HOMILY: After a vision at the ruined San Damiano Church, Francis began physically repairing the building, interpreting God’s command to “rebuild my Church” literally at first, before realising it also referred to spiritual renewal.
Where in this story do you rest (what appeals to you most)? How might it offer you deep or soulful rest?
HOMILY: As we wind our way toward the conclusion of this Season of Creation next Sunday, with its celebration of Saints Clare and Francis of Assisi, the resources provided by the Uniting Church and, indeed, the global church, go missing in action. There are no specific liturgical resources provided for today, and no suggestions for a theme. That being so, I’ve decided to lead you on a pathway that begins and ends with fire.
HOMILY: I look to the mountains, the psalmist sings … and as a Korean it is the mountains, those beautiful bosoms of my country that greet me and embrace me when I return home. Korea is full of bumps and hills and mountains.
HOMILY: In January I had the opportunity to visit lutruwita/Tasmania (Launceston and Hobart) for the first time. Highlights included walking and drawing in the Tamar Valley, at Cataract Gorge where stone boulders are considered ancient sentinels, and at kunanyi/Mount Wellington, a dolerite mountain type rising more than 1200 metres above sea level.
HOMILY: Paul writes: “… work out your salvation with fear and trembling … It is God at work in you that creates the desire to do God’s will” (Philippians 2:12-13). The good news: cooperation with God. The good news: gift and task. The good news: grace perfecting nature (Thomas Aquinas).
HOMILY: The priestly account of Creation in Genesis 1 sees Elohim creating human beings in the divine likeness, to be loving and caring toward the fish, birds and wild animals. Responsibility is the watchword. “Stewardship” is a faithful translation, though “subjugation” is a sadly familiar one.
HOMILY: We have received a record number of entries for the Blak & Blu pen-on-paper art prize. This year’s theme, set by founding sponsor Blak Douglas, is “Deep within”. And so, we have entries with titles including “Joy deep within”, “Deep within the chrysalis”, “Gadigal land – deep within the garden”, “Seeds of courage” …
HOMILY: John’s Jesus is a teacher of Wisdom. John’s Jesus is also Wisdom personified, Sophia incarnate. The offence, the “stumbling block”, has to do with this.
HOMILY: “To believe in God is to eat bread not by yourself but by some other magic …” (Joseph Pintauro, 1968).
HOMILY: John’s gospel refers to the miracles of Jesus (and there are seven in all) as semeia or signs. John understands them differently from the other three evangelists, the authors of the synoptic gospels, who call them dunamis, meaning powers. John is telling us that a mere fascination with the miracles misses their deeper significance. A sign, by nature, points beyond itself to a deeper reality.
