gregoryjenks

Author: Gregory C. Jenks

  • Morsels 2018 December

    An archive of previous “Daily Morsels” published on the Cathedral app. Please note that these versions of the messages are not formatted to reflect line breaks or separate paragraphs, as they are purely an archival set. They also tend not to have any embedded web links from the original Morsel. To receive these message direct to your mobile phone or tablet each day, please download the Cathedral app.

    Mon – 181231
    Title
    I am about to do a new thing
    Body
    “Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honour me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.” (Isaiah 43:18–21 NRSV)
    SUN – 181230
    Title
    A new commandment
    Body
    Love is the critical DNA of the Christian person: I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34–35 NRSV)
    Sat – 181229
    Title
    Loving others
    Body
    First things first: Love for God. Everything else flows from that first great commitment to a life lived at depth. Without that commitment, nothing else matters. It is all hollow and empty. But notice what does follow—not a traditional list of religious duties, but rather the simple call to love other people. Their concerns and their wellbeing are to matter to us just as much as our survival and our own comfort. In the car park at the shopping centre … While merging in the traffic to get across the bridge … When we would rather be somewhere else … When we really do not have the time to listen to their story (again) …
    Fri 181228
    Title
    Loving God
    Body
    ‘Love for God’ means not so much a romantic attachment to some divine figure, but rather us being alert to the depth dimension of life. Our heart, our soul, our mind and all our strength are to be brought to bear on the great task of asking why are we here, and what does the Lord require of me? This task will involve our whole person (heart, soul, mind, strength), and it takes our whole lifetime to complete the work.
    Thr – 181227
    Title
    Love at the centre
    Body
    Not only is love at the centre of the Christmas story, it is also at the very centre of the faith that we practice. When Jesus was once asked to define the core obligations of humans as he understood things, he famously replied: “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29–31 NRSV)
    Wed – 181226
    Title
    The Word became flesh
    Body
    The distinctive Christian affirmation is captured in these ancient words from the opening of the Gospel of John: “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. … From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:14,16 NRSV)
    Tue – 181225
    Title
    God so loved the world
    Body
    The earliest Christians were in no doubt that Jesus coming among us was a most remarkable expression of God’s love for all humanity. This idea that the coming of Jesus was a direct result of God’s love for the world is most famously expressed in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”
    Mon – 181224
    Title
    When the time was right
    Body
    But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4:4–6 NRSV)
    SUN – 181223
    Title
    Love, actually
    Body
    Love is at the centre of the Christmas story, even when there are no shepherds and no wise men, no journey to Bethlehem and no magical star in the sky. All of these legendary elements add colour and beauty to our celebration of Christmas, but what matters, of course, is the underlying message that Jesus is the love of God for us expressed in a human life.
    Sat – 181222
    Title
    The peace of God
    Body
    “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7) Paul wraps up this section with words that are very familiar to us as they have become part of the general blessing at the end of a Eucharist, even though when he wrote them in his short letter to the Philippians no one else had ever quite put it that way before. When we find our deepest meaning in Jesus, the human face of God … When others find us to be gentle people … When we can set aside our natural instinct to worry … When we bring our troubles to God with thanksgiving … … then the peace of God which passes all understanding guards our hearts and minds. When our hearts and our minds are guarded by God’s peace, we have joy. May the hope and the peace that we celebrated these past two Sundays in Advent, mean that this week we find real joy.
    Fri – 181221
    Title
    Do not worry about anything
    Body
    “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil 4:6) Now Paul shifts the focus: from how others experience us, to how we handle the adversities that inevitably come our way. Note that Paul assumes ‘stuff will happen’. When ‘stuff happens’ in our lives we are not to worry about it, but rather bring everything that is happening to God, letting God know how we feel about the situation and seeking grace to deal with it. Things that might otherwise cause us to be anxious can now become something we bring to God with thanksgiving; in an attitude of gratitude. Paul is going beyond the “don’t be anxious” advice we find in the Gospels, and urging his readers to bring their worries to God with thanksgiving. When we can do that, then we have found a sweet spot indeed, and our trust in the Lord is sustaining us through times when we might otherwise meltdown. We will not get this right every time. Sometimes we will complain loudly and let God know exactly how unfair life seems. And that is OK as well. But sometimes we will get it right. When we trust God enough to be grateful even for the bad stuff—as it is happening, and not only with the benefit of hindsight—then we are getting very close to having found real joy.
    Thr – 181220
    Title
    Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
    Body
    Paul suggests that if we have a deep sense of joy and if we are truly at peace within ourselves, then others should experience us as gentle people. Gentle people? That almost seems like a quaint old-fashioned idea. But it invites us to think more deeply about how we conduct ourselves. Are religious people known for our gentleness? Do we have reputations as gentle people among our families and friends? Or do we kick heads and push others around, just like everyone else? Worse still, are we seen as people trying to push our religion down other’s throats? And are we really people who want to the legal right to discriminate against students and teachers in Christian schools because of their gender or their sexuality? Surely not. Paul suggests that joyful people, as people who realise that the Lord is near, will be gentle and that everyone else will recognise that about us. If only that were so!
    Wed – 181219
    Title
    Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!
    Body
    The underlying Greek word Paul used here was also the everyday greeting when people met in the street or sent a letter: χαιρε [chaire]. It was the word on the lips of Judas as he greeted Jesus in the garden, and the words used by the soldiers as they mocked Jesus, “Hail, king of the Jews!” As used by Paul here, we note that he adds “… in the Lord …”. We are to wish one another—and also ourselves—happiness, health, peace, success and well-being in the Lord. Our joy finds its roots in Jesus himself. The blessings we wish for others come from Jesus. What we hope for ourselves comes from Jesus, and is grounded in all that he means to us. That makes joy an appropriate theme for reflection today as we get closer to Christmas Day. Joy to the world, the Lord has come!
    Tue – 181218
    Title
    What are we doing when we read the Bible?
    Body
    Let’s remind ourselves why we read the Bible. It is not because grabbing a few words from the Bible will provide us with a recipe for joy, or the answers to life’s questions. We read the texts not to hear what God has said in the past, but to hear how other people of faith have spoken about God in the past so that we are better equipped to listen to God in the present. This week we are reflecting on some words from Paul, and therefore words from someone with a deep insight into the dynamics of faith and life. As we do so, we are opening our hearts and minds to discern the whisper of Spirit who makes the human words of the Bible a sacrament of invitation to live more deeply and more truly. When that happens then the ‘word of the Lord’ has been proclaimed heard.
    Mon – 181217
    Title
    Joy is not the same as …
    Body
    As we begin a few days of reflection on joyfulness, let’s set aside some common misconceptions about joy: Joy is not the same as happiness Joy is not the same as being amused or entertained Joy is not always expressed in laughter or a cheery face Joy does not mean we are carefree or untroubled Joy is not a result of alcohol, drugs and medication Joy is not having the latest consumer products Joy is not about lots of sex
    SUN – 181216
    Title
    Rejoice in the Lord always
    Body
    The New Testament reading for this Third Sunday of Advent: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:4–7]
    Sat – 181215
    Title
    Neither shall they learn war any more
    Body
    The ancient Jewish prophet, Isaiah of Jerusalem, imagines a world to which we may all aspire: “He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4 NRSV) Hasten that day, O Lord.
    Fri – 181214
    Title
    Peace among religions
    Body
    Hans Küng, an eminent Roman Catholic theologian, has famously invited us to reflect on the need for peace among the religions as a basis for peace among the nations: “No peace among the nations without peace among the religions. No peace among the religions without dialogue between the religions No dialogue between the religions without investigation of the foundation of the religions.” ― Hans Küng, Christianity: Essence, History, Future
    Thr – 181213
    Title
    Peace within the churches
    Body
    The culture wars that are polarising societies throughout the western world are also impacting the internal life of various Christian communities. Despite the progress seen in formal ecumenical relationships across the churches, the Christian world remains deeply divided. Indeed, we even have two rival ecumenical organisations in many parts of Australia, and opposing lobby groups claim a mandate to speak on behalf of Australia’s Christians to the federal government. The unresolved debate about protecting religious freedom is something of a proxy for the competition between different expressions of Christianity. Christians who embrace a more conservative mix of social views and theological opinion tend to feel the need for ‘protection’, while Christians who favour a more progressive outlook tend to see no need for such measures. For many Christians, it seems that what divides us is more important than what we have in common. This week we might pray for a more generous attitude between and among the Christian factions, and that peace within the churches might displace competition between the followers of Jesus.
    Wed – 181212
    Title
    Peace within our families
    Body
    The ancient words of Psalm 133 invite us to reflect on peace when it is expressed as harmony among those whose lives are closely bound together: “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD ordained his blessing, life forevermore.” (Psalm 133:1–3 NRSV) The psalmist uses the metaphor of being anointed with holy oil, indeed drenched with this “precious oil” that was used to anoint the priests who served at the Altar. Peace among those with whom our lives are most closely bound is indeed a precious blessing.
    Tue – 181211
    Title
    Dreaming of peace
    Body
    Around 2,700 years ago, a Jewish prophet in Jerusalem captured his dream of a future time of peace in words that have become part of our Advent and Christmas celebrations: “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:6–9 NRSV) What is your dream for peace look like? What are you doing to help bring it to reality?
    Mon – 181210
    Title
    The peace of Christ
    Body
    As the Gospel of John portrays Jesus and his disciples moving closer to the moment of his arrest, Jesus speaks of peace (among other things). The scene is anything but peaceful. Tension is mounting. The betrayer is already on his way with an armed gang to arrest Jesus. Events are moving inexorably towards a climax that none of the characters in the story seem to appreciate. The lived experience of the Johannne community over several decades finds expression in these words that cut through the gloom like a candle in the dark: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:27 NRSV) Jesus is not promising life without challenges, pain or upsets. But he promises the gift of an inner peace that is different from any “peace” imposed by imperial violence. This kind of peace is not about control and exploitation, but about freedom and flourishing. Lord, grant us that peace. Transform our world, which is really your world.
    SUN – 181209
    Title
    Seven Days of Peace
    Body
    Well, maybe not seven days OF peace, but seven days to reflect on peace, to renew our personal commitment as peace-makers, and to add our prayers to the groans of the deep universe as it longs for that long-awaited outbreak of peace and goodwill promised by the angels in Luke’s Christmas story: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!” (Luke 2:14 NRSV) As we noted back in September when we reflected on the seventh Beatitude in Matthew 5, peacemakers are not always celebrated and affirmed, and especially not by those whose violence they are seeking to diminish and even end. Yet to be a child of God is to be someone engaged in peacemaking. This is core business for people of faith. It is in our DNA. We yearn for peace.
    Sat – 181208
    Title
    St Patrick’s Breastplate
    Body
    This excerpt from the traditional prayer attributed to St Patrick may serve as a reflection as we end this first week of Advent: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.
    Fri – 181207
    Title
    A world without walls
    Body
    We don’t build walls in a hopeful world. Not in Palestine and not on the Mexico border. Those walls will fall; because they represent fear, not hope. As do the off-shore detention centres. When God’s kingdom comes, as we ask each time we say the Lord’s Prayer, there will be no room for fear or violence. There will be no walls and no eternal detention centres. Even Hell itself will be empty. Its gates will be ripped off by the victorious Christ, and all its inmates will be freed. We live in hope …
    Thr – 181206
    Title
    When hope goes viral
    Body
    At Grafton Cathedral, our doors are open … our hearts are open … our minds are open. Such a mindset is the ground of hope: for us and for others. We want to see hope go viral. We do not seek to control it, define it, limit it, or restrict it. We do not aspire to hold any monopoly on hope. The more people who have some real hope the better our world will be: less fearful, more compassionate, more generous and less violent.
    Wed – 181205
    Title
    Invitational grace
    Body
    We do not derive our hope from imagining the destruction of those with whom we disagree. And we do not ‘sell’ hope to ourselves and our neighbours by spreading fear. That is not the way of Jesus. We proclaim hope, not fear. We invite, rather than impose our values on others. We create safe places to explore grace, rather than define the boundaries to keep people out.
    Tue – 181204
    Title
    Spiritual steroids
    Body
    The readings set for Advent Sunday do not really help all that much with the deep project of growing hope while avoiding collateral spiritual damage. The lectionary choices at the start of Advent tend to focus on the great reversal at the end of time, and perhaps even encourage us to derive some degree of hope from a perverted anticipation that God is going to punish those who make us afraid for the future. That is what apocalyptic literature is designed to do: raise the hopes of victims who are suffering from more powerful opponents. But that literature trades on violence and simply imagines ‘them’ getting a serious dose of what ‘they’ have been dishing out to ‘us’. Apocalyptic texts offer spiritual steroids for critical moments, but not a long-term dietary supplement for a healthy life.
    Mon – 181203
    Title
    More than whistling in the dark
    Body
    Hope is an attitude of the heart and it lies somewhere between wishful thinking and certainty. It is not whistling in the dark to calm our fears. Nor is it a cocky self-confidence that acts as if we have all the answers. In the world at large, among our family and friends, in our neighbourhood, and in our workplaces there is numerous attributes that reflect a lack of hope: confusion, despair, disbelief, doubt, fear, hatred, pessimism and tiredness. As the people of Jesus we overturn those grim realities and Advent is a time to recall that we are first of all people of hope.
    SUN – 181202
    Title
    ADVENT SUNDAY: Hope
    Body
    Here we are on the threshold of a new year of witness and service. It is Advent Sunday, and Christmas is just around the corner. Between now and then we have an opportunity to reflect on the core spiritual values that shape our preparation for the Christ Child and our mission to this city and region. Over each of the next few Sundays we will focus on these core values: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. They sound strangely familiar, and yet rather out of place in our contemporary world. Hope! There is clearly a hope deficit in our world and our nation at the present time. Trust is low. Fear is on the rise. Peace? Words fail. Violence continues to tear apart families, villages, cities and nations. Joy. The carols are playing on the muzak but road rage in the car parks at our shopping centres indicates that joy is often only skin deep, and below the surface we are angry and aggressive. Just try merging in the traffic leading to the Grafton bridge. What joy abounds. Not. Love. ‘What the world needs most’ is sadly lacking in so many of our everyday transactions with one another. Yet this is to be the hallmark of those who follow Jesus. We are not called to be correct, but we are called to love one another, turn the other cheek, to help the needy, and to go the second mile.
    Sat – 181201
    Title
    A good Advent
    Body
    How are you going to use Advent to prepare for a Christmas that has a deep significance beyond calories and gift catalogues? Well, there is an app for that … of course. The GoodAdvent app offers daily material written by Dr Jane Williams, the Assistant Dean of St Mellitus College. Each day’s material includes a reflection by Dr Williams on a piece of art, a prayer, a Bible verse to read or listen to, and a practical thing you can do for Advent. This app is completely free and easy to use. Of course, you can also just use the daily Morsels from Grafton Cathedral, which will have an Advent theme between now and Christmas.

