Pen and Ink Reflections
  • Blog
  • about
  • other reflections
  • contact

Matthew - the great interruptor

9/21/2017

0 Comments

 
This week I came across the account of a student of the Alexander technique. For those of you not familiar, this is a movement based therapy that helps an individual to see their inefficient habits of movement and patterns of accumulated tension, which interfere with their innate ability to move easily. This was their experience as they interacted with a client for the first time.
 
‘Suddenly I feel overwhelmed by implications. The way he’s co-ordinating to stand is part of his whole way of being in the world, and here’s me about to move in and maybe change that, or at least offer a different possibility. A sense of politeness paralyses me for a moment. I don’t want to interrupt.   Later I talk with [the teacher]. She looks at me with steady compassion. ‘Actually, I see that as part of my job. To interrupt patterns.’   She’s right. Interrupting is part of my job.’
 
Interrupting is part of my job.  I think Saint Matthew would have agreed and as we celebrate his saint’s day today, and consider the ways in which he presented the teachings of and about Jesus in the gospel that bears his name, I invite you to consider him as a great interrupter. I also invite you to consider that interrupting is also part of our job as ministers, teacher and spiritual directors. It is our task, with the guidance of the spirit, to help others interrupt their destructive habits of life and behaviour, whether at the individual or communal level, and find transformation....

Read More
0 Comments

dance and wail and all with gentleness

7/8/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
At times Jesus must have felt, as perhaps sometimes we feel, that he could not win. Had he followed the ascetic practices of John the Baptist he would have been condemned as  demon possessed. As it is, his critics are quick to judge his joyous engagement with life as  a failure of self control and an indicator of immorality. He compares the society around him with a bunch of quarrelsome children, who are refusing to enter into the dances and activities associated with wedding and funeral feasts - in other words they are refusing the very stuff of life. When we refuse to engage with the stuff of life, in all its joy and terror, we repress our emotions and become hard of heart. Then we can indeed become quarrelsome and irritable, concentrating on minor details and neglecting the big picture. Jesus is saddened when this happens, because we miss out on so much. We also end up weighed down with burdens too heavy to carry, that are of our own making, just as the Pharisees did in Jesus own day.
 
So what is to be done? Firstly we need to look to Jesus, who as the incarnation of God was not afraid to experience the full range of our human emotions of joy, anger, fear and grief. He lived passionately out of the very height and depth of human feeling. Now that can be pretty confronting for ourselves and sometimes others. As most of you know Jo and I have recently become grandparents. This week our daughter has been facing the challenges of an infant living into the fullness of their human emotions, expressing himself in anger and crying as well as beginning to reward her efforts with first smiles. It is quite a challenge for both of them. Yet infants as Jesus said, do indeed sometimes understand things better than adults...


Read More
0 Comments

flash, bang, wallop - what a picture!

4/15/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
What is your favourite Easter story I wonder?  I read a lovely one the other day.  A teacher had asked her young pupils to write a line or two about what they were going to do over Easter.  The children started scribbling away until one little boy put his hand up.  ‘How do you spell gun?’, he asked.  A little bemused, the teacher replied, ‘G-U-N’.  The boy started writing and then put his hand up again.  ‘And how’, he said, do you spell die?’  A good deal more perturbed, the teacher replied, ‘D-I-E’, and then she added cautiously, ‘what is it you are going to do?’  ‘Oh’ said the little boy, ‘it is going to be fun… we’re gun die eggs’.

Well, a number of folk among us have certainly dyed eggs for today: just one of the many wonderful symbolic traditions which have grown up over the centuries around Easter.  Indeed, some of these are perhaps as curious as the little boy’s spelling and grasp of language.  They are certainly diverse, rather like the variety of ways in which the Gospel writers and St Paul speak about the Resurrection.  Does that matter, do you think?  My sense is that that is precisely as it should be.  For the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is like an explosion, the impact and implications of which can never be understood and lived out by one tidy account or explanation.  Rather the meaning of Easter is only something we grow into, day by day, year by year, as we reflect upon the different ways our Bible and Tradition speak of it, and, crucially, as it comes alive for us in our own lives and times…


Read More
0 Comments

the disturbing story and shocking visitors of the Epiphany

1/1/2017

0 Comments

 
Do we see the star of the Epiphany?  I mean, do we really see the star and understand what it means?  Most people don't.  Some see the star and are full of awe for a moment or two and then move on.  Others see it and understand it wrongly, or partially.  Others see it among other lights and then follow them.  Others are simply looking in the wrong place.  So where are we looking?  For the Epiphany story is actually a strange one.  It is not what it might immediately seem.  Whilst we typically often cover it in tinsel and sentimentality, it is in fact quite disturbing, and, thereby, potentially quite transforming…

Read More
0 Comments

Joseph's problem - and invitation to something more than righteousness

12/17/2016

0 Comments

 
Joseph has a problem! Mary's pregnant and the baby is not his. It is not exactly a unique problem. This is the kind of scrape that appears somewhere in most people's family history, no matter how much pontificating and covering up goes on. I am sure we all have tales we could tell of the judgments that family members make of one another, and of the harshness of some 'good Christians'...

