WHERE ARE WE GOING? Australia Day and Epiphany 3 25th 01 2026

 2026  01  25  Epiphany 3 plus Australia Day.

Deuteronomy 8:5-14 – AUS DAY

Isaiah 9:1-4     Psalm 27:1, 4-9      1 Corinthians 1:10-18      Matthew 4:12-23

 

I have some questions to ask; Do you know where you are going…? Do you know where you’ve been?  Today we ponder the lives of some fishermen, who, as Jewish men, were connected to a great history of faith, but whose lives had an eternal destiny and an impact that would cause their names to be known by most of the world for all generations to come.  These men were called by Jesus and they could have said, “No”, but instead there, “Yes” was so enthusiastic that they immediately left their form life and followed Jesus. 

 

These questions about history and future are good things to think about at the start of a new year.  Do you see where you’ve been and do you know where you are going?  As we gather on Australia Day weekend we can reflect on these questions for our country.    Our country has a history - a story, and our country has a faith story.  God, most certainly, has a vision for our nation. 

 

In 1606 Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, a Portuguese explorer sailing for Spain, claimed Australia as the "Great Southland of the Holy Spirit".  He thought he was on Australia, but was actually on Vanuatu.  Never the less, he claimed the surrounding lands, stretching to the South Pole, as "Tierra Australis del Espíritu Santo" (The Great South Land of the Holy Spirit).  I guess if Pedro had stuck around we might all be speaking Spanish.  But he left and others came.  Obviously, this is just one tiny part of our Country’s story. 

 

We, as the children of God, reflect on the past with an understanding that we have a responsibility and call as God’s children, to be stewards in our country and to intercede – pray and take action, so that it has a good future.  We always have the free will to answer that call or not.  But learn from the Ancient Israelites who chose not to answer that call – they were taken into exile and scattered so that for many years there was no nation. 

 

Last week we saw that St. Peter received a new identity.  Through his call from God he became Peter, but he had been Simon.  Through his interaction with Jesus, we reflected on our own identity and how we might be Simon-ish – or Niki-ish, but we are called to be something more.  Through our baptism, God’s hand is on us, just as it was on Simon, who became Peter – Rock solid in his understanding of who he was in God.  

 

Last week we pondered, “Who am I?”  This week, now that we know we have an identity in God, we focus on the next part of our great adventure in faith – “Where am I going”?    - in other words; our calling.

 

We are in the season of Epiphany, the season where it is realized that Jesus came, not just for the Jew, but also for the Non-Jew – or Gentile.  This is highlighted in our readings today, by the fact that Jesus left where he was ministering and went to “Galilee of the Gentiles”.  This fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says…  ‘”… He will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations”  - of the nations refers to the Gentiles.

 

In the time of Jesus, Galilee was a place where there were Jewish towns, but also many Gentile towns.  It was ethnically diverse.  Both in the prophecy and in the actions of Jesus ministering in Galilee, God revealed that He is concerned for everyone.  Jesus showed that God’s gifts and calling were not just for the chosen nation, but through that chosen nation, all nations would be blessed.

 

All nations will be blessed.  That includes the nation of Australia.  The scripture verse from Deuteronomy says;  “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills;”.  The verse is speaking to the Israelites when God was about to bring them into their land, promised to them by God.  It was a good land, and it was a gift from God.  But there was an exhortation to remember God; “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.  Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.”

 

Every nation will be blessed because the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross is for everyone.  His exhortation to love our neighbours as ourselves and his call to live following his example of sacrificial love is the way to a society that would be Heaven on earth – but we are still falling short… very short.  Thankfully God is gracious to us still.  St. Paul also encourages all to “play nice”, when he tells the church, “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you but that you be knit together in the same mind and the same purpose.”

 

The same mind and the same purpose….  Sounds like pie in the sky.  Yet it is to this we are called.   Mother Theresa is famous for saying, “Today, if we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other–that man, that woman, that child is my brother or my sister. If everyone could see the image of God in his neighbour, do you think we would still need tanks and generals?”

 

The same mind and the same purpose to which we are called is our calling in Christ.  It is the mind and purpose of Christ with which we need to become acquainted…. More than merely acquainted!  Saint Paul talks about the divisions in the church where some follow Peter and some Paul etc…  much like the divisions within our denominations, unfortunately not much has changed in 2000 years.

 

We will always have differences, and those differences are actually good.  The scriptures tell us that the Holy Spirit teaches us.  There will be differences because WE are all different – but these things should not divide us.  We all belong to God.  We all need to seek the mind and the purpose of God.  To this purpose we are called.

