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Homily
Lent 2, Year C
South Sydney Uniting Church
February 24, 2013

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35

‘The Fox and the Hen’

Today’s Gospel sees Jesus warned by Pharisees (in this case motivated by friendship) to flee from Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee and notorious bully. To which Jesus replies: “Go tell that fox, ‘Today and tomorrow, I’ll be casting out devils and healing people, and on the third day I’ll reach my goal …”, before adding: “I’ll … continue on my journey …” Let us reflect on the vigilant and courageous work of Jesus our Mother Hen. God be with you …

Homily by Rev. Elenie Poulos
Transfiguration Sunday, Year C
South Sydney Uniting Church
February 10, 2013

Exodus 34: 29-35; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3;12-4:2; Luke 9:28-36

‘Ghosts, Voices from Heaven and the Mission for Justice’

It’s good to be preaching this morning but I wish I’d paid more attention to the readings for the day before I set the date with Andrew. My heart sank when I realised this was Transfiguration Sunday.

The supernatural stuff in the Bible has always been a huge struggle for me. Give me stories of family betrayals, wars, outrageous affairs and gutsy prophets giving Israelites a serve for being idiots; or stories of Jesus behaving badly, challenging the religious and social conventions of his day, irritating religious and political leaders by not playing by the rules – I love those; Jesus wandering around the countryside preaching and telling weird stories and parables; even miraculous feedings, healings stories and exorcisms I can deal with, maybe because they are grounded literally and figuratively in the reality of people’s lives – sickness, hunger, death, poverty, fear and social exclusion.

Homily
Lent 1, Year C
South Sydney Uniting Church
February 17, 2013

Psalm 91; Romans 10:8b-13; Luke 4:1-13

‘Clarity and grit’

I invite you to have before you the artwork by Margaret Vazey. Margaret has been leading workshops in January and February – workshops towards a Stations of the Cross meditation in Holy Week. Three of the traditional 14 stations refer to Jesus falling. Margaret has suggested to the group that these might be understood to echo the three temptations of Christ: temptations to greed, power and popularity by way of sensational performance; temptations to individualism; temptations to reductive religion or fundamentalism. How do you hear the temptations? Jesus overcomes all three – in spite of the devil’s obvious biblical literacy. Jesus’ understanding of the scriptures deepens to self-understanding – in relationship with the One who promises refuge and strength (Psalm 91), Jesus trusts that the Spirit who leads him into the wilderness will also lead him out. “Adonai, my refuge and my mountain fortress; my God in whom I trust”, the psalmist sings – and Jesus learns (it’s a process, an ordeal) to trust this Spirit of God as a giver of clarity and grit. God be with you …

Homily
Epiphany 4, Year C
South Sydney Uniting Church
February 3, 2013

Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 4:21-30

‘The good news of acceptance’

This is a rich and wonderful Gospel text. This is a significant moment. Jesus is making clear just what he understands his ministry and life to be about – just what he understands the mission of God to be about. He does it with reference to a prophetic text (though not straightforwardly so). He does it with brevity, with the fearlessness of the psalmist who draws on the spirit of “true friendship” (I really like that translation by Patricia Stevenson); he does it without regard to popularity – yet with loving regard for all, even for those “filled with indignation” at his words. “There is no limit to love’s forebearance,” says St Paul, “to its trust, its hope, its power to endure. Love never fails …” God be with you …