  • Morsels 2018 November

    An archive of previous “Daily Morsels” published on the Cathedral app. Please note that these versions of the messages are not formatted to reflect line breaks or separate paragraphs, as they are purely an archival set. They also tend not to have any embedded web links from the original Morsel. To receive these message direct to your mobile phone or tablet each day, please download the Cathedral app.

    Fri – 181130
    Title
    Andrew, brother of Simon Peter
    Body
    Today we observe the festival of St Andrew. This minor character from the Twelve is honoured posthumously as the founder of the see of Constantinople and the patron saint of Russia, the Ukraine, Romania and Scotland. Little is known of the historical figure behind these legends, but it seems he and his brother (Peter) were among several of Jesus’ disciples who came from the village of Bethsaida. In the Eastern Churches, Andrew is honoured as the Protokletos (the first-called), due to the tradition in the Gospel of John where Jesus invited Andrew to follow him, and Andrew later encourages Peter to join up as well. As the brother of Simon Peter, Andrew has been embraced by religious and ethnic communities seeking a patron saint who offers them some leverage against Roman claims to privilege based on the authority of Peter. As the Protokletos—and the one who brought Peter to Jesus—Andrew offers a spiritual authority which seems less coercive. Andrew offers a model of faith that seeks to serve rather than to dominate. For that we are indeed grateful.
    Thr – 181129
    Title
    The point of religion
    Body
    As the Gospel of Mark presents the opening episodes from its story of Jesus, we find him and the disciples walking through a field on the Sabbath, picking grain to make a snack. In response to criticism from the Pharisees, Jesus offers a rebuttal that must have stung their ears: “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” The point of religion is not to make us religious, but to make us more fully and gloriously alive.
    Wed – 181128
    Title
    Who needs the doctor?
    Body
    The lectionary for morning prayer this week draws on the opening scenes on the Gospel of Mark, and today we are offered the story of the paralysed man healed by Jesus after his friends smash a hole in the roof of the little house in Capernaum where Jesus was staying. I have been to the location many times. The jumble of small houses, mostly no larger than 5m x 5m but with an upper level accessed by rough stone steps, are clustered together in the insulae formation. Access to several adjoining homes is via a single shared entrance. Not much space. Very easily blocked by a crowd. Later in the day, reflecting on the events, Jesus offers this aphorism: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.” We hear and respond to Jesus’ call to embrace healing and life. And we seek not to block others from doing the same. Rip off the roof if it stops people getting to the physician of their soul. We can fix the buildings (or the institution) after everyone is healed.
    Tue – 181127
    Title
    Choosing life …
    Body
    The Gospel for morning prayer today has an interesting exchange between a leper and Jesus: A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, ‘If you choose, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I do choose. Be made clean!’ [Mark 1:40–41] “if you choose … I do choose …” The leper is choosing to take a risk. Maybe Jesus was as well. Choosing can be an act of hope and deep trust. Today, we choose life. Health. Wholeness.
    Mon – 181126
    Title
    Stir up, we pray you, O Lord
    Body
    The traditional prayer for the Sunday before Advent is now used each day during the week between the Feast Christ the King (yesterday) and Advent Sunday: Stir up, we pray, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people, that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by you be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. This prayer has entered into our culture as “Stir Up Sunday”; a time when those making Christmas puddings were reminded to gather the ingredients and give the mix a good stir. See the web link for more details. In the meantime, may Jesus stir us up so we get engaged in compassionate action for the common good.
    SUN – 18125
    Title
    The Reign of Christ
    Body
    The Cathedral Church of Christ the King in Grafton (like our sister Cathedral in Newcastle) is celebrating our feast of title today. My sermon on this feast last year, included these observations: What does it mean for us to be a cathedral community dedicated to Christ as our ‘king’? The term ‘king’ can be problematic here as it reflects a world of empire and certainty. We have neither. The empire has fallen. We live in a time of transition, and uncertainty is the air we breathe. But that exaggerated title still speaks to our core values:
    * we are a community for whom Jesus is central
    * it is no longer a claim to privilege
    * it is no longer a claim to certainty
    * but it is certainly our cardinal orientation
    We are a community where Jesus matters:
    * what he believed, we believe
    * how he acted, is our model for action
    * how he treated people, is our guide for life
    Sat – 181124
    Title
    Hildegard of Bingen
    Body
    In a week when we have reflected on the legacy of Hannah, it seems appropriate to hear from another of the outstanding women of spirit, Hildegarde of Bingen (1098–1179 CE). “Holy Spirit, the life that gives life: You are the cause of all movement. You are the breath of all creatures. You are the salve that purifies our souls. You are the ointment that heals our wounds. You are the fire that warms our hearts. You are the light that guides our feet. Let all the world praise you.“ – Hildegard of Bingen
    Fri – 181123
    Title
    Hannah’s Song
    Body
    After a couple of years have passed, Hannah brings her young child to Eli the priest at Shiloh, in fulfilment of her vow. In the narrative she then sings a psalm of thanksgiving, but the song she chooses is one that reflects a time in Israel’s history when there were kings in power. The Song of Hannah is a song grounded in the experience of a ‘barren’ woman who has been blessed with children: seven of them in this case. Her fortunes have been reversed by the God who is her Rock and her Salvation. Similar sentiments can be found in the close parallels at Psalm 113 and 2 Samuel 22. We can see why this song was placed on the lips of Hannah by the storyteller. Centuries later, when the author of the Gospel of Luke created his poetic story of the miraculous conceptions of both John and Jesus, he drew on the traditions about Hannah and Samuel. The Song of Mary that Luke created for his character to sing, was largely inspired by the ancient Song of Hannah. Both songs celebrate the reversal caused when the mighty are cast down and the lowly lifted up. The legacy of Hannah continues in these revolutionary words of the Magnificat. God turns our world upside down. God lifts up the lowly and casts down the privileged.
    Thr – 181122
    Title
    What’s in a name?
    Body
    Hannah names her child of promise, Samuel. Picking a name for a child is a significant moment, and sometimes a long and complex process. Let’s pause and reflect on that for a moment. Do we know why our own parents chose our name for us? Have we shared with our children the reasons why we chose the names they now have? Faith at home can be built from sharing such simple yet profound stories.
    Wed – 181121
    Title
    Hannah story, part 2
    Body
    A second thing to note about the story of Hannah: this is about a matter that is central to female identity. Hannah is desperate to have a child. Yes, Hannah has a husband. But he plays a very minor role in the story. Actually, it is more correct to say that Hannah shared her husband with another woman. It is complicated, we might say. ‘Biblical marriage’ rarely involved one man being married to one woman, and that there are many different forms of sexual relationships described in these ancient stories. But this text is not offering us a model for marriage. Its focus lies elsewhere. Of course, in the nature of things, the other woman was not having any trouble producing several children for their shared husband. This is a familiar motif in several OT narratives. For the ancient storytellers—and their audiences—such a detail in the story tells us nothing about the gynaecological health of the women. Rather, it is a ‘sign’ that God is at work, and that the child who will eventually be born to the woman who struggles to conceive naturally is going to be a very special person when he grows up. (The child seems always to be a male in the Bible stories.) Hannah is not simply a meme in someone else’s story. She is in charge of her fertility and she wants to have her own child. Maybe more, but one for starters. This is ‘herstory’, not his-tory. Issues of fertility and rivalry with other women rarely get named in church, even though they are a significant part of the lived experience of many women. They touch the lives of men deeply as well. Just ask Henry VIII! But we tiptoe around these challenges and pretend that we are all ‘happy’ and ‘normal’ folks. In the process we offer little hope to Hannah’s twenty-first century sisters Hannah calls us to openness, courage, transparency and hope. That is what salvation looks like for many real people on the fringes of our church. And even at the centre of our faith community.
    Tue – 181120
    Title
    The day of the child
    Body
    Today is Universal Children’s Day. As we noted on Sunday, our children are gifts. We nurture and shape them, but they do not belong to us. They are bound to us and we to them, but we do not own them. As parents we are preparing our children to leave—and to become all that God has in store for them; in addition, we are also preparing ourselves to let them go. We pray for all children who are deprived of the joy of living and learning because of the fear of corporal punishment. Let us end the silence that condoned violence against children and the laws that perpetuate it. We know that it is impossible to achieve justice and peace while countless children suffer violence at the hands of those who should care for them. Inspire us to work together to transform our world and make it fit for children. And may no child be left behind.
    Mon – 181119
    Title
    Hannah’s story
    Body
    The reading from 1 Samuel 1 on Sunday morning offers something rare in the Bible: a woman’s voice. We will look at the Song of Hannah later in the week, but for now let’s focus on the story of this feisty woman who will not be diverted from her quest by the reassurance of her husband or her priest. First of all, this is essentially a woman’s story. That is unusual in the Bible, where most of the stories are told about men and told by men. Hannah’s story has been shared and remembered by women, no doubt surviving in the oral tradition. This reminds us that women have always had their own perspective on the God story, and men mostly are unaware of it or else undervalue women’s perspective on life and faith. How might Christianity be different now if women were not excluded from the process of forming doctrine and shaping ministry? Hannah not only tells her story but she also gets her name into the tale. Again, that makes her different from the few women whose stories survived but whose names were mostly forgotten. Hannah demands that we hear her story and that we know about her. She has a name. And a voice.
    SUN – 181118
    Title
    Hannah and Samuel
    Body
