Coracle Front Page
Year C - The year of Luke (2003-2004)
Advent to Trinity
6 June 2004 Trinity Sunday
Creating God in our image
Someone once said: If horses had gods, they would look like
horses. Immediately we become aware how we tend to create God in our
image, in human likeness. Our most well-known formula for the Trinity is:
God is one and God is three—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is a very
human image of God. Another person once described this somewhat limiting
formula as giving an image of God as two blokes and a bird.
Clearly the Trinity is an inadequate description of God. Surely God is
more than this. Over the last few months I have been using some other
Trinitarian formulae at the start of my sermons: Being, knowing and doing.
Lover, beloved and love. Life-giver, lover and nurturer. Creator, redeemer
and sanctifier. For us, with us and in us.
These formulae may help us to see God as more than human, to expand the
anthropomorphic image of God. They describe the function or nature or
activity or qualities of God.
Terrific. We are beginning to see God as more than human, not as a being
but as Being itself. God can be found in nature and creation and in the
very substance of life.
But now we have a problem. Talking about God in this somewhat abstract way
we begin to find that God is impersonal, distant, out of reach, in our
ideas and not in our lives. Yet God has the quality of you and not simply
it. God speaks to us. We can have a friendship with God. So this
impersonal, abstract language about God seems to set aside these qualities
of God. We need personal descriptions of God. So we find ourselves back at
the Trinitarian formula—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But now we see this
not as an exclusive, complete description, but only a partial, though
important, image of God.
Trevor Burt
30 May 2004 Day of Pentecost
Week of prayer for reconciliation
The Coming of the Helper
In this week of prayer for reconciliation and Christian unity
we are reminded of the one thing that holds all Christians together—we
acknowledge Jesus as Lord. The central symbol of that unity is the Bible,
where the God of reconciliation and unity is revealed to us.
Today five young people make the first step to make Jesus Lord of their
life. They have already received the Bible, and now they will be welcomed
into the worldwide Christian family through baptism.
What does it mean to say Jesus is Lord? It does not mean Jesus lords over
us, like a dominant king who takes away our freedom and demands
unreasonable obedience. Nor does it mean Jesus is lord over creation,
controlling every event and action. Rather, to call Jesus Lord is to place
Jesus at the centre of our lives, to make him Lord of the whole of our
life—to become like him.
We are happy for Jesus to add blessing to our lives. We are less happy,
though, for him to take things away. Even more discomforting is that to
make Jesus Lord, to become like him, causes great disruption to our
lifestyles, causing us to change priorities and concerns.
It is so difficult, though. We need help and encouragement. Enter the Holy
Spirit. The Day of Pentecost symbolises the coming of the helper, the
paraclete, into our struggling lives.
What we discover along the way is that this rupture and the accompanying
gift of the Spirit leads to a greater state of blessedness.
Trevor Burt
23 May 2004 1st Sunday after Ascension
Anglican Communion Sunday
Seeking Unity – Seeing Glory
One of the paradoxes of Christianity is that desire for unity often leads
to division. The ecumenical movement, for example – some see it as
fostering the Christian ideal while others regard it with suspicion, or
even as evil. Some want unity at all costs, above all else. Others will
only accept unity under the most stringent of terms, a highly exclusive
unity.
People in both camps often appeal to Jesus' prayer in John 17 to support
their position. The final verses of John 17 form today's Gospel reading.
I've been struck by the fact that Jesus doesn't speak about institutional
unity in these verses. But I found something even more striking: in
describing Christian unity Jesus keeps coming back to the unity He enjoys
with God the Father!
Amazingly, when we become disciples of Jesus, we become connected to God
the Father, through Jesus the Son. The result is that we can now know and
experience for ourselves that incredible love that the Father has for the
Son! Not only this, we also experience the presence of the Son and His
glory as well!
What a wonderful privilege to share in that love of God and to see His
glory. Let's testify about it to those who don't yet know it.
Ben van der Klip
16 May 2004 Sixth Sunday of Easter
But wait. There’s more!
A notorious advertisement scheme on TV lures people into buying what they
don’t need by offering seemingly “free” things in addition. Buy now, and
you not only get….
I face a similar problem on birthdays and Christmases—what do you buy
people who have all they need? In the end it is so empty, so unfulfilling.
There’s got to be more than this to life.
People who study these things say we go through stages in life. First
there’s the beige stage—it’s all about survival, but what is missing is
community. The emptiness of this stage leads people to move to the purple
stage—where we focus on kinship and family. Unsatisfied with these simple
pleasures we move on to the red phase—seeking power and building
self-esteem. Then comes the blue stage– were we seek absolute truth and
order. When this fails to satisfy we move to the orange stage—seeking to
master life, striving to win. Then comes the green phase where we seek to
build community and be useful. People rarely reach the stages that
follow—yellow, turquoise and coral.
