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The Power of the Parable - The Lure of Parabolic History
The Power of the Parable - The Lure of Parabolic History
by SPCK - John Dominic Crossan
The Lure of Parabolic History Caesar At The Rubicon We no longer know the exact course of the ancient Rubicon, let alone the exact spot where Julius Caesar crossed it. Yet, from then to now, “crossing the Rubicon” has been a cliché for passing the point of no return in an endeavo…
Monologue/Reflection: A year to remember
Monologue/Reflection: A year to remember
by Marjorie Dobson
Monologue/Reflection: A year to remember It was a year to remember. The fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Roman rule and very unpopular. That man Pontius Pilate was in charge of us. Nobody trusted him and he probably didn’t trust himself. It’s rumoured that his wife…
Reflection: Samaritan believers
Reflection: Samaritan believers
by Marjorie Dobson
Reflection: Samaritan believers …? It must have been a shock, hearing that Samaritans had accepted the word of God. They were the ancient enemies. Their territory was treated as a foreign land. The dispute between their two factions had been bitter and long-standing. There was do…
LWPT Meditations - Third Sunday of Advent - Year C
LWPT Meditations - Third Sunday of Advent - Year C
by Susan Thorne
Meditation – Third Sunday of Advent Year C Zephaniah 3: 14-20 Isaiah 12: 2-6 Philippians 4: 4-7 Luke 3: 7-18 It is often the case that in prophesying about the fall of Jerusalem, the exile in Babylon, and the restoration of the people of Israel to their homeland, the prophets fin…
Imagine now in your mind’s eye,
Imagine now in your mind’s eye,
by Andrew Pratt
Imagine now in your mind’s eye, a sky with clouds, light shining through, a river shimmers in the sun, a crowd is coming into view. A prophet stands within the surge, the waters rolling smoothly by, and one by one the people hear, and one by one they catch John’s eye. Verses 2-3 …
LWPT Meditations - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Year C
LWPT Meditations - Fourth Sunday of Advent - Year C
by Susan Thorne
Meditation - 4th Sunday of Advent Year C Micah 5: 2-5a Luke 1: 46b-55 Hebrews 10: 5-10 Luke 1: 39-45 The coming of Jesus, the awaited Messiah, was the fulfilment of a multitude of prophecies. Long ages before his birth in Bethlehem, God inspired his prophets to proclaim, sometime…
Psalms for Everyone - The Secret of Life
Psalms for Everyone - The Secret of Life
by SPCK - John Goldingay
The Secret of Life Psalm 16 As a result of a routine physical exam I was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Quite likely it would not develop into something actually life-threatening before I died of something else, and I might have decided to do nothing about it, but the d…
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The First Sunday of Epiphany Year C
Lectionary Reflection Year C - The First Sunday of Epiphany Year C
by SPCK - Jane Williams
The First Sunday of Epiphany Isaiah 43.1–7 Acts 8.14–17 Luke 3.15–17, 21–2 The first three Gospels all have the story of Jesus’ baptism by John in very similar words. John’s version of events, as so often, is slightly different – you might like to go and have a look at it in John…
The crisis had come, now they had to decide
The crisis had come, now they had to decide
by Andrew Pratt
The crisis had come, now they had to decide, to grasp what was safe, or to go with the tide. For Jesus was calling, and what would they say, would their actions say 'yes' or their words ring out 'nay'? He said, 'follow, follow, come on follow me, leave your nets and your lifestyl…
the greatest prayer - Our Father in Heaven
the greatest prayer - Our Father in Heaven
by SPCK - John Dominic Crossan
2 Our Father in Heaven Our Father which art in heaven . . . Our Father in heaven . . . Matthew 6:9, NRSV Her name was Babatha and she lived in Maoza, on the southern tip of Israel’s Dead Sea coast. She was illiterate, wealthy, and financially very competent, moving easily within …
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The ox in the Temple and the stall
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The ox in the Temple and the stall
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
The ox in the Temple and the stall Infancy and beginnings, Luke 1—4.13 Since the ox was the universal beast of burden, it is not surprising that Luke stresses the universal importance of Jesus. We have seen that the opening words of any ancient text were crucial. If Mark is not c…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Literary approaches to the texts
Four Gospels, One Jesus - Literary approaches to the texts
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
Literary approaches to the texts Narrative and readers If the authors of the four gospels are not just preachers and theologians, but also skilled literary artists, then we must use the tools developed in the study of literature throughout our culture. Such literary approaches in…
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The way of an eagle in the sky
Four Gospels, One Jesus - The way of an eagle in the sky
by SPCK - Richard A Burridge
‘The way of an eagle in the sky’ Following John’s story, style and structure The ‘way of an eagle in the sky’ may be hard to understand (Prov. 30.19) but many readers have felt similarly as they have sought to follow the twists and turns, heights and depths of this most subtle ev…
Letter From a Tribune to the Prefect of Judea
Letter From a Tribune to the Prefect of Judea
by Roger Price
This is one of a number of monologues that I have written for use in worship or some other reflective purpose. This one deals with the events of the healing of the Centurion's servant from the point of view of the Centurion's commanding officer. Letter From a Tribune to the Prefe…
the historical character of Jesus - 8 “The apocalyptic Son of Man”: Jesus in the Johannine letters and Revelation