    Our first reading in church today tells the story of Hannah and her baby, Samuel. This ancient story offers simple and profound truth for us all. Our children are gifts. We nurture and shape them, but they do not belong to us. They are bound to us and we to them, but we do not own them. As parents we are preparing our children to leave—and to become all that God has in store for them; in addition, we are also preparing ourselves to let them go.
    Sat – 181117
    Title
    Jonah 6
    Body
    Biblical truth is a major concern for many conservative Christians. For them the story of Jonah must really have happened, just the way the Bible says, if the Scriptures are to be ‘true’. Ditto for the creation stories, the legends of Israel’s ancestors, the exodus tradition, the ethnic cleansing of Canaan by Joshua, etc, etc. Increasingly we are aware that the Bible’s spiritual value lies not so much in its historicity as in the spiritual wisdom it offers us. We are not seeking ‘facts’ from the past when we read the Bible, but wisdom for today. And ‘today’ is a very different time in human history than the Middle East of 2,000 years ago.
    Fri – 181116
    Title
    Jonah 5
    Body
    Chapter 5? There are only four chapters in the book of Jonah, but the story does not stop there. This little book has an impressive literary afterlife in Jewish literature, in Christian theology, and in art. A Google search will yield 5.7 million results in less than one second. Here are three brief examples: 1. In the post-biblical tradition Jonah is identified with the widow’s son who Elijah restores to life in Zarephath. After returning from Nineveh, he had taken his mum and gone into exile, and even tried to escape God by death, but God sent Elijah to restore him to life. No escaping the call to be a prophet. Ever. 2. In the “Lives of the prophets” Jonah is remembered for a prophecy that the destruction of the Jerusalem would be near when the stones cry out. Jerusalem replaces Nineveh as the sinful city, while Jesus’ saying that “even the stones would cry out” (Luke 19:40) suddenly gets a prophetic context. 3. In modern Jewish art, Jonah being spat from the whale and returned to dry land is a parable of the Jews returning to the land of Israel after their long exile in Europe. Jonah is not the only biblical text with such an ‘afterlife’. The Scriptures linger in the imagination of our culture long after people stop reading them.
    Thr – 181115
    Title
    Jonah 4
    Body
    The last chapter is very short but it is the point of the whole book. Jonah descends into a bad mood because God has made him look stupid by relenting on the destruction of the city. He sits on a hill outside the city to watch and wait. It is hot. God makes a little plant grow quickly to give the sad prophet some shade, but then sends a worm to attack the plant so that it dies and Jonah has no shade. Jonah is angry with God. I knew you would do this, and now you have taken away the one bit of comfort I had. “Jonah,” says the Lord. “There are more than 120,000 innocent people in that city, as well as lots of animals. They deserve my compassion.” And not one of them was a believer … yet each of them was loved by God.
    Wed – 181114
    Title
    Jonah 3
    Body
    Crunch time. Jonah goes to Nineveh as God ‘suggests’ and gets straight to work. He marches into the huge city and proclaims the imminent devastation that God is going to send upon the city. Within forty days. Then his worst fears are realised. This reluctant preacher finds that everyone listens to his sermon. They all take it to heart. They all repent. Everyone last one of them. Even the cattle are dressed in sackcloth and denied food and water. So God changes her mind and decided not to destroy the city. How embarrassing for Jonah. Sometimes it is hard to be gracious …
    Tue – 181113
    Title
    Jonah 2
    Body
    Have you ever wondered how to pass the time while trapped in the belly of a giant fish? One of my favourite examples of Jonah in art has him seated at a desk working by lamp light on a manuscript, with a massive circular window offering him impressive ocean views (evocative of Jules Verne, Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea). In the Bible, the second chapter of this very short book has Jonah singing a psalm before being spat forth onto dry land. Scripture—and especially the Psalms—can be a significant source of wisdom and comfort. What are your favourite biblical passages? Even when you are not inside the belly of a giant fish!
    Mon – 181112
    Title
    Jonah 1
    Body
    For the next few days we have a series of readings from Jonah in the lectionary for morning prayer, so the Morsels this week will begin offer some reflections on this much loved but little understood story in the Bible. The story is not really about the fish at all, but about a prophet who does not want to help rescue his people’s most threatening enemies from the devastation God plans to visit upon Nineveh. The fish is a distraction, although a very handy flotation aid for the runaway, castaway, don’t wannabe prophet. The call of God on our life can be a tricky business, and especially when it demands that we show compassion to those we fear.
    SUN – 181111 – Remembrance Day
    Title
    Remembrance Day
    Body
    God of the nations, whose sovereign rule brings justice and peace, have mercy on our broken and divided world. Shed abroad your peace in the hearts of all and banish from them the spirit that makes for war, that all races and peoples may learn to live as members of one family and in obedience to your law, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [A Prayer Book for Australia]
    Sat – 181110
    Title
    For the peace of Jerusalem
    Body
    The psalm for today’s Eucharist invites us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers.” For the sake of my relatives and friends I will say, “Peace be within you.” (Psalm 122:6–8 NRSV) Peace in Jerusalem will come when there is justice for all its people, and authentic reconciliation between the adherents of the Abrahamic religions. May that day come. Soon.
    Fri – 181109
    Title
    Making heaven happy
    Body
    The weekday Eucharistic lectionary today has two “lost and found” parables from Jesus: the lost sheep, and the lost coin (Luke 15:1–10). In the first, a compassionate shepherd jeopardises the well-being of 99 sheep to go searching for one lost sheep. In the second, a woman turns her home upside down while searching for a lost coin to complete her set of 10 coins. There is a hint of humour, almost satire, in each of these brief parables. The shepherd not only risks losing more of his sheep as he leaves them unattended while searching for the single lost sheep, but he then throws a party to celebrate the finding of the lost sheep. And we can guess who was probably on the menu! Likewise, the woman invites her friends over to celebrate finding her missing coin. We are not told the cost of the celebration, but we can presume there was not much value left from the recovered coin. The point of these quirky parables is the spontaneous celebration by the shepherd and the householder. Their uncomplicated delight reflects the delight among in heaven when a single person turns back to God. Our repentance makes the angels happy.
    Thr – 181108 – Saints & Martyrs of Anglican Communion
    Title
    The heart of the matter
    Body
    The default lectionary readings from last Sunday also included Mark’s version of the question about which commandment is the most important for us to observe. See Mark 12:28–34. Jesus replies with what we often call “the two great commandments”: love God with your whole being (heart, soul, mind and strength) and love your neighbour as yourself. Mark develops this in a different direction from Matthew and Luke, and has the questioner affirm the answer given by Jesus: love for others is more important than the rituals and sacrifices of the temple. How simple can it get: compassion is what matters most.
    Wed – 181007
    Title
    Radical Jesus
    Body
    It’s impossible to be devoted to the Jesus of the Scriptures, while refusing refugees, expelling immigrants, vilifying brown people, worshiping political power, guarding borders, and neglecting the poor—which is exactly the point.
    Tue – 181106
    Title
    The mind of Christ
    Body
    This morning the ecumenical cycle of weekday readings offers us the passage from Philippians 2:5–11, which is the earliest Christian devotional hymn to have survived from the first followers of Jesus. This a hymn known to the fledgling Christian community in Philippi, and Paul quotes several lines of the hymn to make a point as he appeals for his readers to stop bickering among themselves. “… though he was in the form of God, [he] did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave …” Where we might imagine divinity offers us a chance to exploit our privilege, these early Christians celebrated Jesus as the one who emptied himself and became the servant of all. May that mind be in us … indeed.
    Mon – 181105
    Title
    Show me a coin
    Body
    Those faith communities which observed All Saints & All Souls this past Sunday will have missed one of the classic moments in the ministry of Jesus. His opponents asked a question about paying tax to the Roman occupying authorities, thinking Jesus was trapped whichever way he answered. Jesus demands to see a coin and then asks whose head is on the coin. Hearing that the coin bore the image of the emperor, he famously replied: Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God! Jesus leaves us pondering: What exactly belongs to God? What might the powers that be properly demand of me? Where are my deepest loyalties attached?
    SUN – 181104
    Title
    Stairway from heaven
    Body
    In popular thought heaven is a destination to which we aspire. The alternative destination is not so desirable. We imagine a stairway to heaven … As often happens, the readings for church today turn our unexamined certainties upside down. Jesus came to proclaim the coming of God’s reign among us. He was not selling tickets for a journey to heaven. How did we so quickly forget that simple reality. The reading from Revelation 21 speaks of the God who comes to dwell among us, transforming our world and us in the process: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; …”
    Sat – 181103
    Title
    True wisdom
    Body
    So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.
    —Psalm 90:12
    Fri – 181102
    Title
    All Souls Day
    Body
    It is an ancient custom to observe the day after All Saints Day as a time of prayer for the faithful departed, who are distinguished from the “Saints” simply by virtue of not having been recognised as worthy of inclusion in the liturgical calendar. Today tends to have a more intimate focus than All Saints Day, as we are more likely to be remembering those we have known, and especially those who have died in the past year. Keeping our loved ones “alive in our memories” is a beautiful and natural spiritual reflex. If nothing—not even death—can separate us from God, it is also true that not even death separates us from those we love.
    Thr – 181101
    Title
    All Saints Day
    Body
    From one of the hymns we shall be using next Sunday morning: Rejoice in God’s saints, today and all days: A world without saints forgets how to praise. In loving, in living, they prove it is true: Their way of self-giving, Lord, leads us to you. Frederick Pratt Green 1903 – 2000

  • Morsels 2018 October

    An archive of previous “Daily Morsels” published on the Cathedral app. Please note that these versions of the messages are not formatted to reflect line breaks or separate paragraphs, as they are purely an archival set. They also tend not to have any embedded web links from the original Morsel. To receive these message direct to your mobile phone or tablet each day, please download the Cathedral app.