Not satisfied with our lot in life, we ever seek more. We see companies
and individuals and even churches going through these cycles as they seek
greater wealth and status, but finally collapse.
Jesus in John’s Gospel promises more to life. But this is not a simple
add-on that will make life happier. This is an essential. It is a missing
component in many individuals lives and church communities. It is the
element that adds life and vigour and passion to our Christian life. It is
the release of the Holy Spirit we will hear more about on the day of
Pentecost.
Trevor Burt
9 May 2004 Fifth Sunday of Easter
How can I love more deeply?
We have mixed motives. But we’re not always clear about what
our motives are.
Jack and Jillian come to Church on Sundays, but why do they come? They are
not sure why. “To worship God,” they tell others, but they are also lonely
people, and love to be with others. Sometimes Jillian comes with a longing
to share a burden or a celebration. Sometimes Jack longs to see the young
children running around. They remind him of his distant grand children.
Sometimes they feel down and simply need to see a smiling face and feel a
welcoming embrace.
Deep down, though, they live in fear. Jillian fears thieves who might come
in the night. Jack is afraid his grand children might get ill or injured.
He worries about what terrorists might do. Jillian wonders whether she
will get to heaven. So they come to church and pray.
But something is beginning to change at their church. The sermons have
been about love. Yes, we all know about love, don’t we. But do we really?
They have been challenged to put love into action. Now that is a bit
novel. Jillian and Jack have felt challenged to come to church, not simply
to have their needs met, but to give of themselves. They realised they
were so used to being individuals in a consumer society that it dawned on
them that they were treating their religion like something you buy or get.
Put love into action. Hmmm. Jill is wondering how she can express love to
people who steal—perhaps they too live in fear. Jack is wondering how he
can love terrorists—what deep injustice drives them to such cruelty?
Perhaps their needs are greater than ours.
Perhaps they need our love.
Trevor Burt
2 May 2004 Fourth Sunday of Easter
How to find fulfilment in life
Joanne and George are professionals who have been climbing the corporate
ladder, or at least, until recently. They were achieving in their chosen
professions, making lots of money, owned properties, and by society’s
standards would be regarded as a successful.
But there was something missing in their lives. The wealthier they got
the busier they got. In fact work seemed to be taking over their lives.
The lure of wealth and power did not bring the satisfaction in life they
yearned for. Something had to change.
They thought about what had given them life before all this busyness. It
dawned on them in a wave of insight. They felt alive when they were
together as a family, with their young children, and when they were
helping others. But they felt most alive when helping people in a
spiritual way.
It wasn’t church services that necessarily helped them in their spiritual
growth, though that helped. It was sharing with others, and working on the
life-enhancing qualities that seemed to help the most, qualities such as
the depth of meaning, purpose, fulfilment, peace, happiness and love in
our lives.
Recent surveys reveal that a clear majority of professional people are
not satisfied with their lives, and are looking for something more. Work
and wealth have not fostered the quality of life they hoped for. There is
an emptiness. Many are now seeking to fill that emptiness, not with things
or activity or achievement, but with Spirit.
Spirit is found through a deeper connection with God. Learning how to
sense the presence of God is the greatest gift we can give to this
searching generation.
Trevor Burt
A man on a donkey …
ANZAC Day offers another perspective on the theme of love and sacrifice
which we celebrate at Easter.
At a time when society is divided over military action in Iraq, the
memories of the Dardanelles campaign of 1915, and in particular the
reconciliation between East and West which began soon after the Great War,
give us cause to hope for the future.
In the museum at Gaba Tepe, one display commemorates a Turkish sergeant
who leapt out of his trench in the thick of battle, grabbed a wounded
Australian in no-man’s land and carried the man to the Anzac lines,
dropping him into the trench there before making back to his own side.
On the Australian side, we remember Simpson and his donkey.
Simpson died while ferrying the wounded back from the battlefield to the
relative safety of Anzac Cove. Months later, men who did not arrive until
after Simpson's death swore they had seen him, such was the abiding power
of his myth.
Simpson never fought. Like the Turkish sergeant, he risked all to help
others, and his grave is the most frequently visited at Gallipoli.
Like an earlier generation, we are drawn to honour him and perhaps we
might pause to reflect: a man on a donkey symbolising courage, and
humility and sacrifice – wherever did they get that idea?
David Cusworth
We recognise Jesus in the
everyday
One of the great stories of the New Testament—the Walk to Emmaus—captures
our imaginations and invigorates our passion. Luke, exaggerating the story
to make a point (as he often does), gives us many insights into the nature
of the risen Christ.