 

Last week we read about the first disciples who went to follow Jesus.  They sought Jesus out.  The interactions were personal and we were told of the interaction where Simon became Peter.  The interaction caused Peter to understand something new – something of his identity in God.  This week we have a later account that emphasises that Jesus, who already knew them personally, sought out and called these men to a specific purpose.  These men already knew Jesus.  They already identified with him.  Now they were called by him to be about his business.  To do this, was not like getting a job description and hopping to it.  To do the work of Jesus they would need to have his mind and purpose.  We too are called to know that we have an identity in God.  And we too are called to have the mind of Christ and be about His purpose.

 

I am, you are… we are Australian!  But what is our purpose here?  No matter who we are and where we come from, there is a much deeper connection between us all, when we know, as Mother Theresa says, that we belong to each other.  And of course, the reason that we belong to each other is because we belong to God.  We are the children of God and as such, we are called by him to have his mind and be about His purpose.

 

We are one, but we are many.  There is a music term called harmony where two or more different notes are played at the same time, and it makes a beautiful sound.  This is the best example of the freedom we have in Christ and yet the one-ness.  God didn’t make us to be clones, but in all our differences and uniqueness we ARE all called to have HIS mind and be about HIS purpose.    

It isn’t just the fishermen who were given a calling.  We too are called, but we too have free will.  What of our country?  There is a calling for our country also.  Whether it is for our own personal life, our family, our town, state or country, Jesus calls us to follow him.  Not just on Sunday or in our spare time.  Come and follow me…. Leave your nets – Those fishermen didn’t stop being fishermen, but they left them to follow Jesus.  Jesus is first and foremost.  We are all called to leave our nets in the same way and follow Jesus.  Through him this world was made.  Where are you going?  The message from Jesus this day is to Leave your nets and, first and foremost, follow Him who is the life, the truth and the way. 

What's in a name.... What's in a call...?? Epiphany 2A 18th Jan 2026

2026  01  18  Epiphany 2

Isaiah 49.1-7 Psalm 40.1-14 1 Corinthians 1.1-9 John 1.29-42

 

Who am I?  Is this something you’ve ever pondered?  As I look at the modern trends where absolutely everything is encouraged to be questioned, especially among our young people, I’m not in any way surprised by the rise of mental health issues and depression.

 

Research confirms that the issue of identity is at the core of the rise in depression, and certainly, a lack of a sense of identity is linked to an increased risk and severity of depression.

 

I strongly believe the solution is here in understanding who God is and what is our identity in Christ.  We plan to study this more, this year in our Bible study, but this week’s readings also have something to say about identity.  Sometimes it might appear somewhat mysterious, but let’s look at it and discover what God says about us.

 

Before we do; my little aside is that; we can develop a sense of identity apart from God, but I believe that all apart from God is arbitrary and fallible.  When we lose our health, for example, or financial status etc… we can lose our sense of identity.  However, when we know who we are in God – nothing can sway or change that identity.

 

Therefore, here is some really great news, and it starts right from our first reading where the prophet Isaiah makes it clear that God knows us and has a call on our lives from before we were born.  There is identity 101!   

 

Isaiah’s prophecy is a typical prophecy in that there are numerous levels of meaning.  The word of God is sometimes described as being like a multi-faceted diamond, with multiple facets of fulfilment.  Isaiah’s prophecy is talking about the Messiah, but at some points it is also talking about Isaiah himself.  Then we notice that the prophecy is speaking of the nation of Israel.  As we learn about how God is so involved in the lives of his nation and His people, Israel, we glimpse that God also personally knew each of us and calls us each to his purpose as well.

 

What do you want?  What do you want from God?  John the Baptist had testified that Jesus was the Lamb of God – a somewhat mysterious statement indicating a lot from a Jewish perspective.  They knew that it was a lamb – a perfect lamb that was used to sacrifice for the forgiveness of sin.  The lamb of God indicated the sacrifice that Jesus would make to take away sin.  Some of those who followed John turned to follow Jesus.  Why?  What did they want?  Jesus asked them this question and they answered with another question, “Where are you staying?”  By asking this they were saying that they wanted to be his students.  These men were so committed to the Kingdom of God that they were willing to go and stay with Jesus so that they could learn about God.

 

To be a disciple means to be a learner.  This is what was happening here.  We are also disciples of Jesus, we are learners.  The learners stayed where Jesus stayed because that was the way to learn from a Rabbi.  They didn’t just learn from what he said, but they learnt from all that he did.  They learnt or aimed to learn to do all that he did.  This is how we are meant to be as followers of Christ also.

 

What’s in a name?  This week we are introduced to Saint Peter, but he wasn’t always known by that name.  He was simply, Simon.  