    Wed – 181031
    Title
    Halloween
    Body
    The Eve of All Saints (All Hallows) has taken on a life of its own, disconnected from the celebration of All Saints Day and All Souls Day which will follow over the following two days. The Hallowed Eve as we commence the celebration of All Saints has evolved into Halloween: one of the few times when our society pays any attention to dying. In our death-avoiding culture we rarely pause to think about the countless generations of humanity on whose shoulders we stand. Or our own death. Behind the ghoulish decorations and the fake threats to perform nasty tricks, Halloween invites us to bring in the harvest of our days, while not forgetting those whose lives have ended but whose legacy continues. Tomorrow we celebrate All Saints, but today we might reflect on our own mortality and imagine what our obituary will say about the harvest of our lives.
    Tue – 181030
    Title
    Generosity
    Body
    The abundance of Spring invites us to be generous, rather than hoarders. This is the polar opposite of a scarcity mentality, which evokes a fear that there may not be enough to go around so we had best hoard what we have. Jesus encouraged his followers to be boldly generous, and to trust the Father to provide what we need. This is a mindset we need to recover in our shared public life, so we move away from the politics of fear and scarcity and embrace the politics of abundance and generosity.
    Mon – 181029
    Title
    Gratitude
    Body
    It is Springtime in this part of the world, and Jacaranda Festival time in Grafton. One response to the beauty and diversity around us is simply to be grateful. Gratitude disperses the negativity that dominates our news cycle. As I acknowledge and express my delight in the world around me, I find new reserves of energy to make the world an even better place: to build community, to resist prejudice, and to advocate for change.
    Sun – 181028
    Title
    Saint Simon and St Jude
    Body
    Not the best known of Jesus’ earliest followers.
    Always listed at tenth and eleventh. Only Judas Iscariot ranks after them.
    Making no mark and leaving no lasting impression.
    But they were disciples of Jesus. Among the Twelve.
    I am not one of the Twelve, but I am a disciple.
    Maybe that is enough.
    Sat – 181027
    Title
    A Celtic psalm
    Body
    An extract from a Celtic psalm attributed to St Patrick: Our God is the God of all, The God of heaven and earth, Of the sea and of the rivers; The God of the sun and of the moon and of all the stars; The God of the lofty mountains and of the lowly valleys. He has His dwelling around heaven and earth, and sea, and all that in them is. I read this as an inclusive affirmation of the God who is everywhere, and not as an exclusive claim that “our God” is better than “their god”. It may be especially suitable on this day when the 2018 Jacaranda Festival begins. For the full text, see the website link …
    Fri – 181026
    Title
    Quran 5:32
    Body
    These words from the Quran make interesting this week as we learn more about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi: “That is why We ordained for the Children of Israel that whoever takes a life—unless as a punishment for murder or mischief in the land—it will be as if they killed all of humanity; and whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity. ˹Although˺ Our messengers already came to them with clear proofs, many of them still transgressed afterwards through the land.” [Translation: Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran]
    Thr – 181025
    Title
    Murder most foul
    Body
    The title of the 1964 Agatha Christie movie featuring Miss Marple has come to mind this past week or so as we have watched the unfolding (or is it the unravelling?) reluctant disclosures about the killing of Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The death of this journalist was not necessarily more cruel or violent than the deaths suffered by many of his contemporaries. The deeper horror may be the failure of international civil society to respond with similar outrage when hundreds or thousands of people are incarcerated, banned from travel outside their country, excluded from work or study, killed or driven into exile. Every life is precious and each death matters. Our humanity is diminished when we fail to care.
    Wed – 181024
    Title
    Melchizedek
    Body
    This word can alarm those rostered to read from Genesis 14 or Psalm 110 or Hebrews 5 & 7 during the liturgy. It occurred again this past Sunday. Between the OT legends where this figure is a pagan ruler of Jerusalem to the esoteric traditions in Hebrews where he becomes a supernatural figure with no human parentage, this character had quite a run as a cultural meme in early Judaism. He features in the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as the writings by Philo of Alexandria, so now we know what sense the writer to the Hebrews may have expected his readers to make of his references to this elusive character. As “king of righteousness” (“melek” + “zedek”), he leads the forces of good in the eternal struggle against the powers of evil, led by his appropriately-named opponent, Melchiresha. In modern terms, he is the Luke Skywalker character of post-biblical Judaism. In this week of national reflection and apology, we recommit to the struggle for justice: whether that be victims of institutional child abuse or children in detention or domestic violence survivors. We stand in the light. We oppose the darkness.
    Tue – 181023
    Title
    Time zones
    Body
    Friends: It seems that the time zone differences between Grafton and Winnipeg caused some issues with the distribution of the last few Morsels, which were composed while I was in Winnipeg. The Morsel that came out this morning (Tue) was obviously intended for yesterday. The Morsel that was planned for this morning will actually go out tomorrow morning. My apologies for any inconvenience this has caused you. Grace and peace. Greg Jenks
    Mon – 181022
    Title
    Light a candle
    Body
    Today the Australian Prime Minister will deliver an apology to victims and survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. Words fail. But they are needed as part of the truth-telling that may someday culminate in justice, compensation and healing. Light a candle for all those touched by this horror.
    SUN – 181021
    Title
    Disruptive faith
    Body
    “I’m ready for the sort of Christianity that ‘ruins’ my life, that captures my heart and makes me uncomfortable. I want to be filled with an astonishment that is so captivating that I am considered wild and unpredictable and…well… dangerous. Yes, I want to be ‘dangerous’ to a dull and boring religion. I want a faith that is considered ‘dangerous’ by our predictable and monotonous culture.” Robert Capon – The Astonished Heart: Reclaiming the good news from the lost-and-found of church history (Eerdmans, 1996)
    Sat – 181020
    Title
    Radical faith
    Body
    “What happened to radical Christianity that turned the world upside-down? What happened to the category smashing, life-threatening, anti-institutional gospel that spread through the first century like wildfire and was considered (by those in power) dangerous? What happened to the kind of Christians whose hearts were on fire, who had no fear, who spoke the truth no matter what the consequences, who made the world uncomfortable, who were willing to follow Jesus wherever he went? What happened to the kind of Christians who were filled with passion and gratitude, and who every day were unable to get over the grace of God?” Robert Capon – The Astonished Heart: Reclaiming the good news from the lost-and-found of church history (Eerdmans, 1996)
    Fri – 181019
    Title
    Astonishment
    Body
    “The critical issue today is dullness. We have lost our astonishment. The Good News is no longer good news, it is okay news. Christianity is no longer life changing, it is life-enhancing. Jesus doesn’t change people into wide-eyed radicals anymore, He changes them into ‘nice people’. If Christianity is simply about being nice, I’m not interested.” Robert Capon – The Astonished Heart: Reclaiming the good news from the lost-and-found of church history (Eerdmans, 1996)
    Thr – 181018
    Title
    St Luke
    Body
    Today we celebrate the legacy of Luke. This is the name we give to the anonymous author of the Gospel of Luke and its sequel, the Acts of the Apostles. All we really know about this person is what we can glean by reading between the lines of these two documents which represent about one-quarter of the New Testament. Luke preserves the past and prepares his readers for the future. For him that future meant coming to terms with Rome, embracing a more inclusive expression of the Jesus movement, and finding ways to be faithful in a world that did not share our values. Rome has fallen but the task remains much the same.
    Wed – 181017
    Title
    Make Poverty History
    Body
    Remember that slogan from a few years back? On this international day for the eradication of poverty it is timely to reflect on how poverty correlates with infant mortality, poor maternal health outcomes, disease and lack of education. Poverty is a major theme in the Bible, but rarely gets a mention in the success-oriented expressions of Christianity that are proving so very popular these days. Social justice is not an optional extra for the followers of Jesus. As we lay aside some of our own privilege, we also seek to empower others to escape poverty and live the abundant lives God wishes for all of us.
    Tue – 181016
    Title
    The last shall be first
    Body
    Last Sunday’s serve of Jesus wisdom from the Gospel of Mark concluded with this zinger: “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” [Mark 10:31] God upturns our expectations. That feels good when we consider ourselves outsiders, but has a different feel when we realise how much we are really insiders. Dare we follow this God who turns our expectations upside down?
    Mon – 181015
    Title
    Camels and needles
    Body
    In all three Synoptic Gospels and possibly in the oral tradition known to Mark, the story of the rich young ruler is always followed by this saying of Jesus: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” [Mark 10:25] Of course we think that does not apply to us since we are not rich. Think again. Thread the camel through the needle …
    SUN – 181014
    Title
    Privilege and discipleship
    Body
    Today’s Gospel is the familiar story of the “rich young ruler”. In Mark’s version he is simply rich: neither “young” (that is Matthew’s touch) nor a “ruler” (that comes from Luke). We have blended all three versions into our familiar triply-advantaged individual. This guy is dripping with privilege: wealthy, powerful (in Luke) and young (in Matthew). He has it all. But he wants something more, or maybe something else. Jesus cuts him no slack: surrender your privilege. He walks away from life …
    Sat – 181013
    Title
    A circle of blessing
    Body
    From our blessing of the animals at Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton last Sunday:
    All dogs and dingoes, large and small: Praise the Lord! All rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs: Praise the Lord! All goldfish, guppies and swimming creatures: Praise the Lord! All kookaburras, budgies and singing birds: Praise the Lord! All wombats, koalas and wallabies: Praise the Lord! All horses, cows and sheep: Praise the Lord! All lizards, skinks and crawling creatures: Praise the Lord! Every animal in the sky, the sea and the forest: Praise the Lord!
    Fri – 181012
    Title
    This we believe
    Body
    An affirmation of faith used in the liturgy at Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton last Sunday:
    God creates all things, renews all things and celebrates all things. This we believe. Earth is a sanctuary, a sacred planet filled with God’s presence, a home for us to share with our kin. This we believe. God became flesh and blood, a piece of Earth, a human being called Jesus Christ, who lived and breathed and spoke among us, suffered and died on a cross for all human beings and for all creation. This we believe. The risen Jesus is the Christ at the centre of creation, reconciling all things to God, renewing all creation and filling the cosmos. This we believe. The Holy Spirit renews life in creation, groans in empathy with a suffering creation and waits with us for the rebirth of creation. This we believe. We believe that with Christ we will rise and with Christ we will celebrate a new creation.
    Thr – 181011
    Title
    Mother Earth, Our Mother Birthing
    Body
    The offertory hymn from last Sunday at Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton:
    Mother Earth, our mother birthing Ev’ry creature from the ground. Jesus too was flesh and breathing, Kin to all that’s green and brown. Celebrate with all creation: God has joined the web of life. Sister Air, our sister lifting Ev’ry creature born with wing; Jesus shared the breath of forests, Breath that makes our spirits sing. Celebrate with all creation: God has joined the web of life. Brother Water, brother pulsing Deep through ev’ry vein and sea, Jesus drank the very raindrops For our wine and in our tea. Celebrate with all creation: God has joined the web of life. Father Fire, our father burning With the sacred urge to live. Jesus’ death completes the cycle, Bringing life beyond the grave. Celebrate with all creation: God has joined the web of life.
    Words: © Norman Habel 1999
    Wed – 181010
    Title
    Creatures around the throne
    Body
    Animals around the throne: In this vision of the future, it is not only angels that praise Christ on the throne, but also the living creatures of Earth and sky. They are an integral part of our hope and our future.
    So many popular version of Christianity are myopic: sin dominates the airwaves, and no creatures but us matter to God. The visions of Revelation offer a more holistic view of the future:
    Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped. [Revelation 5:11–14]
    Tue – 181009
    Title
    All creatures great and small
    Body
    Continuing this week’s focus on our shared relationships with other life forms on this shared planet, here is the Prayer of the Day from our Sunday liturgy at the Cathedral:
    God, our Creator, help us to love all creatures as kin, all animals as partners on Earth, all birds as messengers of praise, all minute beings as expressions of your mysterious design and all frogs as voices of hope. Amen.
    Mon – 181008
    Title
    Thanksgiving and confession
    Body
    From yesterday’s liturgy for the Blessing of the Animals at Christ Church Cathedral, Grafton: Thanksgiving and Confession Lord, for all the animals in the whole wide world, We thank you, God! Lord, for all the fun and friendship we have with animals, We thank you, God! Lord, for all the times we have hurt or neglected animals, We are sorry. Lord, for all the times we have used poisons that have killed animals, We are sorry. Lord, for all the times we have destroyed the homes of animals in the forests, oceans or fields, We are sorry. Absolution I speak for Christ. For all your sins against the creatures of Earth, I forgive you and I call upon you to honour and protect all animals. Yes, I speak for Christ. May the animals of Earth be your companions in life and lead you to celebrate your place in the circle of life. Amen! Amen Shalom! Shalom!
    SUN 181007 – Blessing of the Animals
    Title
    Web of life
    Body
    Modern science has revealed how intimately we are connected with other life forms through our shared DNA, but the ancient Hebrew creation myths included a beautiful story as humans, animals and birds are made from the same earth:
    Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the Earthling should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the Earthling to see what he would call them; and whatever the Earthling called every living creature, that was its name. The Earthling gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field … [Genesis 2:18–20]
    Companion animals indeed!
    Sat – 181006 – Creation Prayers
    Title
    Pilgrimage Blessing
    Body
    A creation-centred prayer on this ancient day of Sabbath rest: Dear pilgrim, As you go into the wilderness of the land and of your heart— May you experience the ever-flowing grace of God’s presence! May you be immersed so fully in God’s love that you learn to let go and swim! May you engage deeply and radically with the natural world, as steward, co-creator, and friend! May you drink anew from the divine source, the stream of living water! And may you be transformed, may the stagnant waters of your spirit begin to flow, and may all which is dead in you rise again! God is here. The river awaits. Let the adventure begin. Amen.
    SOURCE: Lisa Hershey Kutolowski, “The River of Life Prayer Book” for the Connecticut River Pilgrimage 2017. See web link to Kairos Earth for more resources like this.
    FRI – 181005 – World Teachers Day
    Title
    Teachers who have shaped us
    Body
    October 5 is observed as World Teachers Day. This seems like an invitation to be grateful for those people who have been our teachers. Some of our teachers were employed in educational institutions. And some of those people have changed our lives. Other teachers were people in our intimate circle. They nurtured us and modelled healthy living. Not just the vegetables and the exercise, but care for others and respect for our own true selves. Some of our teachers seemed like opponents at first. But on reflection we learned a great deal from our encounters with them. Some of our teachers are officially our students, or our children, or both. To Sir (and Miss), with love. Thank you.
    THR – 181004 – St Francis
    Title
    Make me a channel of your peace
    Body
    Today we celebrate the legacy of Francis (1182–1226 CE), one of the most widely loved of the Western saints. Although not composed by Francis, for a great many people the following prayer captures the essence of Franciscan spirituality: Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring love. Where there is offence, let me bring pardon. Where there is discord, let me bring union. Where there is error, let me bring truth. Where there is doubt, let me bring faith. Where there is despair, let me bring hope. Where there is darkness, let me bring your light. Where there is sadness, let me bring joy. O Master, let me not seek as much to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love, for it is in giving that one receives, it is in self-forgetting that one finds, it is in pardoning that one is pardoned, it is in dying that one is raised to eternal life.
    WED – 181003 – Beatitude 8
    Title
    Beatitude 8
    Body
    The last in this series of Beatitudes from Matthew 5 takes us to place that most of us find unfamiliar and unwelcome: persecution. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10 NRSV) In liberal Western societies, freedom of religion is so well established that persecution seems all but impossible to imagine. Recent campaigns for religious freedom are more about freedom for religious people to discriminate than any genuine threat to freedom of belief, freedom of worship, freedom of practise or even freedom to promote one’s religion. The beatitude speaks of persecution for the sake of righteousness: not religion, but right living. While Western Christians chafe at our increasingly irrelevance in a hedonistic culture, there are fellow believers in many parts of the world who suffer real hardship because of their faith and the justice which their faith calls them to uphold. Can it be that Jesus was right in saying they are more blessed than we?
    TUE – 181002
    Title
    Non-violent justice
    Body
    On this International Day of Non-Violence—as we mark the birthday of Mahatma Ghandi— this extract from John Dominic Crossan may be a good stimulus for reflection: “To obtain and possess the kingdoms of the world, with their power and glory, by violent injustice is to worship Satan. To obtain and possess the kingdom, the power, and the glory by nonviolent justice is to worship God.” ― John Dominic Crossan, The Greatest Prayer: A Revolutionary Manifesto and Hymn of Hope
    MON – 181001
    Title
    A cup of water
    Body
    We sometimes aspire to heroic achievements. Maybe it is all the little acts of kindness and goodness that matter more than the grand gestures? In yesterday’s Gospel reading, we hear these words on the lips of Jesus: “For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.” (Mark 9:41)

