MESSAGE 24th March – PALM/PASSION SUNDAY – 24th March – YEAR B THEMES: The main theme that unites the Bible readings from Isaiah 50:4-9a, Philippians 2:5-11, and Mark 15:1-39 (40-47) for Palm and Passion Sunday of Holy Week is the portrayal of Jesus Christ as the suffering servant who obediently endures hardship and death for...
MESSAGE 17th March – 5th Sunday in LENT – YEAR B THEMES: Jeremiah 31.31-34 NEW RELATIONSHIP: Jeremiah speaks of a new covenant where God’s law is internalised, written on hearts rather than stone, signifying a personal and direct relationship with God. God will not just give them rules to follow but will help them understand...
MESSAGE 10th March – 4th Sunday in LENT – YEAR B Numbers 21.4-9 The meaning of this reading is that God loves us and wants us to trust and obey him, even when we face difficulties and challenges in our lives. God does not abandon us, but provides a way for us to be healed...
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. How blessed are we, that in our Christian faith we have so many symbols and signs that reveal the word broken open in our daily lives; constant reminders of God’s love and...
This week the readings remind us of the toughest part of responding to the call of Jesus. In the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “When Jesus calls a person to follow him, he calls that person to come and die.” The paradox of the Gospel that is highlighted this week, though, is that it is in...
THEME: The common theme of all of these readings for the first week in lent is God’s covenant and grace. These passages show how God establishes a covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising never to destroy the earth by a flood again. They also show how God guides and teaches his people, forgiving...
Once again Epiphany closes with the Transfiguration of Jesus – the turning point, the final affirmation, before Jesus set his sights on Jerusalem and the coming confrontation and sacrifice. The challenge of this week is for us to learn to recognise God’s glory – in Christ, but also in all people and all things. It...
The common theme of this week’s readings is God’s power and grace. These passages reveal that God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, who cares for his people and heals their wounds. They also show that God’s power and grace are manifested in different ways, such as through the ministry of Jesus, the preaching...
THEME: Living in Divine Author ity – POWER & PRESENCE “A Call to Embrace, Apply, and Fulfill the Mission of Jesus” The common theme of divine authority woven through Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 111, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, and Mark 1:21-28. As we unpack these passages, let us reflect on how we can apply the principles of...
The call to follow Christ continues this week, with Mark’s Gospel narrating the call of Peter, Andrew, James and John. But, along with this call comes a challenge to trust in God and not in the temporary, unreliable things of this world. In truth, unless we learn to trust God, and release our desire to...
