Tag Archives: Year of Matthew
Sermon: Being compassionately cheerful, or cheerfully compassionate
compassion is a gift. To care so deeply for the pain of the world that we suffer with those who suffer is a privilege. It means that we are fully human. It means that our heart and soul are congruent with our mind and body. It means that we have not been conformed to this age or to a world that tells us we should only care about ourselves and those closest to us. It means that we are imitating Jesus, who was also moved with compassion for suffering humanity. Continue reading
Sermon: Jesus the first-century Jewish man
Rather than believing that he had been sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, the risen Christ knew that he had been sent to all nations. I would argue that today’s encounter with the Canaanite woman was an important stage on the path that led to Christian inclusion and universalism. Continue reading
Sermon: We tried to kill him; he survived; let’s eat!
A phrase often used to describe Jewish festivals is ‘they tried to kill us; we survived; let’s eat!’ and certainly Passover, which celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery after ‘a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph’ (Exodus 1:8), would fit that pattern. But here at the beginning of the Israelites’ time in Egypt, it is the Egyptians and Joseph, who now has an Egyptian name, an Egyptian wife, and who dresses like an Egyptian (Genesis 41:41-45), who save them from dying in a famine, after Israel’s ten sons have acted as villains. If there were to be a festival to celebrate this occasion, its theme would be: ‘we tried to kill Joseph; he survived and is now feeding us; let’s eat!’ That has a slightly different ring. Continue reading
Combined Pentecost Service with Koonung Heights
today’s gospel story tells us that we have been commissioned by Jesus to publicly meddle. This often takes courage. There are always going to be people who, when Christians speak out for love and justice, will sneer and accuse us of being filled with the new wine of wowserism, do-gooding, or wokeness. We have seen how the current President of the United States, for instance, has responded to the Pope speaking up for peace. Continue reading
Sermon: Why persecution does not work on Christians
Sermon: The futility of war and the peace of Christ
Reflection for North Balwyn Uniting Church Easter 4, 26 April 2026 1 Peter 2:19-25 John 10:1-10 ‘When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but he entrusted himself to the one who … Continue reading
Sermon: The God of Israel? The God of the USA? The Father of Jesus Christ is the God of the whole world and all creation.
We do know that Jesus’ interpretation to them of the things that had been written about himself in all the scriptures would show them that he was the one to redeem Israel, but in another way entirely. Jesus was not merely ‘a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,’ although he was that. He is the Messiah who suffers and enters his glory. The crucifixion was not a tragic mistake, but a sign of God’s love. God’s power is not shown in violence against the nations; in the crucifixion God does not redeem Israel alone but the whole creation. Continue reading
Sermon: Jesus’ advantage over Genghis Khan
We are followers of Jesus Christ, not Genghis Khan, and we know that evil can never finally and fully defeat good, no matter what temporary victories it may seem to win. So let the church with gladness hymns of triumph sing, for the Lord is living, death has lost its sting! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Continue reading
Sermon: Was Jesus a violent or a peaceful protester?
The role of those buying and selling in the temple was necessary and natural. Worshippers needed to change money with the head of the Roman emperor on it for money without it to make offerings; the poor and lepers and women needed to buy doves to be sacrificed. More than that, the entire economy of Jerusalem depended on pilgrims coming to the temple at festivals and spending their money in the city. Modern politicians know that nothing can get the people offside faster than a cost-of-living crisis; that it is always ‘the economy, stupid,’ to quote Bill Clinton’s campaign. Jesus is challenging the religious and economic status quo. Within the week, those who found the status quo comfortable fought back. Continue reading
Rev Doc Geek 