  • Morsels 2018 September

    An archive of previous “Daily Morsels” published on the Cathedral app. Please note that these versions of the messages are not formatted to reflect line breaks or separate paragraphs, as they are purely an archival set. They also tend not to have any embedded web links from the original Morsel. To receive these message direct to your mobile phone or tablet each day, please download the Cathedral app.

     

    SUN – 180930
    Title
    Draw the circle wide
    Body
    There is a temptation in life to draw the circle small and close. Perhaps it is a leftover from our evolutionary past? We certainly see traces of it in the recent trends towards isolationism and radical nationalism in so many societies. Xenophobia prefers small circles with thick boundaries. In today’s Gospel Jesus stares down the fearful concern of his disciples for their exclusive rights as the authorised brokers—in their minds at least—of the Jesus program. Jesus sketches a more expansive attitude towards others: “Do not stop them … whoever is not against us is for us …” (Mark 9:39–40). As a Cathedral we draw the circle wide. We are an inclusive community. We welcome people from very diverse religious and personal backgrounds.
    SAT – 180929 – St Michael & All Angels
    Title
    St Michael and All Angel
    Body
    While the nation is transfixed with sporting competitions this weekend, the Christian churches are celebrating ancient mythic tradition stretching back in time and known to us in many different versions. Central to many of these memes is a rider on a white horse, engaged in combat with a dragon, so that the maiden can be rescued, a city saved, or a world redeemed. Sometimes the rider on the white horse is St George, other times Michael the Archangel, or even Jesus. Fact and history are not stakeholders in this ancient dream language. Rather our fears (the dragon) are subdued and destroyed by the victorious hero; a character with many names but always on a white horse. This is archetypal myth and it can be very powerful. When struggling with some persistent spiritual problem, it can help to invoke the assistance of the hero on the white horse. As a Christian, I invoke Jesus. His job description reads: “Saviour.” Who better to ask to come to my aid? Who is your heroic archetype?
    FRI – 180928 – National Police Memorial Service
    Title
    National Police Remembrance Day
    Body
    At Christ Church Cathedral this morning we will welcome members of the local Police service, along with family and colleagues from other essential services, for the 2018 Police National Memorial Service. Similar services will be held in communities across the state and around the nation. We give thanks for the sense of service that draws people into the Police. We admire their dedication and their courage. We pray for their physical, emotional, spiritual and moral safety as they put themselves at risk for our safety. We pray for those injured in the course of their work, and for the families of officers who lose their lives while seeking to protect ours.
    THR – 180927 – Vincent de Paul
    Title
    St Vincent de Paul
    Body
    Vincent de Paul died on this day in 1660, but his legacy continues and his name has become synonymous with compassion for the poor and advocacy for social justice to improve their circumstances. One of many gems from his life of compassion: If God is the center of your life, no words are necessary. Your mere presence will touch hearts. —Vincent de Paul
    WED – 180926 – Psalm 23 (1)
    Title
    Thanksgiving
    Body
    A friend of mine in the USA wrote the following lines as part of a daily reflection that came through yesterday: What a gift life is. How glad I am To be here For a little while. Simple words, but deep truth. Thanks, Jane Wolfe. And thanks God for the gift of friends like Jane.
    TUE – 180925 – journeys to the edge
    Title
    Reaching for the edges
    Body
    Websites that collect “on this day” information tell us that on 25 September 1492 the crew on board the Pinta, one of the ships with Christopher Columbus thought they had spotted land. They were wrong, but soon enough they did indeed find the Americas; and changed the world. Exactly 500 years later the Mars Observer mission blasted off on this day. Although that mission failed when communications with the space vehicle were lost as it approached Mars in August 1993, subsequent expeditions to Mars have offered fascinating insights into this planet. Humans seem insatiably curious about what lies over the horizon. Each morning we encounter a new horizon. Let’s engage the new day with curiosity and hope. I wonder what God has to show us today?
    MON – 180924 – Blessed the peacemakers
    Title
    Beatitude 7
    Body
    “Blessed are the peacemakers,” says Jesus. “For they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) Peacemakers are not always celebrated and affirmed, and especially not by those whose violence they are seeking to diminish and even end. Not by those who make huge profits from the sale of weapons and the provision of logistic support to the war machine. Last Friday we celebrated International Peace Day, but our governments invest in “security” (violence and coercive power) rather than peacemaking and reconciliation. Jesus seems a lonely voice in a world gone mad, but he speaks a truth we need to hear.
    SUN – 180923
    Title
    Capernaum’s child
    Body
    Children were not highly regarded in the ancient world. Most of them died before reaching adulthood in any case, and they rarely feature in the stories about Jesus. Yet in today’s Gospel Jesus takes a child and tells his followers to stop obsessing about themselves and to focus on the child. It is always about the child, about the ‘little ones’ … Sometimes the child is indeed an infant or a toddler. Sometimes the child is a school student. Sometimes the child is a vulnerable adult, unemployed perhaps, or homeless. Sometimes the child is a frail older person. But the mission of God is always about the little ones, youth who are at risk, older folks who are being overlooked.
    SAT – 180922 – Shabbat prayer
    Title
    A Shabbat prayer
    Body
    Bless, O Lord, this food we are about to eat; and we pray you, O God, that it may be good for our body and soul; and, if there is any poor creature hungry or thirsting walking the road, may God send them in to us so that we can share the food with them, just as Christ shares his gifts with all of us. Amen. Celtic Daily Prayer, p. 299
    FRI – 180921 – St Matthew
    Title
    Matthew
    Body
    Today we celebrate “Saint Matthew”: one of the twelve core followers (disciples) of Jesus and the figure to whom tradition attributes the first of the Gospels in the New Testament. We know little of this character as he seems never to play a role in the stories people later told about Jesus; apart from being called to leave his toll-booth and follow Jesus. In Mark and Luke this character is not even called Matthew, but Levi, although they do have a Matthew among the Twelve. This little-known apostle lent his name (posthumously) to a revision of Mark’s Gospel that seems to have circulated in NW Syria just after 100 CE, in the Christian communities around the Antioch region. The person who edited and enlarged Mark’s account to create the Gospel according to Matthew has greatly enriched the subsequent legacy of the Christian Church, while also reinforcing the Jewish character of our roots. If European Christians had paid more attention to ‘Matthew’ there could never have been the centuries of anti-Semitic violence culminating in the Holocaust during the Nazi era. The Matthean gospel encouraged Jews to welcome Gentiles, and Gentiles to value Jews at a time when suspicion between the two groups was increasing. If only we had listened better. How much evil could have been avoided. The world could have been a better place for millions of people.
    THR – 180920 – Rohr, Christianity as lifestyle
    Title
    Christianity as lifestyle
    Body
    Christianity is a lifestyle – a way of being in the world that is simple, non-violent, shared, and loving. However, we made it into an established “religion” (and all that goes with that) and avoided the lifestyle change itself. One could be warlike, greedy, racist, selfish, and vain in most of Christian history, and still believe that Jesus is one’s “personal Lord and Savior” . . . The world has no time for such silliness anymore. The suffering on Earth is too great. — Richard Rohr
    WED – 180919 – Disciples of Jesus
    Title
    Disciples of Jesus
    Body
    How does someone follow a person like Jesus? The answer may surprise. Jesus does not ask people to sign up to a creed. Jesus does not ask them to go through some ritual or make a pilgrimage. Jesus does not ask them to hand over money for the church to use. All of those things the church has done, but none of those things were done by Jesus. He simply said: Come and follow me; do what I am doing, go where I am going. So, the secret is how we choose to spend our lives. Not looking after ourselves, but seeking to make the world a better place, a place more like God wants it to be. Those of us who come to the Table of Jesus seek food for the same journey. Make us like you, Jesus!
    TUE – 180918 Jesus Movement (action steps)
    Title
    Jesus Movement (Simple steps)
    Body
    After sketching his vision for the church as a local branch of the Jesus Movement, Bishop Michael Curry offers these simple tips to help us get active in God’s project of love, liberation and life: TRY THIS: (1) Begin your day by asking: How could my words, actions and heart reflect the loving, liberating, life-giving way of Jesus? Ask God to help you, especially at decision points. (2) At day’s end, with genuine curiosity and zero judgment, ask: When did I see myself or others being loving, liberating or life-giving today? Where do I wish I’d seen or practiced Jesus’ Way?
    MON -180917 Jesus Movement (more)
    Title
    Jesus Movement (more)
    Body
    Here is a further excerpt from Bishop Michael Curry on what it means to be a participant in the Jesus movement: “Jesus launched this movement when he welcomed the first disciples to follow his loving, liberating, life-giving Way. Today, we participate in his movement with our whole lives: our prayer, worship, teaching, preaching, gathering, healing, action, family, work, play and rest. In all things, we seek to be loving, liberating and life-giving—just like the God who formed all things in love; liberates us all from prisons of mind, body and spirit; and gives life so we can participate in the resurrection and healing of God’s world.” People who live like this transform the world …
    SUN – 180916
    Title
    The Jesus Movement
    Body
    In the Gospel today Jesus asks his disciples how they understand his mission. In the Dean’s Forum at 10.30am we will be exploring what it means to be disciples of Jesus. Michael Curry, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the USA, has been speaking about discipleship as participating in the Jesus movement. You may remember him as the preacher at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. We will consider several of his comments over the next few days, beginning with this statement: “The Jesus Movement is the ongoing community of people who center their lives on Jesus and following him into loving, liberating and life-giving relationship with God, each other and creation. Together, we follow Jesus as we love God with our whole heart, soul and mind and love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40), and restore each other and all of creation to unity with God in Christ (BCP, p. 855).” For more of Michael Curry in his own words click on the link below.
    SAT – 180915
    Title
    Bless this house
    Body
    Bless this house and those within. Bless our giving and receiving. Bless our words and conversation. Bless our hands and recreation. Bless our sowing and our growing. Bless our coming and our going. Bless all who enter and depart. Bless this house, your peace impart.
    FRI – 180914 – Holy Cross
    Title
    Holy Cross Day
    Body
    Holy Cross Day marks the dedication on this day in 335 of the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem, better known to most people in the West as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This impressive complex of buildings was built by the Emperor Constantine (c. 285-337) on the sites of the crucifixion and Jesus’ tomb. It was destroyed in 1009 on the orders of the Fatimid Caliph, Al-Hakim, and only partly rebuilt—on a much-reduced scale—by the Byzantine Emperor under an agreement with Al-Hakim’s son. Despite its present state, the Church of the Resurrection is the holiest site in Christianity and draws pilgrims from around the world. On this day we pray for the witness of that ancient church and for the Arab Christians whose existence in Palestine and throughout the Middle East is more at risk now than at any time in the past 2,000 years.
    THR – 180913 –
    Title
    God of freedom, God of justice
    Body
    Our final hymn at Grafton Cathedral always has a focus on mission: what God is calling us to do as our part in God’s own mission within our world. Last Sunday our mission hymn was by Shirley Erena Murray and it included these words as its second verse: Rid the earth of torture’s terror, God whose hands were nailed to the wood; hear the cries of pain and protest, God who shed the tears and blood; move in us the power of pity, restless for the common good. This hymn was written in 1980 for Amnesty International’s Campaign Against Torture when Shirley Murray could find nothing relevant to sing at a service for prisoners of conscience. How sad that the churches’ musical repertoire had nothing relevant to such an event. How blessed are we that Shirley Murray crafted these challenging lyrics.
    WED – 180912 – Beatitude 6: Pure in heart
    Title
    Beatitude 6
    Body
    In Matthew’s version of the Beatitudes, which he uses to open the Sermon on the Mount that he crafted by editing some of the remembered teachings of Jesus, the fifth blessing is for those who are pure in heart: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” (Matthew 5:8 NRSV) For most of us most of the time, this is an aspiration rather than a description. We seem to have mixed motives, divided loyalties, and complex lives. Yet we can also recognise that in those precious moments when we have singleness of focus there is great blessing: perhaps we even glimpse God at such times.
    TUE – 180911 – 9/11
    Title
    9/11
    Body
    Many of us have vivid memories of first hearing about the attack on the Twin Towers in New York City on this day in 2001. The attack also hit the Pentagon and there was a failed attempt to use United Airlines flight 93 in an additional strike. How much the world changed that day. Fear seems so much stronger in our world now. Yet we also believe that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). As we focus on our capacities for authentic love, fear loses its grip on our lives and our world.
    MON – 180910 – LP: Deliver us from evil
    Title
    Deliver us from evil
    Body
    In Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer the request to be saved from the time of trial is followed by, “and deliver us from evil”. This line is not in Luke’s version, which seems to preserve a more primitive form of the prayer, but it is found in the Didache’s version, which is contemporary with Matthew. Both date to around 100 CE. What are the evils from which we seek to be delivered this week? What do we fear most? Can we offer it to God, not just for deliverance—but also for redemption and transformation?
    SUN – 180909 – Today’s Gospel
    Title
    The feisty mother
    Body
    Today’s Gospel describes a foreign woman demanding that Jesus expand his concept of God’s love to include her sick daughter. It is an interesting story on so many levels as the outsider offers the insider a master class in compassion. The special prayer for our Eucharist today reflects the courage of this feisty mother: O God, whose word is life, and whose delight is to answer our cry: give us faith like that of the woman who refused to remain an outsider, so that we too may have the wit to argue and demand that our children be made whole, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
    SAT – 180908 – City of God
    Title
    City of God
    Body
    Daniel L. Schutte is an American songwriter whose work has enriched our repertoire of sacred music. One of his classic pieces is the song, “City of God”, whose refrain is a call to action: Let us build the city of God. May our tears be turned into dancing! For the Lord, our light and our love, has turned the night into day! Listen to the whole song by clicking on the web link.
    FRI – 180907 – Hymn
    Title
    Pray not for Arab or Jew
    Body
    This prayer written by a Palestinian Christian invites us to see people, and not enemies: Pray not for Arab or Jew, for Palestinian or Israeli, but pray rather for ourselves, that we may not divide them in our prayers, but keep them both together in our hearts.
    THR – 180806 Beatitude 5 – The merciful
    Title
    Beatitude 5
    Body
    In Matthew’s version of the Beatitudes, the fifth blessing is for the merciful: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7 NRSV) It is a sad index of the dynamics of modern life that this seems like a concept from another world. Our leaders aspire to be popular, powerful, strategic, successful, clever, tough, and strong. It seems that the focus groups have not alerted their minders to the value of compassion and mercy. What is a merciful person? For starters, this is someone who does not insist on their rights to the extent of causing harm to someone else. Even if they could. Even if they have the right to do so. This is not just a political concept. It also applies in our own intimate relationships and at the grassroots of our local communities.
    WED – 180905
    Title
    Save us from the time of trial
    Body
    In the traditional version of the Lord’s Prayer, the words “lead us not into temptation” were sometimes a cause of confusion. As the comic level, some young London ears heard this as “Lead us not into Thames Station”. On a more serious level, it seemed to suggest that God would entice us into some kind of trap, like a divine sting operation. Not the gospel in any sense. The modern version of this ancient prayer helpfully clarifies what this petition is about: Save us from the tough times! Our farmers know what that means, and so do journalists jailed by authoritarian regimes. This is a prayer for battlers: Be with us in the bad days. Better still, keep the bad days away from us!
    TUE – 180904
    Title
    And the point is …
    Body
    To be a solitary and self-sufficient figure—even if we could do that, which mostly we cannot—is to be lonely and pointless. To survive at all costs, might mean that we die without any meaning to our existence at all. The point of being alive is not to survive, but to serve. This was a theme to which Jesus and his first followers returned time and again. For more, see the sermon from last Sunday by clicking on the web link.
    MON – 180903
    Title
    The Martyrs of PNG
    Body
    Yesterday in church we commemorated the martyrs of Papua New Guinea. These 333 Christian non-combatants were killed by Japanese forces in PNG in 1942/43. They included Anglicans, Catholics, Lutherans, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventists and United Church people, both indigenous and expatriates. The Anglican missionaries had been told by their Bishop to remain with their people and not accept offers of evacuation by the Australian government. The others made similar choices. Their murders constituted one small atrocity among all the evils of the war, but their courage inspired decades of generosity and service. May we never forget them and may our lives always be spent for the sake of others.
    SUN – 180902
    Title
    Fathers’ Day
    Body
    From today’s intercessions at the Eucharist: We pray today for the health and wellbeing of families across this city and valley. Grant wisdom and strength to every man who is a father to someone else: fathers and grandfathers, husbands and friends, brothers and uncles.
    SAT – 180901
    Title
    Caim Prayer
    Body
    The ‘caim’ (circling) prayer involves our bodies in the act of praying. It can be especially helpful when words get in the way or it seems impossible to focus. Draw a circle around yourself using the right index finger as you offer this prayer, or imagine a circle wrapping around those for whom you seek God’s blessing. Here is one example of a caim prayer, which you can adapt as needed: Circle (name), Lord. Keep (comfort) near and (discouragement) afar. Keep (peace) within) and (turmoil) without. Amen. SOURCE: Celtic Daily Prayer from the Northumbria Community, 297

  • Morsels 2018 August

    An archive of previous “Daily Morsels” published on the Cathedral app. Please note that these versions of the messages are not formatted to reflect line breaks or separate paragraphs, as they are purely an archival set. They also tend not to have any embedded web links from the original Morsel. To receive these message direct to your mobile phone or tablet each day, please download the Cathedral app.

