B105 – Repentence, Mercy, Call (Jonah 3 and Mark 1:14-20)
The book of Jonah is deceptively simple. It is often reduced to a children’s tale when, using the vehicle of humour, Jonah delivers challenging themes about the abundant mercy of God – mercy that sees not only our enemies blessed, but that we, like Jonah, might actually be the instrument of that blessing. Repentance, while…
Read MoreB104 – Advent 4 (Annunciation and Magnificat, Luke 1:26-38, 46-55)
Rev. Sharon Hollis, President-elect of the Uniting Church, joins the conversation for Advent 4. We discuss how Mary is portrayed as a prophet in Luke 1 and the surprising agency she has (for that time) in speaking her consent (1:26-38) and her song of praise and protest (1:46-55). Her particularity as a young Jewish girl…
Read MoreB103 – Advent 3 (Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Luke 1:46-55; John 1:6-8, 19-28)
Dr Angela Sawyer returns to speak about Isaiah 61, a passage that reflects the concerns of returned exiles, the difficulty of life under colonial rule, and hope in God reversing the fortunes of the marginalised. The alternate to the Psalm this week is Mary’s Magnificat, a song that continues these themes hundreds of years later.…
Read MoreB102 – Advent 2 (Isaiah 40:1-11; Mark 1:1-8)
Dr Angela Sawyer joins us to explore the tender and powerful image of God in Isaiah 40, as well as the cosmic and personal hope the end of exile represents to Israel. We talk about suffering and the yearning for freedom and fulfilment in Israel’s foundational story, and how it informs and shapes ours (communally).…
Read MoreB101 – Advent 1 (Isa 64:1-9; Mark 13:24-37)
The lectionary readings at the beginning of Advent invite us to ponder the inbreaking of God. What might it mean to live as watchful Christians, to raise our eyes above the fray and look for the presence of God in our world? We acknowledge that the cry for divine justice in Isaiah 64 is a…
Read MoreA155 – Reign of Christ (Ezek 34; Ps 100; Matt 25:31-46)
On the last week of the lectionary year, Fran and Robyn delve into the way the reign of God is described in these readings. Ezekiel 34:11-24 imagines God as a shepherd who protects the sheep, unlike the priests Ezekiel condemns as having failed as leaders. Matthew presents the Son of Man as a judge who…
Read MoreA154 – Pentecost 24 (Judges 4:1-7; Psalm 123; Matthew 25: 14-30)
This week is the only chance in the RCL to preach on the book of Judges, specifically on a section about Deborah, the only female of the 6 judges named. We are joined by Monica Melanchthon, who talks about the importance of preaching from Judges, both in spite of its difficult, violent themes, and because…
Read MoreA153 – Pentecost 23 (Josh 24, 1 Thess 4, Matt 25:1-13)
This week preachers are invited to think about taking the opportunity to talk about resurrection and what happens at “the end” through the parable of the ten wedding attendants in Matthew (25:1-13), which is a way to talk about entrance into the future kingdom of heaven, or Paul’s assurance to the Thessalonians (1 Thess 4:13-18)…
Read MoreA152 – All Saints / Pentecost 22 (1 John 3; Rev 7; Matt 23:1-12)
Rev. Dr. Sunny Chen joins us for a conversation about the Greek words for love, resurrection promises, preaching for All Saints (All Souls) day, and Christian leadership. The All Saints readings discussed are: 1 John 3:1-3, Revelation 7:19-17, and Matt 5:1-12. Those following the regular Sunday passages can hear a discussion of the Matthew 23…
Read MoreA151 – Pentecost 21 (Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 90; 1 Thess 2; Matt 22:34-46)
Rev Dev Anandarajan joins us for a conversation about Moses’ humble leadership in the story of his death in Deut 32. Moses is not heard bargaining with God over not getting into the promised land. The story stresses, instead, the centrality of the journey of obedience for a people ‘on the way’. Dev explores psalm…
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