 

Jesus looks at Simon and then does something that we, English speaking readers miss.  In our English version the text says, “you are Simon, son of John.”  In the Hebrew Jesus addresses him as, “Simon, bar- Jonah.   As I was reading the text it struck me as an odd way to address Simon, therefore I did a little research.  Do you recall anyone else named Jonah?  Jonah was called to preach to the Ninevites and he tried to run away.  In doing so he boarded a ship and a great storm arose, which immediately stopped when Jonah was thrown into the sea.  Jonah was then swallowed by a whale and then spat up on the beach.  The incident is a prophecy of Jesus’ three days in the belly of the earth.  In the Gospel of Matthew, 12:39 Jesus says, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign. Yet no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah,”.   When Jesus refers to Peter with his full name, he is prophetically connecting him to the sign of Jonah, indicating that Peter will see this sign.  

 

But what about this change from Simon to Peter?  What is in a name?

 

“Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me….” Well, I might suggest, we all know that names and labels can hurt – but they can hurt a whole lot less when we have a name that is sure and connected with our destiny….  Our destiny, which is a hope and a future, such as a future that God secures for us.  Evidence of this we see in all of those in the early church.  In reflection, I suspect, we in the present day church have lost this edge… this courage and conviction…. Perhaps we also need a name change…  we are simon-ish.

 

The name, Simon, is often theologically connected with being a reed and swayed in the breeze according to which ever way it blows.  However, the name Simon is more accurately defined as being heard or listening.   Perhaps too much is made of what Simon does or does not mean.  The important aspect of our reading today is that, from an encounter with Jesus, Simon is given a new name, and his destiny becomes connected with the call of God on his life.

 

In the book of Revelation there is a mysterious verse about names. Revelation 2:17says this ;  “… To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.” 

 

When we are born and named by our family, it shows us and all who witness it that we belong.  We have a history and a future associated with our name.  At our Baptism, especially if we were baptised as an infant, the name our family have given us is stated and we are named and claimed as also belonging to God.  This is a prophetic sign of what God does…. He names us and claims us. 

 

Last week we heard that God the father said to Jesus, “This is my beloved, in whom I’m well pleased”.  Jesus was claimed as the Son of God.  We noted that the baptism of Jesus wasn’t for the forgiveness of sins, but a commitment to the kingdom of God.  However, we are baptised into Jesus, through whom we do have our sins forgiven.  He is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.  Through our baptism we identify with Jesus.  It is in our baptism that we die with Christ and rise with Christ.  When God the father looks at us he sees his perfect son.  A new name that we all receive from God is the name “Jesus”. 

 

The name of “Jesus” for each of us, means that we are clothed in Christ.  The sacrifice of Jesus atones for sin and cleanses us.  St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians addresses a people who are described as being sanctified in Christ.  By Christ we are cleansed and made holy.  This is what sanctified means.  This is what it means to call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and to receive his name.

 

An important difference in the Baptism of John and the Baptism of Jesus is that John testifies that he, John, baptises with water so that Jesus, the Messiah might be revealed.  He goes on to explain that Jesus will baptise with the Holy Spirit.  The baptism that Jesus gives, baptising into or with the Holy Spirit is far superior.  It is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that sanctifies us.  It is through the Holy Spirit ever with us, that we even now have eternal life.

 

Jesus gives us his name and all who believe in him become the children of God.  We are forever connected to God and we are grafted into the family of faith – grafted into the family of Abraham – grafted into Israel – saved by the Lion of Judah.  Being part of this family gives us a deep, deep connection with the past.  Our story is connection with the creation of the universe.  Through the sacrifice of Jesus, the good news of salvation, we are assured of a glorious future.  We are called and chosen right now.  God knew us and called us from the time we were in our mother’s womb.  We have a purpose in the present.  This is a place of identity that is rock solid.  I guess, to some extent, we are all called from being Simon to grow into the future and become Peter – Rock solid in the certainty of who we are in God.

 

We all need a Simon/ Peter encounter with God.   In this name change, Peter is connected with all the great people of the Bible who God called and altered their name.  None of them were without fault or even became perfect, but their lives would never be the same, as they were forever committed to walking with God, connected to the call and love of God.

The Baptism of Jesus - 11th Jan 2026

2026  01  11 Baptism of our Lord Year A

• Isaiah 42:1-9    Psalm 29   Acts 10:34-43   Matthew 3:13-17

What do you imagine when you hear about John the Baptist?  His whole life was so invested in baptizing people that he became known as, “John the Baptist”.   He called people to repent, for the Kingdom of God was at hand.  John knew that the Kingdom of God was at hand because his own birth was a miracle, surrounded by miracles and he was filled with the Holy Spirit while he was still in his mother’s womb and it was him, as an unborn babe, that leapt for joy while still in his mother’s womb, when Mary greeted his mother, Elizabeth.   John knew that the Kingdom of God – the coming time of the Messiah was here.  His job was to prepare the way, and he did this by telling people, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”. 

