the fundamentals of relationship.

Continue reading “Matthew | Love like salt” →

Luke | Mary and Martha, united

A religious scholar, a wounded traveller, a Samaritan and two sisters walk into a kitchen … (Listen here.)

Some years ago, I attended a church which held a meal after the service. As a bunch of mostly women heated soup and sliced bread and as I set the table, a seated-as-usual woman said smugly to me, ‘I’m such a Mary. I always sit and listen to Jesus.’ Quite frankly, I wanted to slap her.

Continue reading “Luke | Mary and Martha, united” →

John | The communion of breath

The breath-wind-spirit of God is an invitation to deep communion. (Listen here.)

One thing I learned from my middle child is this: horses greet one another by exchanging breath. Some time later I met Poppy. She gently leaned her muzzle against my forehead. We breathed once, twice, three times, and my whole being filled with an awareness of the goodness of fresh grass and clean hay and the exuberant muscular joy of galloping over a hillside. It was one of the more powerful experiences I have had of communion.

Continue reading “John | The communion of breath” →

1 Kings | Elijah in the age of kings

In a world of authoritarian leaders, Elijah’s story should give us backbone and courage. (Listen here.)

What a story! Old Elijah heads up a mountain and encounters God in silence. Those of us who hang around churches have probably heard it before, and we’ve probably also heard that it’s an invitation to personal prayer. Get away from it all, get quiet time alone, and listen for God’s voice in the stillness. And on a good day, if you’re blessed, you’ll have a spiritual experience.

Continue reading “1 Kings | Elijah in the age of kings” →

Micah | Shall I sacrifice my child?

A message for, from and about those who ask me to use my platform to speak on their behalf. I acknowledge the privilege that enables me to speak in churches in this way. (Listen here.)

One of my dear friends grew up in a good Christian family, as we say. Her father was an elder, a pillar of the local church; he still is. And when she was fifteen and he realised she was an incorrigible lesbian, he threw her out of home.

Continue reading “Micah | Shall I sacrifice my child?” →

Luke | All things new

Resurrection life is elusive and disruptive—and changes everything. (Listen here.)

Christ is risen! Alleluia! And have a chocolate egg. For weeks, we’ve being seeing displays of cute little bunnies, colourful eggs and images of a European spring. After a long hard winter, when all has been dark and dormant, it’s time to celebrate the resurrection. For the goddess Eostre has returned to the earth once more, bringing with her the dawn, the light, and the new life. And she is why the days are lengthening, the bunnies are hopping, the eggs are hatching and we’re all gathered here today. Alleluia! It’s Easter! Praise Eostre!

Continue reading “Luke | All things new” →

Luke | Get your sh*t together!

In the face of oppression, Jesus tightens our focus and grounds us. (Listen here.)

Did you hear about Pilate, how he had some Galilean pilgrims murdered along with their sacrifices? Their blood – I can barely say it – their blood was mingled with the blood of their animals on the temple floor. It’s so awful, I can’t really find words. And yet, let’s be honest, are any of us really surprised?

Continue reading “Luke | Get your sh*t together!” →

Luke | No ifs about it!

A reflection on Jesus’ time of testing for the beginning of Lent, shared with Westgate Baptist Community. (Listen here.)

If. It’s a very small word with a very big weight. If only I were a better person … If I just prayed more … If I tried a bit harder … If I really trusted God … Again and again I hear some version of this, sometimes from other people, sometimes from the voices in my head.

Continue reading “Luke | No ifs about it!” →

John | The relational god

Life in the gospel according to John: what is it? Here’s my take for a second-gen Vietnamese-Australian congregation living in a secular age. (Watch on YouTube here.)

You’ve all seen them. Maybe there’s one in a house you know, or maybe at a place you like to eat pho. Maybe it’s on a shop counter, or in the corner of an office. Wherever it is, it’s a little shrine. What’s on it can vary. Sometimes it’s oranges, but at Tet, or the lunar New Year, it’s the five fruits. Usually there’s incense, often jasmine tea. There may be flowers, even an oil lamp. Perhaps a Buddha or a crucifix. And, of course, there’s the photographs of ancestors who are being remembered and honoured at these altars.

Continue reading “John | The relational god” →

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