Read More
0 Comments

meeting God on a mountain

10/1/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
What mountains do you know?  Mountains are among the most treasured and admired locations on earth - as well as some of the most perilous. I wonder what are some of the mountains that you have heard about or even visited yourself?  What are some of the things you love about those mountains?

We've heard about a few mountains here in Australia, some of them local to Toowoomba and to Queensland, and about some mountains far away. Through our links with Nepal we have particular connections to the Himalayas and of course to the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest. Has anyone climbed a mountain that really required the proper gear, ropes and grappling irons and all those things?

Climbing a mountain requires a lot of effort, and preparation and discipline and persistence - which is why climbing a mountain is such a good picture for the spiritual life and often used as such. It is also why some traditional Christian communities are located near the top and on the very edges of mountainsides. Climbing requires patience and faith and provides a sense of perspective. When we physically get up higher we can see more; in the same way the more we advance in our relationship with God the better perspective we have on what really matters in life...


Read More
0 Comments

becoming a church of the Magi

1/4/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture







Just before Christmas we had a wonderful gathering in St Luke’s, of many faiths and none.  It was a time of remembrance and prayer for those who had been killed and traumatised by recent events, including the Sydney siege and the massacre of children in Pakistan.  It was a time of reaffirmation and deepened solidarity as we renewed our city commitment to peace and harmony.  It was a time which showed we have something very special here in Toowoomba.  For so many places in the world would be amazed that Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Baha’is, and so many others, can not only live together peacefully but even appreciate one another and share their distinctive gifts.  That should not seem unusual.  Yet it is.  We should therefore celebrate and build upon it.  For, in a deep sense, as we hear today’s Epiphany Gospel, we are perhaps thereby 'a Church of the Magi’…


Read More
0 Comments

but what about the geeps & shoats? time for non-judgement day?

11/20/2014

0 Comments

 
by Jon Inkpin for Christ the King Sunday 2014

Have you ever seen, or heard, Rowan Atkinson’s sketch about Hell?  In this, the comedian plays the part of the devil and welcomes newcomers to hell, directing various types of people into different groups.  Through humour he thereby pokes fun at our stereotypes, not least English stereotypes, and challenges us to think again about who we regard as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, ‘in’ or ‘out’, in the eyes of God.

So what do we make of the idea of the Last Judgement?  It is, after all, an article of the Apostles Creed which Christians are invited to affirm together..  As our modern translation of this ancient shared Christian understanding has it:
On the third day he (Jesus Christ) rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
‘He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead’ – what does this mean?  It is ringing language, isn’t it?  Yet it is very strong theological, mythic, or picture, language.  It is not easy to understand, even though it is an expression of that deep assurance at the heart of the Christian Faith: that, despite much present appearances, ultimately the love of God in Jesus Christ is in charge and all that belongs to love will be vindicated in the end.  That is not quite the message of Rowan Atkinson’s comedy sketch, is it?  For God, in Jesus Christ, takes us beyond ordinary human judgement into the ultimate, and even more surprising, reality of eternal compassion…


Read More
0 Comments

    Authors

    sermons and reflections from Penny Jones & Jo Inkpin,
    an Anglican clergy couple in Brisbane

