If there was ever any doubt that God expects the resurrection to have an impact on how we live, this week’s Lectionary readings should lay it to rest. All of the readings are very clear that, because of God’s work in our lives, we should live differently, and we should be witnesses to God’s grace...
The Good News of Easter: Christ is Alive! The Easter celebration continues with the familiar upper room appearances from John’s Gospel. The surprising message of this week’s lectionary is one that is deeply needed in our world and our Church at this time. This second Sunday of Easter continues the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection, but...
THEMES: The Power of the Cross: Resurrection—new life! This is the heart of the Christian message and what we are always called to witness to. This is the hope we have in Jesus being with us and going ahead of us. Death is stripped of it’s power and there is nothing that we can endure,...
MESSAGE 24th March – PALM/PASSION SUNDAY – 24th March – YEAR B THEMES: The main theme that unites the Bible readings from Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, and Mark 15:1-39 (40-47) for Palm and Passion Sunday of Holy Week is the portrayal of Jesus Christ as the suffering servant who obediently endures hardship and death for...
MESSAGE 17th March – 5th Sunday in LENT – YEAR B THEMES: Jeremiah 31.31-34 NEW RELATIONSHIP: Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant where God’s law is internalised, written on hearts rather than stone, signifying a personal and direct relationship with God. God will not just give them rules to follow but will help them understand...
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. How blessed are we, that in our Christian faith we have so many symbols and signs that reveal the word broken open in our daily lives; constant reminders of God’s love and...
This week the readings remind us of the toughest part of responding to the call of Jesus. In the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “When Jesus calls a person to follow him, he calls that person to come and die.” The paradox of the Gospel that is highlighted this week, though, is that it is in...
THEME: The common theme of all of these readings for the first week in lent is God’s covenant and grace. These passages show how God establishes a covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising never to destroy the earth by a flood again. They also show how God guides and teaches his people, forgiving...
Once again Epiphany closes with the Transfiguration of Jesus – the turning point, the final affirmation, before Jesus set his sights on Jerusalem and the coming confrontation and sacrifice. The challenge of this week is for us to learn to recognise God’s glory – in Christ, but also in all people and all things. It...
The common theme of this week’s readings is God’s power and grace. These passages reveal that God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, who cares for his people and heals their wounds. They also show that God’s power and grace are manifested in different ways, such as through the ministry of Jesus, the preaching...