 

In our culture, “Repent” is generally understood to mean, “be remorseful and sorry for your sin, turn to God and dramatically change your life”.   Although this can happen, it isn’t exactly the original understanding.  For a start, it is important to understand that John could not forgive anyone their sins.  Being baptized by John, did not mean having your sins washed away – he did not have that power – no one did – or does.  The only way to have sins forgiven was for Jesus to be crucified and pay the spiritual price for sin.  There is no other way.

 

It seems cruel that Jesus had to die for us, and we don’t fully understand how it all works, but we are told by scripture that because we have all fallen by turning from God, God respects our choice and our free will, and it means that we are no longer belonging to God.  Originally, when God created mankind, we had an eternal Spirit.  But it was connected to God – and the connection was broken by turning away from God.  The spiritual price for sin is death –– not just physical death, but spiritual death It wasn’t so much a punishment, but simply a consequence.  The only one who could redeem us – pay the price and restore us, was Jesus, who was God and without sin, paying for us- Dying for us.

 

So, it is important that we keep in mind that these people who were coming to John, responding to his message, were not going away cleansed of their sin.  What was happening was that they were responding to John’s message that the Kingdom of God was imminent – and they were committing themselves to be part of that Kingdom.  In order to be part of the Kingdom, they stepped down into the river, figuratively out of the darkness and into the light and into the promises of God.  The word, “Repent”, means “Change your mind/heart”.  

 

Jesus came to John to be baptized and from our perspective we think, why would Jesus need to repent of his sin?  Jesus didn’t have any sin in him, as we know, yet what was happening here is that Jesus was also making a commitment to step into the Kingdom of God.   It was a public declaration that he was committed to the Kingdom of God.  From that time on, Jesus’ life was to take on an even more focused direction.  He had come to us to achieve a purpose, and by this baptism, he confirmed his direction and showed all his intention. 

 

An important aspect that we might miss in these readings is that in Matthew 3:17, where we read, “this is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”,  it is actually the same quote as the famous Isaiah reading that we began with today, which says; “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.”  Slightly different words, but the same message.  This is an absolute confirmation that Jesus is the Messiah.  Jesus is the one who was promised and prophesied about all those hundreds of years before he was born. 

 

At the Baptism of Jesus, God was making some things abundantly clear.  At the time, perhaps it was only glimpsed that God’s hand was on him, but when we understand that God’s message, at that time was re-stating his word to Isaiah, we can look at Isaiah’s message and know some more about Jesus and his role as Messiah.  Following on from last week’s celebration of the Epiphany, which celebrate’s that God’s salvation is for all the people, that the Messiah was to come to save the Gentile – or non Jew as well, this first sentence from Isaiah also confirms that this was God’s intent from the beginning.  Note that phrase, “for all the nations”.  It means for all the Gentile – non Jew people.  In the original language; the Messiah (or Christ) brings divine “Mishpat”  - which is God’s justice or righteousness to the “Goyim”, meaning Gentiles or nations.

 

Isaiah’s prophecy tells us, “a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.”  When Jesus began his ministry, he did not seem to be dimly lit or a bruised reed….  But then he was crucified.  It wasn’t the end because he rose from the dead, being witnessed by more than 500 people, we are told elsewhere in the Bible.  Jesus, in his life, death and resurrection accomplished God’s justice and righteousness.  He lived a life perfectly in complete submission to God and that role was only complete by being obedient all the way through his suffering of the whips, false accusations, and finally the nails and death on the cross.  Through all this, he completely submitted obediently to God’s will. 

 

We believe in one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  That one baptism is Christ’s baptism into all the sin of the world which he bore on the cross.  He identified with us and took it all to the cross.  When we are baptised, we identify with Jesus and accept his making us righteous – right in God’s eyes…. He brings justice to the world because justice demanded that we pay for our disobedience to God, and Jesus paid that price for us.

 

Our baptism is different to the baptism that those people experienced who were baptised by John.  They responded to his message and committed to setting their hearts on God, but they couldn’t be forgiven for their sins.  Our baptism is greater, because we are baptised into Jesus.  Through our baptism we are also called to repent, just as they were, and set our hearts on God, but our baptism is about being identified with Christ.  The scriptures talk about being clothed in Christ.  Through our baptism we take on the identity of Christ.  Through that identity alone, we are cleansed from sin.  St. Peter tells us in our reading; “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."   St. John’s Gospel spells it out, that through that identity, all who did receive Jesus Christ, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God!  Through our baptism, which is our commitment to continue to identify with Christ, we become “Born of the Spirit”…  We receive something new – the Spirit of God…. The Holy Spirit.  God lives in you and me, and that Holy Spirit brings us to life spiritually.   Without the intervention of Jesus there was a part of us that was not alive…. Our spirit.  It died in the garden of Eden, and since then it is only through God’s gift, that we can have eternal life.  Jesus brought us that life and our eternal life begins from that moment that we identify with him.  