    Archives

    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Categories

    All
    2 Peter
    ABM
    Aboriginal
    Abraham
    Abuse
    Active
    Acts Of The Apostles
    Adam And Eve
    Advent
    African-American
    Aidan
    Alan Webster
    Alice In Wonderland
    All Saints
    Andrew
    Angel
    Anger
    Anglican
    Anoiniting
    Anselm
    Antioch
    Apophatic
    Archbishop Of Canterbury
    Armenian
    Art
    Artist
    Ash Wednesday
    Asylum Seekers
    Augustine
    Australia
    Baha'i
    Bakerwoman
    Baptism
    Barefoot
    Barnabas
    Bartimaeus
    Battle Of One Tree Hill
    Beach
    Beatitudes
    Becoming
    Bede
    Being
    Believing
    Belonging
    Beloved
    Berlin
    Betrayal
    Bible
    Birmingham
    Birth
    Bishop
    Blessed
    Blessing
    Blessing Of Animals
    Boat
    Bob Dylan
    Body
    Bonhoeffer
    Born Again
    Bread
    Bread Of Life
    Breath
    Brexit
    Bride
    Bridegroom
    Brigid
    Brisbane
    Brokenness
    Bruegemann
    Buddha
    Buddhist
    Buderim
    Bunyan
    Call
    Cambodia
    Campfire
    Cana
    Canaanite
    Candle
    Candlemas
    Cappadocian Fathers
    Careers
    Carefully
    Carnival
    Catholic
    Celtic
    Centurion
    Change
    Cheesemakers
    Child Of God
    Children
    Christ
    Christian
    Christian Aid
    Christmas
    Christology
    Christ The King
    Church
    City
    Climbing
    Cloak
    Cloud Of Unknowing
    Coin
    Commandment
    Common Good
    Communion
    Community
    Companion
    Compassion
    Condamine
    Conflict
    Connect
    Contemplate
    Contemplative
    Context
    Corinth
    Cosmology
    Cost
    Covenant
    Crack
    Create
    Creation
    Creek
    Crib
    Cross
    Crossing Over
    Crucifixion
    Csg
    C.S.Lewis
    Cuddesdon
    Culture
    Cunnamulla
    Cyprian
    Dance
    Darkness
    Darlughdach
    Dave-andrews
    David
    David-mach
    David Steindl Rast
    David Steindl-Rast
    Deacon
    Dean Inge
    Death
    Demon
    Desert
    Desire
    Deuteronomy
    Devil
    Difference
    Disability
    Disciple
    Discipleship
    Dorcas
    Dorothy Soelle
    Doubt
    Durham
    Earth
    Easter
    Easterfest
    Ecumenical
    Eden
    Education
    Ego
    Egypt
    Elizabeth
    Empire
    End Times
    Environment
    Ephesians
    Epiphany
    Equality
    Eternal
    Ethics
    Eucharist
    Eugene Stockton
    Eunuch
    Evangelical
    Evangelism
    Evil
    Exile
    Exodus
    Exorcism
    Eyes
    Faith
    Fame
    Family
    Fast
    Father
    Fathers Day
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Feminist
    Fire
    Fish
    Fishers
    Flora And Fauna
    Follow
    Footwashing
    Forgiveness
    Francis
    Franciscans
    Frederick Barker
    Freedom
    French
    Friend
    Fruit
    Fulfilment
    Fundamentalism
    Fundamentalist
    Funeral
    Galilee
    Game
    Garden
    Gate
    Gateshead
    Gay
    Gaze
    Gazelle
    Gender
    Gender Variant
    Genealogy
    Generosity
    Genesis
    Gentile
    Gentleness
    Gerard Manley Hopkins
    Gift
    Gil Bailie
    Glennie
    Glory
    God
    Golden Rule
    Good Friday
    Goodness
    Gospel
    Grace
    Graeme Rutherford
    Graham Warren
    Gratefulness
    Great-commission
    Greenness
    Gregory-of-nyssa
    Growth
    Gungor
    Habel
    Haggai
    Happiness
    Harvest
    Headlam
    Healing
    Heart
    Hebrew
    Hebrews
    Helder Camara
    Hen
    Henri Nouwen
    Heresy
    Herod
    Hildegard
    History
    Holiness
    Holy Saturday
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Week
    Homophobia
    Hope
    Hosea
    Hospitality
    Humility
    Icon
    IDAHOT
    Imagine
    Immanence
    Incarnation
    Indigenous
    Inspiration
    International Women's Day
    Intimacy
    Invitation
    Iona
    Isaiah
    Israel
    Jack-in-a-box
    James
    Jan Richardson
    Jar
    Jarowair And Giabal
    Jarrow
    Jeremiah
    Jerusalem
    Jester
