Prepare to climb - advent series

For me, the readings of this Sunday are filled with a sense of journey and anticipation. It’s the first day of advent coming up and we can learn a lot about how we’re meant to posture ourselves from the 3 readings this Sunday. In Isaiah, the prophet has this incredible vision of all people from all nations journeying up a huge mountain to the Temple of God, to hear his Word and to follow him. From there peace will come upon everyone in all lands and nations to the point that they beat their weapons of war into peaceful tools for farming! As Christians this text has a deeper meaning, because we have a new Temple of God, we have a Prince of Peace named Jesus - and this season is like our mountain-climbing journey to him at Christmas.

 So we’ve gotta be ready for this journey, but how? If you wanted to go on a hike up a mountain, there are some things you have to think about before you head off. I actually really enjoy packing a bag for a journey like that, you leave behind all the stuff you’ve accumulated over the years and only take the essentials of what you’ll need. This is kind of what the second reading and the Gospel are making sure we’ve done as we prepare for this journey to Jesus.  Have we left behind the junk in our lives? Have we kicked the bad habits and removed the nasty parts of our lives? Have we made peace with the people who hurt us or who we’ve hurt? It’s so important we prepare ourselves in anticipation of the coming of Jesus at Christmas, and also for his second coming. Are you ready?

"Let us then throw off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light"

This Sunday's scripture readings:
ISAIAH 2:1-5 | PSALM 122 | ROMANS 13:11-14 | MATTHEW 24:37-44

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COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN: MAKIN’ SANDWICHES
COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN: MAKIN’ SANDWICHES

“Walking up the mountain is way harder!”

These words might be ringing in your ears from the final talk as you walk down from the mountain top experience of Ignite Conference. You may have already faced challenges these past few weeks. You might feel alone. You could be doubting your experience…and don’t those old habits and relationships that are no longer compatible with this new way of life look attractive?! I said that the people who told you life would be difficult when you walk down the mountain were lying… you may be thinking that I was the one who lied to you.

Navigating the Valley
Navigating the Valley

‘Let my soul cry out, You’re the one I want/ Living God it’s You’. Do you remember the chorus of Emmanuel Worship’s anthem ‘Cry Out’ echoing through the Kirkwood Hall of QCCC Mapleton throughout Summer Camp 2024? With over 200 young people coming together from January 11 – 14 to praise, what better place is there on earth to witness Jesus working in yourself and those around you?

Coming Down The Mountain
Coming Down The Mountain

You may feel as though you are “coming down the mountain” from Ignite Conference 2023, and are perhaps disheartened and worried about how you’ll continue to keep this spark alive in your heart as you enter back into reality. That’s fair- it’s not easy to share our experience of Christ with our school friends, work colleagues, and sometimes even our family, but let me encourage you to see the opportunity that God places before you in this time. 

Divine Mercy Sunday - Reflection
Divine Mercy Sunday - Reflection

It's easy to be critical when reading Scripture. I cringe when Adam and Eve break the one rule God gives them. The Israelites are so consistently hopeless and just can't seem to get it right. For me, more than any other example, it is really, truly, incredibly easy to be critical of Thomas in today's Gospel.

4th Sunday of Lent - Reflection
4th Sunday of Lent - Reflection

Maybe that’s why Lent is a good time to read this famous story. Maybe we have to go from recognising ourselves in the righteous older brother, to recognising ourselves in the humbled, down on his knees younger one. The ‘ministry of reconciliation’ that St Paul talks about in the second reading is for US. We need to forgive those we have grudges against. We need the Father to help us drop our guard if we’re going to enter into the party of heaven.

3rd Sunday of Lent - Reflection
3rd Sunday of Lent - Reflection

A personal favourite of mine is John 4, the Woman at the Well. It’s a classic verse most people have heard before, am I right? But rarely is time spent reflecting deeper. But, I would vouch it’s worth spending the time reflecting on what else Jesus was saying.

2nd Sunday of Lent - Reflection
2nd Sunday of Lent - Reflection

I relate to Peter so much, so often in the Gospels (for obvious reasons) but in this passage when he says, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters,” it is so human, he has seen Jesus in all his Glory and he doesn’t want it to stop, he wants to sit there, in a very real way he doesn’t want to come down from the mountain.

1st Sunday of Lent - Reflection
1st Sunday of Lent - Reflection

The thing I find hardest about Lent is once I've decided what I'll give up, is sticking to the plan. Nothing looks quite as appealing as that chocolate you've decided not to eat. Suddenly, there are 100 reasons why using Social Media is an essential activity or why fasting won't work today for whatever reason. All of this resides within my very comfortable life and minor Lenten penances.

8th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Reflection
8th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Reflection

Over in the gospel, when Jesus says “how can a blind man lead a blind man”, he’s talking to you and me! ‘Cos how often do we do just that? That’s why, as Jesus says, we should listen to the teachers/mentors in our lives and not presume we know better than they do. Humility is the beginning of wisdom!

7th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Reflection
7th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Reflection

Ask yourself, who are other people in your life? Is there someone at school, at work, in your street, or on your sporting team that you haven’t spoken with before? When you treat others as you would want to be treated, it becomes a lot easier to not judge or condemn others, to forgive others and to love your enemies.

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