If we take the story literally, we may miss the layers of meaning captured
in these powerful images.
They sought Jesus in the tomb, but he is not found there, dead, cold...
He is
discovered in the Old Testament, in the warmth of writings of people’s
experiences.
“Their eyes were kept from recognising him” - Jesus is found in the faces
of the stranger amongst us, if we but look and see.
Near the town he made as if to continue walking—he does not force himself
upon us but responds to our invitation.
They recognised him in the breaking of bread—while this includes the
sacrament, it also means the everyday things of life, in the common
things.
“Were not our hearts burning” - Jesus ignites our passion, enlivens the
spirit within us.
“He appeared to Simon” - yes, even the one who denied him.
The followers of Jesus struggled to describe their experience of the risen
Lord, and Luke used these powerful images to communicate something of what
they experienced.
Trevor Burt
Gold - new life now
Easter—a time of great joy and jubilation. The suffering and struggle of
Friday are turned to song and celebration as we realise that death is not
the end, and meaning is not extinguished.
We know we have eternal life. Not simply life beyond the grave, but new
life now. Not simply a hope for the future, but a present reality.
Imagine you are told you will become the boss of a company. All of a
sudden your fellow employees start treating you as if you are the boss,
even though you have not yet moved into the position. You have an
experience of the future already. Eternal life is like that—now and not
yet: the future life in God experienced in the present. Jesus has helped
to make this happen.
John uses other words—Jesus said, ‘I came to bring life, life in all its
fullness.’
Athanasius put it this way with these famous words: “he was made man that
we might be made God.”
Irenaeus said that the Spirit “raises us up to the life of God”.
These are all different ways of saying that Jesus brings eternal life, the
possibility of a full life in God, here and now, which continues beyond
this life into the next.
Now that is cause for celebration!
Trevor Burt
Red—loving
Our journey of Colours of Love draws to a close with the
colour red, the colour of fire and blood. We began from the inside of the
rainbow with the reflective colour violet, and journeyed through a
kaleidoscope of colours to the red of the outside of the rainbow, facing
the world and the future and the hope of what lies beyond.
Red is the liturgical colour on two significant but contrasting
occasions—the shedding of blood by Jesus and martyrs (Passion Sunday, Good
Friday and certain saints days), and the fire of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost.
It is an emotionally charged colour, with a not-surprising effect of
raising blood pressure and increasing metabolism and breathing rates. It
is the colour both of love and war, sensitivity and power, longing and
willpower. A red room sends chickens crazy.
Jesus summarised the whole Bible in few words—love God and love
neighbour. But this love is tough. To love God is to love what God loves.
That includes loving creation, which means caring for the environment and
not exploiting it or polluting it. We contribute to the demise of the land
and sea and their dependants in so many hidden ways. To love neighbour
means to love enemies, those who hurt you, those who curse you. We
contribute to the demise of humanity in so many hidden ways.
To love like God loves means we are likely to experience the bloodshed of
persecution and the fire of passion.
As Benjamin Franklin put it:
Doing an injury puts you below your enemy;
Revenging one makes you but even with him;
Forgiving it sets you above him.
Tough love.
Trevor Burt
Orange—doing
So rare is this colour in nature that it is named after a
single fruit. But the mood this warm colour generates is anything but
scarce. The colour is known to increase oxygen supply to the brain,
producing an invigorating effect, and stimulating mental activity. Orange
is the colour of activity, doing. It combines the power of red with the
joy of yellow. One phone company has adopted both the name and colour for
the very reason of stimulating an active response.
Inactivity is a disease in Australia. The incidence of obesity is growing
among children through lack of activity. We are annoyed by a person who is
all talk and no action: a politician who promises but does not fulfil, a
social critic ranting “Why don’t THEY do something!” or someone who
presses you to do the work for them.
Yet we are implicated too. “Faith without works is dead” says James
(2.26). A cartoon depicts Charlie Brown praying over a shivering person
sitting in the cold, “Lord, provide warm clothing and food for this
destitute person”, then walking off, satisfied with his effort. How easy
it is for us to see the failure in others—their lack of action—and fail to
see our own.
“But what can merely I do?”, you may ask. The simple answer is that there
are opportunities immediately at hand if we look, small things,
uncomplicated things. Just do them rather than ponder them. God has gifted
us all for doing things. Our deepest peace and contentment comes when we
use God’s gifts to better the world we live in, with acts of compassion.
Where does your heart lead you? What activity for others motivates you and
energises you? What do you need to do to better use God’s gifts?
In the Old Testament the commands were all about NOT doing things. Jesus’
commands were active, about doing: Love God. Love neighbour. Forgive, if
you have anything against anyone. Do unto others… Go into all the world….
Faith and works. The next step is yours.