 

Life is still hard.  But we continue to identify with Jesus because through him we have eternal life and that life is absolutely secure.  John the Baptist became known as such because he committed his life to his role in God’s plan.  We are also called to a new identity in Christ.  Are we so committed to that new identity that people know us as belonging to Christ?  We are called to be so…  called to be doing the good works that Jesus wants done in this world.  We are human and always fall short, but rest assured, because we identify with Jesus, even though we are far from perfect, God the father sees us and says of us, “This is my beloved, of whom I am well pleased.”

Lord, we need an Epiphany! Feast of the Epiphany 4th Jan 2026

2026   04 -  Epiphany Year A

·        Isaiah 60:1-6  Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14  Ephesians 3:1-12   Matthew 2:1-12

 

I feel like today’s readings are good ones to pray through.  Especially the Psalm; “Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king's son.  May he judge your people with righteousness and your poor with justice.  May the mountains yield prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness.  May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor.”  Leading in difficult times needs prayer support.

 

That word JUSTICE is an important one.  When we are wronged, we cry out for justice.  When we have done wrong, we cry out for mercy.  Fortunately, our God is both and He is the King that we need.  At Christmas, this is the kind of King who was born and placed in the manger.  This is the kind of King that Jesus is – he is a King of Justice, and he is an advocate for the poor and the vulnerable.  He is both – Just and merciful.

 

We start our readings with a glorious prophecy; “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.  For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.  Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”   Notice that we are continuing this theme of light and darkness – the theme of Advent and Christmas where the light of the world stepped down into darkness.  In particular, notice that it is a thick darkness covering the peoples.  This “word from God” was a prophecy for the Israelite people of that time, also for the coming time of the Messiah and it is for Christ’s coming again.  It is NOW a prophecy for you and me! The people are covered in thick darkness – They can’t comprehend the Good News or see it -   BUT ARISE!  We are people of the light and the nations need this light.

 

In the days of Isaiah the prophet, the Jews were constantly being oppressed by the nations around them, and then, they were under Roman rule at the time of Christ’s birth.  The prophecy acknowledges that there is a darkness, but the hope declared by the prophecy is that the LORD will arise and then Nations shall come to the light… 

 

Gold and Frankincense and myrrh; gifts from the visit of the Magi, represents the nations that came to honour Christ, and those Magi were a sign of Gods plan – the mystery, now revealed, is that Christ came for all people – not just the Jew.  The honour given by the Magi showed what was to come with the message of the Gospel coming to all the world, where Christ would be honoured by many. 

 

These Magi were wise men from the East, looking for "the child who was born king of the Jews. They observed his star in the east and came to pay him homage.  These learned men saw a particular star and knew what it meant, yet Jesus’ own people missed it.  How did the Magi know to even look for Jesus, and why was it so important to them?

 

It is believed that the Magi were people who studied the stars.  How they knew to look for the “King of the Jews” is a mystery that is most likely solved when we realize a little of the Jewish history. The King of Babylon rose up to power in about 605 BC, and took the King of Judah into exile.  He also ordered that some of the Israelites from the royal family and nobility to come into his service  - particularly he was looking for the best and brightest, and in doing so, Daniel – the same Daniel who wrote the Book of Daniel in our Bible, was brought in to serve the king.  Daniel proved to be quite brilliant and was put in charge of the other wise men, and the wise men were known as Magi.

 

Daniel was not only brilliant, but he was a prophet, and God gave him details about just when the Messiah would come and even when the Messiah would die. Most of us would look at the prophecy and scratch our head.  However, after the King of Babylon fell, the area was controlled by the Persians.  It is believed that Daniel and the Persians and probably other nations also, all studied and shared learnings together.  This means that the prophecy about the Messiah was known to the “wise men” the Magi, and it is assumed that the knowledge was passed down through the years to other Magi.

 

The Magi knew a lot, but not everything.  They noticed a star.  Many have surmised what this could have been and have suggested such things as supernovas, comets or conjunctions.  Apparently, there were some rare astronomical occurrences around the time of Jesus birth, but we really can’t know for sure, what the Magi were noticing.  We do know, that whatever it was, it is led them to journey to find the Messiah.

 

The Jewish experts were well acquainted with the prophecies about the Messiah, and they were able to tell Herod and the Magi exactly where the Messiah would be born.  They quoted from the prophet Micah, 5:2, “'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

 

Bethlehem was a town that belonged to the tribe of Judah and was the birthplace of King David, the great King described as being a man after God’s own heart, who wrote most of the psalms, and who was the ancestor of Jesus…. Coincidently, Bethlehem means “house of bread” – and Jesus said, “I am the bread of Life”.

 

Here is the thing that is really quite significant; these non-Jewish outsiders, went out of their way to seek for Jesus, but his own people, who also knew the prophecy and the times, and then had this extra information from the Magi, seemed to miss it.   