     

    FRI – 180831
    Title
    The God beyond words
    Body
    The following remark by Professor Kevin Hart of Virginia University, made during a recent podcast in the “On the Way” series from St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane, caught my attention: “When we stop trying to talk about God and we talk with God, God is there and we can talk with God. This paradox, it seems to me, is at the heart of the Christian life—and not just the Christian life, but the religious life—and is something we can never overcome.” Expertise is not required, just a willingness to open ourselves to the God beyond words. For the podcast, see the web link. For the context of this quote, go to 19 minutes and 30 seconds into the audio.
    THR – 180930
    Title
    One bread one body one humanity
    Body
    At Grafton Cathedral last Sunday morning the opening hymn was based on the earliest extant Eucharistic liturgy. It comes from an ancient Christian text known as the Didache, which was composed around 100 CE. The final verse paraphrased a couple of lines from the Didache which are now used in contemporary liturgies across many mainline church families: “As this broken bread was once many grains, which have been gathered together and made one bread: so may your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.” This is a vision of the church as gathered humanity: diverse and multicultural, yet one in Christ. At a time of rising nationalism and deepening trade wars, maybe such a vision is a gift that is both timely and of immense worth?
    WED – 180829
    Title
    Hungry and thirsty for justice (Beatitude 4)
    Body
    Beatitude #4 seems to be a good sequel to yesterday’s morsel on forgiveness of real world debts being a key to our own forgiveness by God. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5:6 NRSV) Am I hungry for justice? Am I thirty to see people treated right? Am I a student of Jesus?
    TUE – 180828
    Title
    Forgive as we forgive (Part Two)
    Body
    As we saw yesterday, the Lord’s Prayer turns out to have some radical ideas wrapped up inside those familiar words. Here is our key line again, from Luke’s version of the prayer: “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.” The second things to note from this petition is what we promise to forgive. When we say this prayer we undertake to forgive the real debts that people owe us, not just some emotional or spiritual pain they have caused us. Rural debt was crippling ordinary people in the time of Jesus and he links forgiveness of sins to a restructure of the economics of the day. Dare we entertain the idea that forgiveness of our own sins cannot be claimed until and unless we address the structural evils that grind people into poverty and destroy their lives? Who still wants to say this prayer now?
    MON – 180827
    Title
    Forgive as we forgive (Part One)
    Body
    The familiar Lord’s Prayer turns out to have some radical ideas. In a week when mutual forgiveness might be more needed than usual in our national affairs, let’s consider this line from the Our Father: “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.” I am deliberately using the form of this line from Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer as it is less religious than the version in Matthew and therefore probably closer to what Jesus would have said. There are two things to note in this, but we shall deal with just the first of them today: Forgiveness of our sins is not based on Jesus dying on the cross, but on our willingness to forgive others. Jesus teaches us to ask God—to dare God maybe—to treat us the way we treat others. Are we game to say that to God?
    SUN – 180826 (Refugee Sunday)
    Title
    Refugee Sunday 2018
    Body
    God bless our eyes so that we will recognise injustices. God bless our ears so that we will hear the cry of the stranger. God bless our mouths so that we will speak words of welcome to newcomers. God bless our shoulders so we will be able to bear the weight of struggling for justice. God bless our hands so that we can work together with all people to establish peace. Amen. SOURCE: Uniting Justice Australia and numerous websites
    SAT – 180825
    Title
    Lives that are holy and hearts that are true
    Body
    “Gather us in” is one of the most popular of the many contemporary worship songs composed by American Lutheran songwriter, Marty Haugen. The words of verse three have always resonated with me: “Here we will take the wine and the water, here we will take the bread of new birth, Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt for the earth. Give us to drink the wine of compassion, give us to eat the bread that is you; Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.” Ah to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true. That might even change the world!
    FRI -180824 – St Bartholomew
    Title
    Seeking wisdom first
    Body
    The Old Testament reading from last Sunday now seems very timely in light of the political chaos in Canberra. After Solomon succeeded his father (David) as king over Israel he has a dream in which God invites him to ask for anything he would like to have as begins his reign (see 1 Kings 3:5). Solomon asks for wisdom to govern well. The storyteller continues: “It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life …” (1Kings 3:10–13 NRSV) Do we have any Solomons in Canberra, or in Washington, or in Jerusalem …
    THR – 180823
    Title
    A Celtic prayer for the morning
    Body
    I will kindle my fire this morning in the presence of the holy angels of heaven; Without malice, without jealousy, without envy, without fear; without terror of anyone under the sun, but the Holy Son of God to shield me. God, kindle thou in my heart within a flame of love to my neighbour, to my foe, to my friend, to my kindred all; To the brave, to the coward, to the man in the street, O Son of the loveliest Mary, from the lowliest thing that lives to the Name that is highest of all. In the name of Christ, I pray. Amen!
    WED – 180822
    Title
    Beatitude 3
    Body
    The third beatitude found in Matthew 5:5 is not paralleled in any other early Christian text: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” Meekness is not a value we admire much these days, yet it lies close to the heart of the spiritual wisdom that Jesus embodied. Meekness was almost his defining attribute. We might get a handle on meekness by considering its opposite: impatient, assertive, overbearing. Spiritual wisdom is to cultivate patience, to moderate our assertiveness, and to cultivate the best interests of others. Blessed indeed are the meek. The future belongs to such people.
    TUE – 180821
    Title
    Tomorrow’s bread today
    Body
    The line in the Lord’s Prayer asking for the bread we need day by day, has a hidden surprise tucked inside. All three of the surviving ancient versions in Matthew, Luke and the Didache use a rare Greek word: epiousion. This word is so rare that it seems to have been created by whoever first translated the Lord’s Prayer from Aramaic into Greek. This word seems to have been derived from a more common Greek word (epiousei), which means “the next day” or simply “tomorrow”. So this line in the Lord’s Prayer is not simply asking for the bread we need each day, but at a deeper level is a request to experience each day the bread of tomorrow, the bread of God’s kingdom. This is how the line was translated in the Alternative Services Book published by the Church of England in 1980: “Give us today the bread of tomorrow …” That was too radical for most people in church, so Anglican prayer books reverted to the more familiar words. May we experience the blessings of the future right now, day by day, in our own life. Epiousion!
    MON – 1801820
    Title
    Do not be daunted
    Body
    Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it. [While often attributed to the Talmud, this is actually a paraphrase of Rabbi Rami Shapiro’s interpretive translation of Rabbi Tarfon’s work on the Pirke Avot 2 which is a commentary on Micah 6:8. See Rami Shapiro, “Wisdom of the Jewish Sages: A modern reading of Pirke Avot,” 41.]
    SUN – 180819 –
    Title
    Holy Sophia, Lady Wisdom
    Body
    The alternative first reading in today’s lectionary depicts Lady Wisdom setting a table and inviting people to come to her feast: “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” (Proverbs 9:5–6 NRSV) Each Sunday as Christians gather around the Table of Jesus we hear that invitation renewed: Come and eat; taste and see that the Lord is good.
    SAT – 180818 –
    Title
    Tikkun olam
    Body
    These two Hebrew words sum up a very important principle for Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The phrase means: “repairing the world”. This challenges those expressions of religion that focus on personal salvation, the forgiveness of sins or winning access to the afterlife. Tikkun olam invites us to hear the divine call to join with God in redeeming and repairing the world. It reflects the ancient wisdom of Micah: “… what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 NRSV)
    FRI – 180817 –
    Title
    Kingdom come
    Body
    The reign of God was at the very centre of Jesus’ mission and ministry. The Greek is often translated as “kingdom of God” but that is too static a concept. What Jesus intended was more like “reign of God” or “rule of God”; even “God’s empire”! According to Jesus, this dynamic sacred presence was coming and yet it was already present: among us, within us and between us. Jesus taught people to pray: “your kingdom come …” What a dangerous thing to do. What an exciting thing to seek: setting God loose in our lives and in our world. Everything will be different …
    THR – 180816 –
    Title
    What we sing we believe
    Body
    The songs of God’s people are a treasure trove of spiritual wisdom.
    About once a week our daily morsel will be one of the songs of faith; mostly new but occasionally ancient. Here is one of my favourite modern songs, perhaps because I especially like the portrayal of Jesus as the one who upsets religion.
    Praise with Joy the World’s Creator
    Praise with joy the world’s Creator, God of justice, love, and peace,
    Source and end of human knowledge, force of greatness without cease. Celebrate the Maker’s glory—pow’r to rescue and release.
    Praise the Son who feeds the hungry, frees the captive, finds the lost, Heals the sick, upsets religion, fearless both of fate and cost.
    Celebrate Christ’s constant presence—Friend and Stranger, Guest and Host.
    Praise the Spirit sent among us, liberating truth from pride,
    Forging bonds where race or gender, age or nation dare divide. Celebrate the Spirit’s treasure—foolishness none dare deride.
    Praise the Maker, Son, and Spirit, one God in community,
    Calling Christians to embody oneness and diversity.
    Thus the world shall yet believe, when shown Christ’s vibrant unity.
    [John L. Bell, b. 1949]
    WED – 180815 – Mary, mother of the Lord
    Title
    Mary, mother of the Lord
    Body
    Today is one of several holy days dedicated to the mother of Jesus who, until the restoration of Mary Magdalene to the Anglican calendar in 1928, was the only woman honoured with a “red letter” festival in Western Christianity. The cult of Mary flourished in medieval Europe and she is similarly venerated in the Eastern Churches. In both East and West the mother of Jesus is an ambivalent figure in a theological world dominated by patriarchal gods and male saints. The doctrine of the Assumption of Mary into heaven following her death is the youngest dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, only having been defined as recently as 1 November 1950. The historical Mary of Nazareth was a rather different character than the pious traditions that have clustered around her legacy. Mary was a peasant woman in a pioneer Jewish village with not much more than a dozen families. Having given birth to five sons and at least two daughters (Mark 6:3), she was doubtless a feisty woman who knew how to run the household with limited resources. As we peel away the devotional tinsel on this feast of Mary, we give thanks for the women in our lives: mothers and grandmothers, sisters and aunts, wives and daughters. Let’s honour the mother of Jesus by making our cities and our families safe places for women and girls, and eradicating the scourge of domestic violence.
