The Beatitudes are not a list of things you must get right but an insight into Jesus' radically different view of the world of of people

Australia Day. It's complicated. Except that, according to Matthew 25, its really not

At our place on Sunday we had a service made up entirely of music. Classical, roots, Jazz and more. So, it was only right that the sermon should be music too. This is Water Into Wine by Bruce Cockburn. It is an interpretation in music of Jesus' first miracle in the Gospel of John where he turned water into wine at a wedding. 

Why was Jesus baptised? There are all kinds of ways into this question. Here is one

Luke's Gospel tells the Christmas story with Mary and shepherds, Matthew's Gospel tells it with Joseph and wise visitors. John's Gospel begins the Christmas story with the word logos... 

Matthew is telling us about a whole different kind of power in his ending to the Christmas story 

The three wise men.Were they men? Probably. Were there three? who knows? Were they wise? Let's see.

Joseph is a bit player in the Jesus story except at the very beginning. It is his decision to listen to his dream and rethink how to experience what looked for all the world like disaster that changed everything.

Mary's song and John the Baptist's question from prison are both readings for this week. An Advent of hope and doubt. An Advent of possibility.

John the Baptist calls us to repent. Why? Because the world is changing. How? by letting go and clearing stuff out. A good idea just before Christmas!