Trevor Burt
Yellow—delighting
Yellow signifies sun, and sun signifies light, warmth, energy
and celebration. Yellow, the most positive of the colours, evokes
pleasant, cheerful feelings and spontaneity. It complements violet, the
most pensive, nostalgic colour.
A city council experimented with rubbish bins and found that people used
yellow bins more that bins of any other colour.
Yellow attracts attention, so why is it not seen more often in clothing
and design? Perhaps because, strangely, it can evoke the opposite
feelings—cowardice, sickness and instability.
We have journeyed with our colours of love from a deep, reflective mood,
through the open blue spaces to the lush green of life. And now we delight
in the place we have found ourselves. In prayer terms, we have arrived at
the point of joyful thanksgiving. We take time to dance and sing and take
in the warmth and light. This is a moment of energetic celebration.
Take a moment some time today to delight in those thankful events that
come to mind.
The most common reference to delighting in the Bible is in the Psalms, but
it may be surprising to see that most references refer to delighting in
the law (Psalm 119). If we understand the law not as rules, but as
teaching, a way of life, a lifestyle centred on God, we soon see why the
psalmist delights.
Celebration is central to our lives as a community—birthdays,
anniversaries, successes. Delighting helps us remember and affirm, and
bonds us together in shared experiences and values. Delighting in God
draws us closer to God, thins the veil, as it were, that seems to separate
us. I love parties, and look for excuses to have them. But there are so
many reasons to delight. Let the partying begin!
Trevor Burt
Green—growing
Green, our colour of love for this week, is a secondary
colour—a blend of cool blue and warm yellow, water and sun. After blue, in
nature it is the next most prolific colour. It symbolises growth, but also
shelter, energy, vitality, youth, cleansing, a source of life-sustaining
oxygen, paradise.
Green is our main liturgical colour and is used for most Sundays outside
Advent-Christmastide and Lent-Eastertide. The Gospel readings on these
Sundays are the life, miracles and teachings of Jesus. The food that
sustains us and helps us grow.
One of the key tenets of the Christian faith is our life-changing,
life-sustaining relationship with God. A tree begins as a seed, transforms
into a young sapling with vigorous growth, and the transformation and
growth continues as the tree matures, becomes host to many other living
things, and at maturity reproduces itself over and over again.
So also our relationship with God—it manifests itself in vigorous growth,
a transformed and transforming life, service to others, and a fruitful
maturity.
But unlike a tree, spiritual growth for us doesn’t just happen. It needs
or commitment, our cooperation.
It is one thing to believe, another to act on that belief. Knowing and
doing are two sides of the one coin. I know God loves me, what am I going
to do about it. I know there are unjust structures in society, what am I
going to do. Creation is being exploited, the needy are neglected, the
suffering lack hope, people are imprisoned in fear..., what am I going to
do.
I need to know more about God revealed in Christ, and become more like
him. And in doing so will become transformed and transforming.
Trevor Burt
Blue—following
Blue blood; blue mood; blue moon; blue rinse; blue air; blue
movies; the boys in blue; blue baby; the wild blue yonder; true blue. This
broad colour blue can describe moods and situation from depression to
anger, madness to aristocracy and authority, risqué to puritanic, and
more.
Indigo, last week’s colour of reflection, captures the deep, calm sea and
the late evening sky, quiet, sedate images. Now blue opens up immense
possibilities. Blue is the most evident colour—the broad sky and the vast
oceans, which by their very nature call us out of ourselves and beyond our
present into a seemingly unending and open future.
But where do we go? Who will show us the way? We began our Lenten journey
being encouraged to turn our lives around (violet), to go in a new
direction. We spent the next week discovering how God speaks to us when we
set aside time for reflection (indigo), times of quiet and solitude and
peacefulness.
Now we follow. Who do we follow—Jesus. Where do we go—wherever he leads.
When Paul wrote to the Philippians the people there probably knew stories
of Jesus, but they did not have the Gospels as we have them today. So,
Paul encourages them to imitate Paul and his companions. Follow those of
good example.
We have the Gospels now, so we can reflect on what Jesus was like, and
imitate him. We can imitate Paul as well, and the many saints through the
centuries that have been transformed by the Spirit of God and followed
Jesus.
And we can follow Christians in our own community who display the example
of Jesus in their lives. Who will you follow?
Trevor Burt
Indigo—reflecting
“The influential international Colour Committee has chosen
Indigo as the most fashionable colour around. Its decision will determine
fashion lines …, with miles of cloth already dyed to gain blue benefits.”
So quotes a leading computer maker whose top selling coloured computer is
indigo.
Of the seven colours of the rainbow Indigo is thought by some people to
generate anxiety release and an uplifting feeling. It is associated with
introversion, secrecy and passivity. Some companies sell coloured
products—oils, soaps, bath products—convincing would be clients that they
will help their mood.
