Fifth Sunday of the Year

Today, in Luke we see ordinary and frail people making space for Jesus so as to make possible the occurrence of the unexpected and remarkable within daily life. The setting by the lake seems to be a place of central gathering with Jesus among them. An ordinary fisherman provides his boat for Jesus to use as a platform to share God’s word with Jesus first listening and then responding to the peoples’ desires and needs. Simon Peter played a key role in co-creating a space for the extraordinary to manifest itself in the ordinary.

26th January: A Day of Reflection

On 26th January 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip raised the Union Jack and proclaimed British sovereignty over the eastern part of the Australian continent. What historically started as a day to celebrate the founding of the British colony of New South Wales, January 26th has now become a day when most Australians celebrate national identity and unity. However, First Nations peoples perceive this celebration to be analogous to celebrating colonialism. First Nations peoples regard the 26th of January as Invasion Day, a Day of Mourning or Survival Day.

Fourth Sunday of the Year

It is rare for the readings seem to have a common theme. Love is the repeated message. Despite diverse expressions and different demands, it is constant and connected with justice: equity, peace, reconciliation and forgiveness. In Luke, Jesus was jump-started into action. Today’s gospel reading continues from last week with two diametrically opposed scenes in one narrative. The first is good news: Jesus reads the Isaiah scroll at the Nazareth synagogue. He preaches his first sermon and with one short verse announces: ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ The people assume that God’s blessings and liberation is coming their way: that these are exclusively for them.