During this brief liturgical season between Christmas and Lent, we’re invited to leave miraculous births and angel choirs behind, and seek the love, majesty, and power of God in seemingly mundane things. Rivers. Voices. Doves. Clouds.
In the Gospel stories we read during this season, God parts the curtain for brief, shimmering moments, allowing us to look beneath and beyond the ordinary surfaces of our lives, and catch glimpses of the extraordinary. Which is perhaps another way of describing the sacrament of baptism – one of the thin places where the ‘extraordinary’ of God’s grace blesses the ‘ordinary’ water we are baptized with. [For more … click on Title]
Category Archives: Reflections
Magical Knowledge
The Magi knew that Jesus was the chosen one. They who were kings’ advisers came to worship a new born baby lying in a manger in a stable, because they foresaw that his teachings would benefit all mankind. Would the millionaires who’ve just been launched to the edge of our atmosphere do that? They might.
[More … click on Title]
Anticipation
… that touching scene in Luke of the cousins meeting – Mary and Elizabeth – both now pregnant. Purposeful pregnancies of great and ultimate significance. John and Jesus, second cousins – cuzzie bros – will bring joy, perplexity, tragedy and, finally, triumph to their mothers. And for many down the centuries to now.
Elizabeth’s and Mary’s sons would both die turning the world upside down. [… for more, click on title]
Shock an’ Awe
But … to the main strike point: what about the offensive way John greeted the crowds when they came to see him?! “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance … The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down …”
Bit rough! Did he do this with every speaking engagement? Or just on this particular day that One News was there taking notes? Imagine if I’d started this reflection with, “You brood of vipers”! Even to make a point. For dramatic effect. You’d be shocked. … [For more, click on the title …]
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