This Lent we are using the colours to stimulate reflection and action, not
to sell products. And reflection is the mood for this week.
So we begin a 40-day journey of reflection. What is God? Who am I? How
does God speak to me? What is God saying? What am I to do with my life?
What do I need to change?
These are big questions that are not easily answered. Perhaps it takes a
lifetime to find satisfactory answers. But this is at least a new
beginning, building on what we already know and have experienced and have
done.
“Know thyself" was one of the cardinal principles in the philosophy of
Socrates and his chronicler Plato. Self-knowledge is a vital path to a
wholesome life and an understanding of God who acts within and around us.
If we know ourselves better, we can get to know God better.
So this week we are using Indigo to sell not a product, but a way, the way
of reflecting, a path to wholeness.
Trevor Burt
What kind of love is this?
Excuse me! All this talk about love. What’s he on about
now, this Jesus bloke?
Did you say he was using that “agape” word again? Has he got his
Greek mixed up. “Love (agape) your enemies!” Well I never. I’m sure he
meant “Lynch you enemies”.
“Do good to those who hate you.” I’m sure he meant “Dong those who
hate you”. What’s the point of having all this war equipment and trained
soldiers if people go about loving each other. What is he thinking of?
Surely he hasn’t read the Old Testament, all that blood and guts and
revenge and justice. What satisfaction is there in being kind to people,
especially people who hurt you.
That agape word—love. Doesn’t he realise it means to show another
person respect, and want the highest good for them. Well, I can love my
family easily enough, don’t even have to try. It just happens. I can love
people who are good to me, no worries there. But loving an enemy—that
takes an act of my will. That takes guts. He’s asking me to love, respect,
wish the best for my enemy. That is tough love. Very tough. I’m not sure I
want to, let alone whether I’m able to.
To love like that, to love like Jesus, that’s quite a change. If I
did that, I’d become like Jesus. Ooooooh, I dunno.
The old way was much easier—don’t do this, don’t do that, don’t
hurt, don’t harm. Now he’s talking about do this, do that, love, respect,
honour. Hmmm. Honour, respect, love.
Yes, I want to be like Jesus. That seems a much richer way of life
instead of this bashing and beating and blaming. I’m gonna need help to
make that kind of change. Lots of help. I wonder what I can do that will
help.
Trevor Burt
Colours of Love—a Lenten journey
What is our purpose as Christians? A simple answer is "to become
Christ-like". A simple answer, but a challenging journey.
To become Christ-like is different to being a bit like Jesus. Anyone
can mimic Jesus. All we have to do is to love sometimes, give things to the needy
occasionally, periodically speak words of forgiveness, help out from time to time. That is
relatively easy compared to becoming like Jesus, for to become like Jesus is to
be so transformed in our inner being that we act these ways all the time. This
takes time and effort. It can be challenging and confronting.
Lent, the season of preparation for Easter, is a time when we focus on
transforming our lives into Christ-likeness.
To help us in this journey of change John Dunnill has prepared a series
of meditations on the theme—Colours of Love, based on seven colours
of the rainbow. There are two parts. The first is a meditation during the normal 10am and
a new 6.30pm Eucharist on Wednesdays, beginning Ash Wednesday, 25 February. I encourage
you to commit to one or the other of these services each week until Holy Week.
The second part is a series of (almost) daily reflections on Bible
readings that support the colour and thought for the week. A booklet is available with the
readings and some suggestions on how to meditate. The reflections are done at home, but
can be shared each week in a group.
As part of your Christian journey into Christ-likeness I encourage you
to commit to the series of meditations, and to form or be a part of a weekly group that
meets to share insights and experiences. To join put your name on the white board in the
Foyer.
Trevor Burt
God accepts and calls us by grace
“I’m sorry, you just don’t make
the grade. Not good enough.”
These are dreaded words. Whether in relation to a job application or an
attempt at friendship, we fear these deadly words of rejection. So strong is our fear of
rejection that there are many things we don’t even attempt in life in case the
dreaded words are fired at us like deadly arrows, piercing our very soul and extinguishing
what little confidence we have, diminishing our very life.
Early in Luke’s Gospel the author shows that Jesus’ way, the
way of the Kingdom of God, is so much different to the worldly way.
God loves us and not only accepts us as we are, but calls us into
service despite all our failings and inadequacies.
In today’s Gospel story, in the presence of the God-saturated man
Jesus, Peter becomes acutely aware of his own sinful unworthiness. Jesus says forget about
all that, come and serve with me.
This is not a new way, there should be no surprises that God loves
unconditionally. The prophet Isaiah, and other prophets had the same
experience—God’s acceptance and calling despite inadequacies.
