Epiphany 2 - An ill wind is blowing?

Reflection for Second Sunday of Epiphany – the baptism of the Lord

“His winnowing fork is in his hand the clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” Luke 3:17

I’m watching the remnant of Cyclone Seth buffet tree branches early in the week with a new appreciation after learning how ancient Eastern harvesting practices used a judicious amount of good wind to separate wheat seeds from stalks.

First of all, the gathered grain from a variety of fields was placed on a large and open space – the threshing floor - usually located on or near a hill. Cattle were then yoked together and led over the grain, their hooves crushing the stalks which released the seeds.

The mixture was then winnowed – using a large hand-held fork. The mixture was tossed up into the air where the wind did its work. The lighter chaff was usually blown away, followed by the straw. The heavier seeds, the wheat grain, fell back down again to the floor.

This process was repeated again and again until the wind blew little of the air-borne mixture away. This final mixture on the threshing floor contained three levels – the bottom rich in seeds, the second straw and the top layer chaff. Final separation of the three levels was done by hand sieving.

The straw could be used further. The remaining chaff was of no use and was disposed of by burning.

On the surface, it would appear that John’s description of the work of the Messiah to the gathered Israelites in Luke’s gospel sounds more like a warning than good news of the kingdom of God being close at hand.

“He will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire.” Luke 3:16c

But he was foretelling of the Holy Spirit, the wind that would be blowing through God’s gathered people coming for baptism, cleansing and purifying with a final fire. And the end result was a closeness to God – the gathering of the wheat into his barn.

Treasured precious seed.

As the weeks and the Omicron strain progress we may feel like we are being buffeted by an ill wind that continually changes. In this truly unsettling time we hold onto the promise of God who is faithful and who has promised that in our baptism in Christ Jesus we are the most treasured seed, called to grow and spread the good news that no matter what happens God is truly with us all.

So we hold on to this promise, sisters and brothers in Christ. And pray for all people who call Australia home as we negotiate the new reality we face.

Blessings

Ceri

Epiphany - What Shall We Bring?

Epiphany – What Shall We Bring?

In our church calendar, the Christmas Season lasts for 12 days – from December 25th until the evening of January 5th. You may remember the song – ‘On the Twelve Days of Christmas My True Love Gave to Me…..’

January 6th is the start of a new church season – the season of Epiphany – and is marked by the scriptural appearance of the Magi, or wise men:

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’                     Matthew 2:1-2

Strangers, non-Jews (gentiles in biblical speak), responding to the rising of a star, travelling from a long distance, arriving at last in the city of Jerusalem. Their eagerness to see the child whose star had led them on the journey so evident in their approach to one who they believed would know the exact location of this miraculous child.

King Herod.

With hindsight we may not think that the men were particularly wise in the ways of power – Herod is truly frightened by their request and, I imagine, worried of a challenger to his own power base.

But indeed, the men were right. Herod did know – once he consulted his own leaders and the prophets of old – Bethlehem was the answer. And we read further of the wise men’s overwhelming joy at the arrival at the house where Mary and Jesus are living, followed by kneeling and paying homage with the offering of gifts from their treasure-chests – gold, frankincense and myrrh.

In some cultures, the Epiphany is called the ‘Little Christmas’. And the gift giving – to children – does not happen until the 6th of January in remembrance of the story of the wise men. The 25th of December is the day that families get together to share a meal and attend a church service.

I’m sure that in our own culture, there could be much salivating over the thought of being able to introduce another ‘Christmas’ into the consumer calendar – (remember how seamlessly American’s Black Friday sales appeared in Australia a few years ago).  Or maybe the opposite – try telling people (especially little ones) that they have to wait another 12 days for presents!

Hmmmmm…..we might shudder at either possibility!

However, for Christ followers, the scriptural appearance of the wise men makes us glad in our hearts that strangers welcomed Jesus into the world where rejection and cruelty would lurk in the wings.

And reminds us that, as well as our prayers for healing and wholeness for ourselves and others, we are also to bring our own gifts to God through Christ.

What are we to bring? Praise and giving thanks, we are told, are a great start!

Blessings

Ceri

Advent 4 - Elizabeth's Words

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!...As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”

Luke 1:42,44

On the fourth Sunday in Advent we read from Luke’s gospel these beautiful words from one expectant mother to another - cousins: From Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptist to Mary, mother of Jesus of Nazareth.

Elizabeth’s words were incorporated into prayer early in Christian practice – the Angelus Prayer – which was accompanied by the ringing of a church bell in a set pattern. This was done for many centuries three times a day – morning, noon, and evening. For many workers, the evening Angelus marked the end of the day’s work. And maybe sparked a moment of thanks for work and a restful evening. Such a prayerful attitude beautifully immortalised in the painting by Jean-François Millet (1857-1859).

We also, at Milton Anglican, ring the Angelus at the start of our Sunday worship. If you live in the immediate vicinity, you may hear it sometimes. And while it may not make us leap with joy, it is a call for us as Christ followers to give thanks and a reminder of who we are – people of God and blessed through figures such as Elizabeth and Mary.

Lord Jesus, light of the world,

blessed is Gabriel, who brought good news;

blessed is Mary, your mother and ours.

Bless your Church preparing for Christmas;

and bless us your children, who long for your coming. Amen

Advent 3 - What should we do then?

“John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance…”What should we do then?’ the crowd asked.” Luke 3:7, 8a, 10

On the 3rd Sunday in Advent we typically light a candle symbolizing joy.

Which can appear to be rather a hollow gesture when we read this week of the pontiff visiting the Mavrovouni camp on the island of Lesbos, where over 2000 asylum-seekers live. Upon listening to the stories of those who live in these camps, Pope Francis discarded his prepared speech to rebuke the European countries who are contemplating building large walls to stop refugees entering their countries.

In an echo of John the Baptist scathing comment to the crowds that gather around him, the pontiff described the neglect of refugees as ‘the shipwreck of civilisation’ and that Europe is entering ‘the era of walls and barbed wire.’

And of course we have walls and barbed wire aplenty in Australia too, and many impediments to people seeking asylum in our country.

So, like the crowd in Luke’s gospel, confronted by John the Baptist, we may well ask:

What should we do then? On a day when we dare to speak of joy?

The joy we dare to speak of is not a joy that ignores the plight of all that are vulnerable, of the misery that engulfs so many who are victims of political powermongering.

It is a joy in the return of Christ, the light of the world, who calls us and empowers us “to overcome the paralysis of fear, the indifference that kills, the cynical disregard that nonchalantly condemns to death those on the fringes,’ in the words of Pope Francis.

So we light the candle of joy this Sunday, reminded of our call in particular to welcome those who come to this beautiful land seeking refuge.

For those who would like to help locally, visit Romero Mercy Community and Baroona Farm Milton.

Blessings

Ceri