 

The Magi travelled to find Jesus.  It was revealed to them that this was no ordinary baby.  This was the Messiah, and they gave Frankincense, signifying the deity of Jesus.  They knew the prophecy and that the Messiah would die, and they gave Myrrh, the ointment for embalming.  They also knew that this was the King of the Jews, and they brought the gift you give a king – gold.

 

The online dictionary gives two definitions for Epiphany:  1- the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi  - outsiders – non Jews.

2. - a moment of sudden and great revelation or realization.

We celebrate this feast of the Epiphany as the revelation – the epiphany- that Jesus came as messiah and saviour for ALL people - including the Gentiles.  That is, salvation is for the Jew and the non–Jew.  In other words, Jesus came for them – and us.  From the nation of Israel, God gives His greatest gift…  a frail baby is born who is Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace… Jesus.

 

In the letter to the Ephesians, we read; “the gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”  And we are told that this was God’s plan all along.   Galatians 3:28 makes it very clear, as it says;  ^“ There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”.  In Jesus, there is true equality, and we are united through him – part of the one body.

 

The Jewish people were seen as a separate people who were particular about things like what they ate and keeping holy the sabbath.  These people were (and mostly still are) waiting for the promised Messiah.  Although be sure to note that first Christian church was the Jewish people.  Traditionally they believed that the Messiah was someone who would set them free and put all things right.  They didn’t realize that He would do this for everyone who calls on his name.  Even the disciples of Jesus didn’t completely understand what Jesus was to accomplish.  It was written in the Old Testament, in the book of Genesis; Genesis 12:3: "and in you (speaking of Abraham) all the families of the earth shall be blessed". It was always the plan of God to bring all people into his family.

 

We are told in the letter to the Ephesians that this inclusion of all, this joining of the Jew and the Gentile into one body, is a witness to the spiritual powers and authorities as to the wisdom of God.  Is it any wonder that this unity is constantly being attacked.  The Jew and the Gentile (non-Jew)….  The male and the female… the slave and the free…  All one through the sacrifice of Jesus who has died to redeem both the one and the other.

 

Many Jews, at the time of Jesus birth, death and resurrection, missed that he was the Messiah.  This shows us that you can know all the prophecies and stories and pray to God and yet miss something as significant as this!  What is it that makes the difference?  Why did those outsiders respond, when Jesus own people missed it?  Beyond any shadow of a doubt, we need an epiphany. 

 

We might be able to tell all the stories of Jesus and know all the history of the story of Christianity, but does it touch our hearts.  Does it light up our whole being and bring us to a such a point of aliveness that people wonder at our difference?  This is what the epiphany of God achieves.  Regardless of what we do and what we know about God – we need an Epiphany … a realization that God is talking to us personally.  A realization that he is not just the Messiah, but that he is “MY Messiah” – “My Jesus” – “My God” – and I’m his child.  To know Jesus as the one who came for you personally… to really and truly know this to the extent that we understand his love like St. John who refers to himself in the Gospel, as “the one that Jesus loved”.

 

Those Magi made it a priority to seek for the Messiah.  They put their lives on hold to find him.  And they found him.  God wants to be found.  God wants to show us his love.  The Magi were warned in a dream to go home by another road, and they obeyed.  God spoke to them.  We also need to be familiar with the voice of God, and we need to be obedient to the voice of God.  More than anything, even though we are followers of God and may have previously had an epiphany, we need to live in the reality of that Epiphany, or experience Epiphany again –  the Epiphany being that God loves us.. personally.  As we enter this new year, lets continue to seek God.  Let’s chase after him with all our strength…. and in doing so, may we all know his great love for us.

Obedience to God is to Protect Life Christmas 1A 28th December 2025

 Christmas 1 A  28^th December 2025

• Isaiah 63:7-9     Psalm 148      Hebrews 2:10-18       Matthew 2:13-23

The world is changing and this Christmas was tainted by the darkness.  Christmas is the “Light coming into the dark of our world.  Themes of light and dark, always a part of Advent and Christmas, seemed to take on more meaning this year, knowing that our Jewish community were experiencing such darkness.  One week after the terror, instead of hiding away in the darkness of fear, people came out, and there was a proclamation of the God’s light – which is what Hannukah is – and I ponder   coincident that we, in such close time proximity - at Christmas, celebrate the light of the world, stepping down into our darkness.  Instead of an event that had a few thousand people celebrating Hannukah, the ceremony was attended by something like 20 thousand and televised. It takes courage to stand up and be faithful to God when the darkness is great. 

 

In our readings this week, we discover that the troubles that Mary and Joseph had faced prior to the birth of Christ, was only just the beginning of the difficulties they would face.  Jesus was born and there was the highlight of God’s Angels proclaiming the birth to the shepherds and the whole buzz around from those who had heard the news, but now Herod was on the war path. 