Paul knew this amazing love all too well. Despite being a model
persecutor of Christians, despite Paul feeling like a rejected foetus, God calls him to
the enormous task of bringing the Good News of God’s unconditional love to this
love-starved world.
The world’s way is conditional love. Some Christians want to place
conditions on God’s love because it all seems to easy. But that is what God’s
grace is like. It’s free.
So we can say with Paul, “by the grace of God I am what I am, and
God’s grace toward me has not been in vain.”
Trevor Burt
Be compassionate as God is compassionate
Sometimes Jesus could be very offensive.
He just didn’t seem to understand. Societies rules are there for a
purpose, to protect us, and he not only spoke against the rules, he blatantly broke them.
Everyone knows that God favours US and not THEM. We’re the chosen
people, they are not. Everyone knows that God is pleased with men over women, free people
over slaves, religious people over sinners, Israelites over Gentiles, Anglicans over
Catholics, heterosexuals over homosexuals, legal immigrants over asylum seekers.
And now look at what he is saying—God favours not only a Gentile
person, but a woman, and not only that, a widow. And he is saying that God favours a
Gentile man, and not only that, but a Gentile leper.
What did he think he was doing!
Strange, isn’t it, that the people God is supposed to favour are
those with power, those with wealth, those who have something to protect, people like us.
Isn’t it odd that Jesus seems to be saying that God favours the
poor, the powerless, those who have nothing, people like them.
Wasn’t the idea that we are wealthy, powerful, fulfilled, because
God has favoured us, been gracious to us. And they are poor because they are sinners,
unworthy, rejected by God?
Could it be that they are poor because we are rich, they are powerless
because we withhold power from them, they have nothing because we deny them everything?
Perhaps Jesus is saying that we can do something about it. We can show
favour as God shows favour.
Trevor Burt
Orcs and doves …
SUMMER quiz: Who first said 'What you hate, do not do to anyone'?
It’s an interesting saying because it presents the Gospel’s golden rule –
do to others what you would have them do to you – but in the negative sense.
Keen Bible scholars might recognise it as the summary of Jewish faith given by Rabbi
Hillel, the first century liberal teacher who was contemporary with Jesus.
But in fact it goes back further, to a book written in obscure circumstances about two
companions who cross mountains and plains in search of lost treasure, fending off attacks
by magical animals and demons on the way.
Sounds a bit like Tolkien? Well maybe, because the quotation and the story are both in a
book called Tobit, a mystical story written sometime between the Old and New Testament and
which is included in the Apocrypha – books we associate with the Bible but which we
don’t see as having the same authority.
What books like Tobit show is that people still believed God was acting in their world,
even though many said the Holy Spirit had abandoned them.
In fact, many people – including, it seems, John the Baptist – thought a great
and terrible day was coming when God would purge the world of sinners. Something like the
last battle in Lord of the Rings, perhaps, with an army of Orcs ranged against men.
Yet Jesus taught a different understanding. He brought a message of peace and love, and at
His Baptism the Gospel writers portray Him with God above in the heavens and the Holy
Spirit descending in the form of a dove, a symbol of peace.
We still struggle to understand this image of God in the Trinity, but it changed
people’s understanding of their world.
A world in which the strongest symbol is not an Orc but a dove, and Tobit (t’Hobbit?
Who knows?) gets the treasure – and peace – at last.
David Cusworth
Jesus is revealed as King of all
We know that the Santa fable has a basis in truth: the generosity of St
Nicholas, a fourth century bishop of Myra. But the truth has been exaggerated beyond
recognition. We accept that, because the underlying message we want to promote by keeping
the Santa fable going is the message of peace, joy, and generosity to all people.
But what of the story of the three Magi. How much truth is there in
this story? Most would say a star led three kings from the East, who offered gifts to the
baby Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem But the account in Matthew does not tell us how many
people there were, only that three kinds of gifts were brought. Nor does Matthew say they
were kings, or that they followed the star from the East, or that they met Jesus as a
baby, not in a stable, unlikely in Bethlehem. The original biblical story has been
exaggerated beyond recognition. We accept that, because it does not affect the underlying
message.
It may be that this story was exaggerated before it was written down by
Matthew. It may have been a story created from Old Testament texts (Psalm 72, Micah 5.5).
No other Gospel tells this story. But that too does not affect the underlying message.
What was Matthew trying to convey by creating or including this story of the Magi?
Matthew is making two profound points. First, Jesus is honoured as
King. Second, he is worshipped, not by the Jews, but by people of another race and
nationality. The first to worship Jesus are not the Jewish poor, as in Luke, but
foreigners, Gentiles.
The story of the Magi reveals Jesus as King of all nations. The story
reveals one humanity under God in Christ.