    TUE – 180814 – Martyrs of the 20C
    Title
    Forge meaning, build identity
    Body
    The TED talk by Andrew Solomon seems like a good segue from yesterday’s morsel on the second beatitude: Blessed are they who mourn. Solomon says: “we don’t seek the painful experiences that hew our identities, but we seek our identities in the wake of painful experiences.” The comments of a friend who first alerted me to this TED talk sum it up: “Forging meaning is personal. Building identity is communal and enables us to change the world.” If you have 20 minutes to invest in serious personal growth, watch the TED talk by clicking on the link below.
    MON – 180813 – Jeremy Taylor, d. 1667
    Title
    Beatitude 2
    Body
    “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” [Matthew 5:4] The second Beatitude from the Sermon on the Mount strikes a dissonant chord. Happy (or blessed = to be congratulated) are those who are mourning some loss that has caused them to feel bereft. Really? Since when? How can such loss be—in any sense—a blessing, a source of deep happiness? Compensation in some afterlife is not going to make me feel blessed here as my life falls apart. How do we rescue meaning from tragedy, hope from despair, life from death? Can it be that in our moments of deep loss God is—or at least seems—closer? When something that we treasure is taken from us, one thing remains: God. Was God absent when Jesus hung on the cross? Some theologians say so. But I think not. Perhaps in his own extremity—as the loss of his own life engulfed him—Jesus found that God was not absent. The victim found deep comfort at the epicentre of his own loss. Sensing the divine presence even in our deepest loss might perhaps be the comfort that allows us to claim a blessing even in the midst of trauma. May it be so.
    SUN – 180812 – Pentecost 12B
    Title
    The future begins today
    Body
    Sunday. This is the first day of the week, even if our modern calendars tend to group Saturday and Sunday together as the “weekend” for convenience. It is still known to some people as “the Lord’s Day”. In ancient Jewish thinking the “day of the Lord” was a day when God and humanity met. It would never be a casual encounter. When we meet with God we come away changed. When God comes calling, it is not without consequences. It would be a day of judgment or a day of blessing. Never a dull moment, we might say. Like Jacob we might walk away from the encounter with a limp, carrying a wound that reminds us of the encounter with deep life itself. Just as scratches on an old family dining table bear witness to the many meals shared around its surface. Like Moses, we might walk away from the encounter alight with the divine radiance. In the opening book of the Bible, Sunday is the day when God begins to call the world into being with the creation of light. For Jesus, the first day of the week was the day of resurrection, when God called him beyond death to new life deep within God’s own self. May this day, this Sunday, be a day of encounter with the Holy Other. That encounter will leave us different than we were when our eyes closed last night. Let’s live into the new creation, the transformed life, that God invites us to embrace.
    SAT – 180811 – Clare of Assisi, d. 1252
    Title
    When the roses are in bloom
    Body
    One of my favourite legends about St Clare of Assisi (whose feast we observe today) celebrates the profound love between her and St Francis of Assisi. According to the story, as they were walking through a forest in winter Francis asks Clare whether she has heard what people are saying about them. Francis declares they must stop seeing each other for a period of time, but does not indicate how long this will be. When—after a period of strained silence—Clare asks when she will be able to see him again, Francis replies: “In the summer, when the roses bloom.” At once roses burst forth from the snow-covered bushes. Clare picks a bunch of the flowers and gives them to Francis. And they were never separated again. This legend celebrates a love that dances on the edge of social acceptance, and yet is affirmed as holy and good by God. May we have the courage to love adventurously, needing no approval beyond the response of the beloved and the blessing of heaven.
    FRI – 180810 – Laurence, deacon & martyr, d. 258
    Title
    Treasures of the church
    Body
    August 10 is the feast day for Laurence, a Deacon in the Church at Rome, who was killed for his faith on this day is 258 CE. A rich set of legends about the circumstances of his death soon developed. While these legends may have little basis in fact, they tell us a lot about what really mattered to people of faith some 1,760 years ago. In the legend, Laurence is promised his freedom if he will surrender the treasures of the church. Three days later at the agreed time for handing over the most valuable assets of the Church in Rome, Laurence arrived with a crowd of beggars, sick people and widows. These, he insisted, were the treasures of the Church. Laurence was promptly put to death, but his legend continues to resonate awkwardly in our churches who have so often disregarded the vulnerable and protected the privileged, as the recent Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has revealed so starkly. The true treasure, the treasure hidden in the field of our lives, are the broken and vulnerable who God entrusts to our care.
    THR – 180809 – Mary Sumner, d.1921
    Title
    Healthy families, healthy communities
    Body
    Today many people will be remembering with gratitude the work of Mary Sumner, who died on this day in 1921. She was the founder of the Mothers’ Union, a lay movement with a vision of a world where God’s love is shown through loving, respectful and flourishing relationships. There is no more important task and no more rewarding role than nurturing the spiritual capacities of our children and other family members. As a Cathedral community, we work with parents, godparents, grandparents and other members of the extended family to offer our children the best support as they grow in their knowledge, in their sense of connection with God, in their compassion for others and in their care for the fragile web of life. No matter our age or the ‘shape’ of our family, these are attributes we all need for everyday life.
    WED – 180808 – Now the green blade rises
    Title
    Love is come again
    Body
    The evocative hymn by John Crum (1872–1958) elaborates the saying of Jesus about a grain of wheat that falls into the ground, where it is transformed to become many grains. The first verse of the hymn reads: Now the green blade rises from the buried grain, Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain; Love lives again, that with the dead has been; Love is come again like wheat arising green. May our lives be places of transformation, renewal and resurrection. Love lives again!
    TUE – 180807 – Pearl of great price
    Title
    The priceless pearl
    Body
    Matthew 13:45–46 preserves the following parable of Jesus (also found in the Gospel of Thomas): “… the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” This is classic Jesus wisdom: edgy, exaggerated, impractical, but evocative. What is it about the wisdom that Jesus proclaims which makes us discard everything else of value in our lives for the sake of having this great treasure? What is this priceless pearl, the nugget of immense value, that we seek? Are we actively engaged in the search, or just hoping it might fall into our lap?
    MON – 180806 – Transfiguration / Hiroshima
    Title
    A world transfigured
    Body
    August 6. In the calendar of the western churches, today is observed as the feast of the transfiguration of Jesus. For many of us, the world itself was transfigured when the first atomic bomb was detonated over Hiroshima on this date in 1945. We glimpsed new possibilities, for good and evil, that day. In one sense we stepped out of the Iron Age and into the Nuclear Age in that moment of unparalleled destructive power. Most people alive now have never experienced the old world on the other side of Hiroshima. All of us need wisdom old and new to live faithfully in a strange new world on this side of Hiroshima.
    SUN – 180805 – Pentecost 11(B)
    Title
    Love, actually
    Body
    As any parent or grandparent knows, love matters more than anything else. How sad that many people of faith seem to think that having correct beliefs or acting in certain ways matters more than being loving. Yet last time I checked, the “new commandment” Jesus gave his followers was to love one another, not check each other’s beliefs or personal behaviours. And the two great commandments are: (1) love God, and (2) love other people. At Grafton Cathedral we reflect this ancient spiritual wisdom in our tag line: “open doors … open hearts … open minds …” In the end, it is all about love. What else matters?
    SAT – 180804 – Stillness
    Title
    Stillness
    Body
    The ancient Hebrew creation poem that we find at the opening pages of the Bible culminates with these words: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.” (Genesis 2:1–3 NRSV) Coming at the end of the seven momentous days, we might like to think of resting, of sabbath, as the ultimate point of creation, the deepest significance of existence. What matters most is not that we are active, but that we can be still: aware, mindful, reflective, conscious, alive, self-aware.
    FRI – 180803 – First Principles
    Title
    First principles
    Body
    The ancient Jewish prophet, Micah, gets to the heart of things with this classic piece of spiritual wisdom: “what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8 NRSV) Not bad as a personal mission statement?
    THR – 180802 – Beatitudes 1
    Title
    Beatitude 1
    Body
    The so-called Sermon on the Mount is an ancient Christian collection of the core teachings of Jesus. There is nothing here about sin and atonement, but a great deal about living in a simple and uncomplicated way. Those who live this way, according to Jesus, will possess the kingdom of God, or the reign of God. This is not a matter of status or power, but of knowing ourselves to be loved by God. Just as we are. At the beginning of the great Sermon is a version of the Beatitudes, a list of people who know deep blessing. Here is the first of those Beatitudes, first as preserved in the Gospel according to Matthew: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3 NRSV) Simplicity of spirit, and uncomplicated openness to God’s presence among us and within us, is a pathway to a life that is truly blessed.
    WED – 180801 – Our daily bread
    Title
    The first morsel
    Body
    “Give us today our daily bread.” This is one of the most loved lines in the Lord’s Prayer. It is also one of the most difficult lines of biblical Greek to translate, as can be seen by the variants in different versions of the prayer. What is this bread that I need each day? What sustains me on the journey? In what sense is this “bread” something I receive as a gift from God, from Life? I trust these daily morsels from Grafton Cathedral will be one of the ways that God provides you with the bread you need for each day. May Jesus be the bread of life for us … today and always.