 

For our story today we jump ahead to the time after the visit from the Magi – the wise men from the east who followed the star looking for the King of the Jews.  Joseph again is visited in a dream, by an Angel.  He is warned to flee to Egypt.  The way that the story reads, it appears that he woke in the night, and the family left straight away.

 

Have you ever wondered how Herod fitted into the Jewish story and why he was king?  Herod, as far as belief was concerned, was nominally Jewish.  He was an Edomite through his father and Arabian through his mother.  The Edomites were descendants of Abraham and his son Isaac.  Isaac had twin sons, Esau and Jacob.  Jacob became Israel and the descendants of Esau were the Edomites.  Isreal was under Roman rule and Herod was appointed by Rome, as the King of the Jews.

 

It is documented that Herod was incredibly ambitious and held on to his position by killing anyone who was a threat.  This included some of his own children and one of his many wives.  Although it seems incredible that Herod would kill his own children, I’m reminded that I heard a podcast that suggested some of the fairytales that speak of jealous step-mothers, were actually originally written based on fact, about jealous mothers, who were known to mis-treat and even poison children who posed a threat to them.   One thing is very sure, our values for the sanctity of life and our value of treating others as we might like to be treated ourselves… these are not values that are shared by all.  They have come from the Jewish linage of faith and they have come from the Gospel.  This is also something that struck me as I listened to the Jewish reflection ceremony.  The speakers talked about spreading the light.  They talked about treating others as we would like to be treated.  The 14 year old, Chaya, who was shot while protecting children who she didn’t even know, did so because that is what you do for others.   You protect their life, even though you don’t know them.

 

Chaya, and the Jewish community, reminded me of who we Christians are supposed to be.  And it causes me to ponder; Our society also used to value the sanctity of life.  Our society’s values are built on the values of Christianity….or at least they were built on the values of Christianity – and as we’ve been reminded recently; those values came from the Jewish religion.  Those values come from God.  Toward the end of the day of reflection, after hearing from survivors and commemorating those who were taken, the menorah was lit.  This is important for our readings today, because the Menorah is a sign of the presence of God.  In the temple of ancient time, the menorah was to remain lit at all times.  This was so that the people could look at it and know that God’s presence was with them.

 

Today in our first reading we note that Isaiah says; “in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and pity it was he who redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.”  It may have been an Angel that appeared to Joseph and it was Isaiah, a messenger, who proclaimed God’s message to the people of his time.  These were God’s agents who helped by proclaiming   God’s word - who were vital, but Isaiah is clear – It is the presence of God that saved them.  God Saves!  The name Jesus is “God Saves” – which we’ve also noted in the last couple of weeks.

 

Jesus is the presence of God.  We are saved by Jesus, who redeems us.  “Redeem” is one of those old words that we might hear so often that we often forget what it means.  It was a term used for setting free those in slavery.  It was used in other ways too, but always about paying a price and restoring to a wholesome position.   Jesus, through his life, death and resurrection, has redeemed us all.  We all belonged to God, but all of us at some point choose to do our own thing – go astray – sin.   When we do this, we are making the same mistake as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  God respects our choice and we no longer belong to him.  The spiritual price for this choice is death – not just physical death, but separation from God for all eternity.

 

We read in our letter to the Hebrews; “Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death.”  Unwittingly, by turning our backs on God, we belong to the devil.  Jesus redeems us…. Buys us back.   We always have free will and to accept this gift or not – we are completely free to choose.  Just like Joseph was free to choose.  He could have woken up and said, “No – I will stay here.  I’m comfortable here.”  Joseph and Mary chose to be obedient to Christ and it saved their life… and the life of the baby Jesus.  Being obedient to God brings life to ALL.   Mary and Joseph being obedient to God means that we can ALL be redeemed by Jesus and brought into the family of God.  The actions of Mary and Joseph had life changing consequences.  But you know what?  We all are called to be obedient to God.  All of our obedience will bear fruit that will impact eternity.

 

The 14 year old Australian Jewish girl, Chaya, felt God say to her, “Go, protect those children”.  She said she knew that God was with her and this was her call.  She knew she could be killed, but she knew that God called her to do this thing.  Mary and Joseph travelling to Egypt was not necessarily safe.  This time they were journeying with a little one.  I don’t know exactly what the journey entailed and we are not told, but I can only imagine the anxiety of trying to get far enough away without drawing attention from those who could alert Herod.

 

In our own calling from God, we may face danger or even be injured like Chaya was.  Many others will probably not understand why we do what we do.  We might be the oddities in our nation who strive to preserve the sanctity of life, protecting the life of those we don’t even know, all because we know, we are ALL so precious to God.  We might find ourselves worn out because we are being obedient to God’s call.  Others might say that we are doing the wrong thing in “feeding the poor, protecting the vulnerable, the elderly and unborn, caring for the injured, or the intoxicated on the streets”…  wearing ourselves out etc…  But we know that God has called us, and we may well be injured along the way – sometimes by the well-meaning friends who don’t understand that this IS God’s call– but we know that we are called.  This call is not an easy one, but we remember that we ourselves are save by God.  We know the love of God and that he desperately wants to reach out to others with his love that he can only show through us – his body on earth.  Through His Holy Spirit God’s presence is always with us… It is him who saves us for eternity. 