Trevor Burt
New Year resolution—fix our lives on God
There is an old joke about an alcoholic who seemed to change his
ways—I don’t drink any more, he proclaimed. I don’t drink any less either!
Thousands of people will be making new year resolutions—to give up
excesses, or start healthy activities, to do something more or something less in their
lives. Most will fail after a time. Why? The mind is willing but the flesh is weak. What
is needed is a complete change.
Most of us want to grow spiritually. Most of us try to do it
gradually—read the Bible a bit more, pray a bit more, join a group for a while. But
despite our best intentions it is not long before things return to what they were before.
It’s frustrating.
What is needed is a transformation of the inner person.
Yet we see in the Bible people whose lives were radically changed. Mary
accepted the life-changing invitation to bear the Christ-child. Peter turned from living
in fear to boldly proclaiming new life in Jesus Christ. Paul turned from being a
persecutor of Christians to become a great Christian missionary. Ordinary fishermen became
apostles, ordinary families gave up their possessions to benefit others.
And it didn’t stop there. Through the ages people have continued
to give their lives over to this power we name God, who is revealed to us in the person of
Jesus.
Perhaps God is calling us to a new year resolution to—as Paul
says—let God transform us inwardly by a complete change of mind (Romans 12.2). Put
another way, let us fix our lives on God, and we’ll be changed from the inside out. .
And now we know what God is like—God is revealed to us in the person of Jesus. Let us
fix our lives on him.
Trevor Burt
Holy Night—Holy lives
At Christmas we sing that most simple and inspiring of all carols,
Silent Night, Holy Night. The event of Christmas was a holy event. “Be Holy, as I am
Holy”, says God in Leviticus 11.44-45, and repeated in Peter’s first letter (1
Pet 1.15-16).
But what does it mean to be holy? In ancient times God was seen to be
Holy, and could not mix with ‘sinful’ humanity. So people had to become holy if
they were to get close to God.
The Sadducees sought to achieve holiness through complex sacrifices;
the Pharisees through legalistic right living, the Zealots by ejecting the Gentile Romans
from the land.
All this changed the day Jesus was born. Into the world came a person
who the New Testament represents as holy and the source of holiness. We no longer need to
offer sacrifices, follow impossible rules, or eject ungodly people from our presence. Our
path to holiness, to God, is simply to become Christ-like. To be holy is to be like Jesus.
The Good News is that God is not distant from us, but comes close to
us, unafraid to be contaminated or diminished by our imperfection. God gives us the gift
of the Holy Spirit. God comes to live right inside us. God gives us the power to become
like Jesus.
And what is Jesus Christ like? Jesus has a radical compassion for
everyone, even if they have lived despicable lives. Jesus loves wastefully, even those who
betrayed him. Jesus forgives unconditionally, even those who tortured him. We become holy
when we care, love and forgive like Jesus.
As we commit to Jesus’ way, we are cleansed of our wrongdoing,
transformed by his love, and set free by his forgiveness. Then we can do the same for
others. All this because of Christmas.
Trevor Burt
Christ is our hope
The most delightful part of the Christmas season is the exchange of
gifts and spending time together. We all hope for good gifts and good times.
When I say I hope for a great Christmas present this year, I am certain
of at least one thing. I will get a present.. This is where Christian hope differs from
worldly hope. Worldly hope is wishful thinking—I hope to win Lotto, I hope to get a
promotion, I hope she falls in love with me.
Looking around us, hearing the news, seeing the suffering, the warfare,
the struggle, there seems to be little hope in worldly terms. One act of violence leads to
another, and fear entices us into inhumane actions. Greed and exploitation lead to
environmental degradation at an increasing pace. Is there really any hope?
The Good News is that Christian hope is confident about the future,
because it rests in God and God’s promises. Christian hope is fulfilled in Christ.
Hope gives us a picture of a different future, a vision of a wholesome
and holy world. A world where love, peace and joy predominate. Where people respect other
people and all of creation.
Christian hope is not passive, simply waiting for God to act, to
restore humanity to harmony, and heal this wounded earth. Rather, our vision of a
different future calls into question what is. The greed, prejudice and exploitation we see
around us stands in sharp contrast to the self-giving, caring, unconditional love
demonstrated by Jesus. God equips us and empowers us to transform this world We can and
must model another way, the Christ-way.
So as Christmas approaches, we, the followers of Christ, a people of
hope, have a message to share with the struggling world—Christ is our hope. And this
hope produces faith, love, peace and joy through the power of God’s Spirit. Come,
Lord Jesus.