  • Mindful worshippers

    mindfulness

    Prayerful Practices

    A checklist for mindful worshippers

     

    A checklist for prayerful practices to help us become more mindful as we engage intentionally with the spirit-work God that calls us to undertake during these 40 days of Lent, and at all times.

     

    When entering the Cathedral

    We are crossing a threshold, a liminal boundary between ‘outside’ and ‘in here’. You may want to acknowledge your entry into this house of prayer by making the sign of the cross, or offering a prayer such as this one attributed to St Francis of Assisi: We adore you, Lord Jesus Christ, here and in all your churches in the whole world, and we bless you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

     

    Stillness

    Sit quietly in your place, breathe gently and allow the silence to envelope you in its wings. It is good to be here. It is good to be me.

     

    Light a candle

    Lighting a votive candle is a way of being conscious of a person or a particular matter we wish to hold in God’s love. The candle keeps burning as we walk away, just as our prayers continue to surround the person for who we are praying.

     

    Stations of the Cross

    The Cathedral has a set of modern stations that commemorate different moments in the traditional procession from the palace of Pontius Pilate to the execution grounds at Golgotha. Walk quietly from one to another and reflect on Jesus’ own faithfulness to God’s call on his life, as well as contemporary people who suffer abuse of judicial authority, who see their children tortured and killed, who struggle with doubt and fear.

     

    The Gospel in Glass

    Get to know the windows of this Cathedral and pray for the families who donated them. Delight in the skill of the artist and reflect on the biblical texts or characters depicted in the glass.

     

    Memorial Plaques

    Take time to wander from one memorial plaque to another. Who are they commemorating? What a precious legacy we have here. AMDG Ad maiorem Dei gloriam. Indeed. To the greater glory of God.

     

    Organ preludes and postludes

    The visual art of the building and its installations is matched by the musical art that streams out from the organ, as quiet preludes before the service begins or as triumphant celebrations as the liturgy ends.

     

    Sing, choirs of angels

    The Cathedral choir offers a variety of musical pieces during the liturgy, from the Introit to the Mass Setting of the day to the Psalm and the anthems during Holy Communion. Enjoy being carried by the angels as the Choir leads us in our worship.

     

    During Holy Communion

    While waiting during the time that other people are receiving the sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood, call to mind those people and those situations in your own life, for which you are seeking a blessing in this most intimate moment of the liturgy.

     

    Pray the Pewsheet

    The weekly bulletin has lots of information, most of which can be pivotal moments for prayer and reflection. Notice the Mass Setting and the musical choices for the day. Pray for those listed as sick, for bereaved families, the recently departed, and those whose year’s mind occurs at this time. Do you know any of these people? How might you offer them care and support this week? For what do you give thanks to God as a result of the time you shared with them?

     

    Preview the Bible Readings

    Our lectionary provides us a with a three-year cycle of texts to challenge, encourage, inform and stretch us. Do you recognise the readings set for today? What memories do those passages stir for you? Are you reminded of another passage you want to read when you get home? Should you be sharing these readings with anyone else who might find them helpful?

     

    Pray the Hymns

    The hymnbook is a rich collection of religious poetry. Look up the hymns set for today and consider why they may have been chosen to complement the readings or today’s festival. Read quietly through the hymns and pause to reflect on the deep experience of God among us that these poems preserve.

     

    As you leave the Cathedral

    Another beautiful prayer attributed to St Francis of Assisi:

    Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
    where there is hatred, let me sow love;
    where there is injury, pardon;
    where there is doubt, faith;
    where there is despair, hope;
    where there is darkness, light;
    and where there is sadness, joy.
    Grant that I may not so much seek to be
    consoled as to console;
    to be understood, as to understand,
    to be loved as to love;
    for it is in giving that we receive,
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
    and it is in dying
    That we are born to eternal life.

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