How can we today, be like Joseph, answering God’s call and actively protecting God’s Word so that God’s salvation can come to all?

Christmas 2025 WHO IS HE? Who IS he to you?

Christmas sermon 2025

Isaiah 9:2-7    Psalm 96   Titus 2:11-14     Luke 2:1-14 (15-20)

 

Two thousand and twenty-five years ago, something happened that radically altered the future of the world.  The year we are in, is 2025, but two thousand and twenty-five years ago isn’t when time began.  So, what is it that happened that was considered so important that the whole of the world came to mark time since that point?

 

It is about two thousand and twenty-five years since the birth of Jesus as a baby in Bethlehem.  How far back can you trace your ancestry?  I know my grandmother, her mother and I think one or two generations before that, and pretty similar on by father’s side.  Jesus was born into a family that could trace their linage back to King David – who was the most famous and good King of the Israelites. …  and then he could trace back much further than that. 

 

Just who is this baby Jesus that we hear about?  Did you know that Santa Clause, whose real name is Saint Nicholas actually ended up in a little bother because he slapped someone for claiming something untrue about Jesus?  St. Nicholas was a Bishop, and he attended a meeting in the year 325 AD to talk about the nature of Christ.  A man by the name of Arius said things that were contradictory to what the scriptures tell us about Christ and St. Nicholas got so angry that he slapped him.  St. Nicholas was then thrown in jail for doing so.

 

Who IS Jesus?  Still celebrating his birth 2025 years later, it is clear that something about him is pretty important.  In fact, our eternal life depends on him.

When Jesus was born there appeared a particular star in the sky.  This star was an indication to the wise men, who studied things like this sign in the sky, and the ancient prophecies, that this was the one the prophecies talked about– the true King of the Jews… the descendant of King David… the anointed one – the saviour – the one prophesied by the prophet Daniel. 

 

When Jesus was born, it was such an important event that Angels appeared to some shepherds in the field and told them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David (that is Bethlehem) a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.   This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”   Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”  Can you imagine being there?  Can you imagine being one of the shepherds?

 

The birth of Jesus was significant because of who Jesus is. 

Throughout the many years before the birth of Jesus, there were many prophecies about the Saviour that God would send, and there were many titles given to him, such as, Messiah – meaning anointed one, and this is the same as Christ – Messiah is Hebrew language and Christ is Greek.  Another title is, THE WORD.  But some of my favourite titles are the ones we hear about at Christmas time in our readings from the Prophet Isaiah.  He calls him Immanuel – which means, “God with us”.   He calls Jesus, Prince of Peace – which tells us about Jesus’ role in bringing peace between mankind and God, by his death on the cross, as does some of his other titles, such as, REDEEMER and LAMB OF GOD.  Isaiah also calls him WONDERFUL COUNSELOR – which tells us of the divine wisdom of Jesus.  But my favourite titles that tell us about who Jesus really is, are MIGHTY GOD, and EVERLASTING FATHER.

 

The prophet, Isaiah, lived about 700 years before Jesus was born and this is what he said about him; (Isaiah 9:6) “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

 

Two thousand and twenty-five years ago a baby was born in a stable  - Jesus.  But Jesus was more than an ordinary baby.  Jesus was more than a great man who suffered and died.  Jesus was and is mighty God, everlasting Father.  At Christmas, we celebrate that God did something that we can’t even understand - Out of love for us he became human and was born as a baby in a stable. It’s incomprehensible!

 

There are no words that I can use to portray the magnitude of this event.  But the Holy Spirit says, “God Loves YOU”!!  Only because of the great love of God, would God do this.  As a parent you might imagine what you would do to save your child… well this is the heart of God for us.

 

Two thousand and twenty-five years ago Jesus was born.  It was as though heaven was torn open and for a while a piece of heaven was born in a manger…. But even that image doesn’t do justice to the majesty of the occasion.  Songs try to capture it and they cry, O holy night…  Jesus, Lord at thy birth. 

 

We celebrate an event in history – the birth of Jesus, but today should not be about history and “Ghost of Christmas past” – We celebrate to proclaim that Jesus is LORD.  He is Mighty God and Everlasting Father… He IS these things – it is presence tense.  Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead – he is living forever and so as we recall His birth, what is our response?  Jesus, Lord at thy birth, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – Mighty God.  Let him be the King of your heart.  The LORD of your life.  YOU – because he loves you - YOU are the reason that he came.