Trevor Burt
The privilege of serving Jesus the King
In chapter one of Luke's Gospel we hear about John the Baptist's mission to
prepare Israel for the coming of God's King, the Messiah or Christ, the one
who would be Lord and Saviour i.e. for Jesus (Lk. 1:16,17, 68-79). Then in
chapter three Luke describes how God spoke to John in the wilderness and how
John went into the Jordan region, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for
the forgiveness of sins (Lk. 3:3). Today's Gospel passage, Luke 3:7-18,
provides us with a snapshot of John carrying out his ministry. He announces
the gospel to a variety of people, including the marginalised such as
tax-collectors and soldiers - God's salvation is offered regardless of one's
position in society!
In this season of Advent we're celebrating what God did through people like
John the Baptist in the events that led up to the coming of God's King,
Jesus Christ. These events occurred some 2,000 years ago but, just like
then, God continues to work out His purposes through us, His people. God,
being God, doesn't need us to do His work, but rather, He includes us in it
as an act of grace so ministry - serving Jesus - is always a privilege, a
gift from God. Today, in twenty-first century Perth, we have the privilege
of being God's people here in the parish of Scarborough.
One outcome of Imagine St Columba is a strong emphasis on outreach.
Outreach can occur in a variety of ways and a number of groups have formed
to look at how our Parish might undertake these different forms of outreach.
An important element of outreach is introducing people to Jesus and one way
we can do this is by inviting these people to church. During this season of
Advent we have great opportunities to invite family, friends, schoolmates or
work colleagues to hear the good news about Jesus. I hope that you can see
why participating in God's work like this is such a privilege so that you'll
prayerfully seek to invite others who don't yet have a relationship with God
through Jesus to come and hear the good news of the gospel.
Ben van der Klip
Where are we going for God’s sake?
There is nothing new under the sun, so the saying goes. Our
"Imagine St Columba" has furnished a number of groups with familiar themes. But
what has been delightful and surprising is the number of people who have placed themselves
in groups. This is cause for great celebration, and indicates where the Holy Spirit is
equipping and motivating us as a Parish for the future.
The Grounds and Buildings group. convened by John Clark, is a
surprisingly large group, and this indicates the importance and attractiveness of or
environment to people who worship here.
The Outreach group split and will split again because it is too large.
Janet Anderson is convening the larger group, which will divide into Inner and
Outer-outreach. Ben van der Klip and Jenny Yarnell’s group will focus on Evangelism.
This is an almost overwhelming response to outreach, and shows that God is leading is
significantly in this direction. It goes without saying as to what effective outreach can
do for our Parish future.
The Music and Worship group, convened by Maggie Dunnill, has begun its
work already, as you see in this Coracle. This is a vital element in our life together,
and improvement here can only add to our spiritual sustenance and growth.
John Dunnill is convening the Spirituality group, and we are looking
forward to seeing what emerges for the future in this area.
A small but vital group, with Sally Gaunt, is focussing on Challenge
and Social Justice. This brings an important balance to our total ministry at St Columba,
and fits in well with the Diocesan mission direction of addressing unjust structures in
our society.
Six groups, six focuses for the future. These groups will now prepare
provocative propositions for future directions.
If you want to know more about one of the groups, or would like to join
one, speak to the convenor.
Trevor Burt
Advent
From volunteerism to vocation
Please...no more volunteers. I know what you’re thinking,
he’s lost it. Pressure’s got to him. How can a church possibly survive without
volunteers, you may ask!
The main problem is that volunteers depend on other people to define
the mission - the generals direct, and the soldiers go about doing the work. One person
has an idea for a task and recruits helpers to do the job.
We need to end volunteerism because it can lead to
passivity—dependence on others for directions. It can lead to
mediocrity—especially when the volunteers are not fully committed to the instructions
given. It can lead to burnout—as people get tired of doing other people’s jobs
because no one else does them.
We call this “ministry”, wrongly in my view. Volunteerism is
not scriptural. The scriptures paint a vastly different picture.
God gifts everyone for ministry. That means we are all gifted for roles
and tasks in the church. The image Paul uses is of a body—every part essential, every
part different, every part a role to play.
When we combine our God-given gifts with God’s will, we have
vocation.
Now this doesn’t mean everyone is called to be a clergy person.
Far from it. It does mean we all have a calling, a purpose, something to do, a role to
fulfil, a path to follow, a part to play in the bigger picture.
Now this doesn’t mean we all go off doing our own thing, being our
own boss.. The scriptural image of body is—many parts working together for a common
purpose.
So what are your gifts? Where is God leading you? And how does your
vocation fit into the bigger vision for St Columba?
Imagine St Columba has helped us see where God is leading us. Now it is
time for you to position yourself in the journey—to use your gifts to help us shape
the future. You can do this by committing yourself to one of the groups at our Forum
today.
Trevor Burt
Parish Priest