Palm Sunday

There is little for our comfort if we really try to accompany Jesus on his journey towards the Cross. His life was always a way of the cross. There are two processions: the one with Jesus on a colt and accompanied by poor people, women, and other ‘outsiders’ proclaiming the Good News and of God’s Reign that is already amongst us. The other procession is that of Pilate representing Empire on a war horse accompanied by soldiers, the powerful and ‘insiders.’ Jesus comes with outcasts as a direct action against the occupying forces and the status quo. It is an in-your-face nonviolent mockery. We are asked which procession we choose to be part of. The kingdom of empire promises peace through weapons, military might, hoarding of resources and protection of the rich and powerful. 

Torres Strait and Pacific Islander community leaders have responded to the latest climate science report released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), highlighting that the urgent end of fossil fuel extraction, including the closure of all coal fired plants by 2040, is needed to ensure the survival of their homelands and cultures.

Fifth Sunday of Lent

This Gospel’s traditional title fixates on the woman’s wrongdoing leading preachers to focus on sex and sin and Jesus’s final exhortation, ‘From now on, do not sin anymore’ which misses the more insidious brokenness of a society and faith that would sacrifice a woman’s well-being to shore up the value of men and their power. Jesus words, ‘Go, and from now on do not sin anymore,’ has been weaponised by people wishing to condemn others, such as LGBT people or sex workers, to justify telling them how to live their lives. To isolate this line from the rest of the text means we lost the whole spirit of the gospel message about not judging and to offer each other mercy.