    Jesus
    Jesus Christ
    Jewish
    Jews
    Jihad
    Joan Chittister
    Joel
    John
    John Coleman
    John Naish
    John O'Donohue
    John The Baptist
    Josef Zacek
    Joseph
    Josephine Butler
    Joy
    Judaism
    Judas
    Judgement
    Julian Of Norwich
    Justice
    Katherine Appleby
    Keble
    King
    Kingdom
    Labyrinth
    Land
    L'Arche
    Laughter
    Law
    Lazarus
    Leadership
    Learning
    Legion
    Lent
    Leonard Cohen
    Leper
    Lesbian
    Levertov
    Levite
    LGBTI
    LGBTIQ
    Liberation
    Life
    Light
    Liminality
    Lincolnshire
    Lion
    Literalist
    Living Dance
    Living Stones
    London
    Longing
    Lord
    Lord's Prayer
    Love
    Love Of God
    Love Your Enemies
    Luke
    Luther
    Macrina
    Mad
    Magi
    Magnificat
    Mahatma Gandhi
    Manchester
    Maori
    Maranoa
    Margaret Silf
    Marianne Williamson
    Mark
    Mark Copland
    Marriage
    Martha
    Martin Luther
    Martin Luther King
    Martyr
    Mary
    Mary Magdalene
    Mary Of Bethany
    Mary Poppins
    Mary Sumner
    Matthew
    MCC
    Meditation
    Meister Eckhart
    Mercy
    Messiah
    Midwife
    Migrant
    Milton
    Ministry
    Minster
    Miracle
    Mission
    Moltmann
    Monastery
    Monk
    Morality
    Moses
    Mother
    Mothering
    Mother-in-law
    Mothers Union
    Mountain
    Multicultural
    Multifaith
    Music
    Muslim
    Myrrh
    Myrrh Bearers
    Mystery
    Mystic
    Myth
    NAIDOC
    Name
    Natalie Adams
    Nativity
    Neighbour
    Nelson-mandela
    New-age
    New Creation
    New-life
    New Zealand
    Nicodemus
    Noel Preston
    Nonjudgement
    Nonviolence
    Nungalinya
    Obedience
    Ocean
    Oil
    Ordination
    Orthodox
    Oscar Romero
    Overcoming Violence
    Oxford
    Pacific
    Pain
    Palestine
    Parable
    Parent
    Parish
    Participation
    Pastor
    Patrick
    Patrick Oliver
    Paul
    Peace
    Peacemaker
    Penitence
    Pentatonix
    Pentecost
    People Of God
    Perfume
    Persecution
    Perseverance
    Persistence
    Peter
    Peter Millar
    Pharaoh
    Pharisee
    Pharisees
    Philip
    Philippians
    Pilate
    Pilgrim
    Pilgrimage
    Plato
    Poetry
    Politics
    Poor
    Pope
    Pope Francis
    Possibility
    Poverty
    Power
    Praise
    Prayer
    Preacher
    Presence
    President
    Priest
    Prince Of Peace
    Proclamation
    Prophecy
    Prophet
    Prophet Mohammed
    Protecttion
    Protestant
    Providence
    Puppet
    Purification
    Purity
    Queer
    Rabbi
    Race
    Rachael Mann
    Rage
    Raiinbow
    Rainbow
    Ramadan
    Reason
    Recapitulation
    Reconciliation
    Reformation
    Refugee
    Rejoice
    Relationship
    Religion
    Religious Experience
    Remembrance
    Repentance
    Resurrection
    Richard Rohr
    Rich Young Man
    Righteousness
    Risk
    River
    Rock
    Roman
    Romans
    Rose
    R.S Thomas
    R.S.Thomas
    Sabbath
    Sacrament
    Safety
    Saints
    Salt
    Salvation
    Samaritan
    Sanctus
    Sarah
    Sarah Bachelard
    Schism
    Schleiermacher
    School Of Hard Knocks
    Science
    Scott Stevens
    Scripture
    Sea
    Season Of Creation
    Second Coming
    Security
    See
    Seed
    Sermon The Mount
    Service
    Seth Godin
    Sex
    Shalom
    Shame
    Sheep
    Sheep And Goats
    Shepherd
    Sin
    Sinner
    Slavery
    Soil
    Solidarity
    Son Of Man
    Soul
    Sower
    Spirit
    Spiritual
    Stan Grant
    Stewardship
    St Francis College
    Stillness
    St Luke's
    St Mary's In Exile
    Storm
    Story
    Success
    Suffering
    Suffering Servant
    Sunflower
    Sydney
    Synagogue
    Syro-Phoenician
    Tabitha
    Table Fellowship
    Taize
    Talents
    Tall Poppy
    Tears
    Teenager
    Temple
    Temptation
    Tennyson
    Thanksgiving
    The Glennie School
    Theosis
    The Way
    Thomas
    Thomas Berry
    Thomas Merton
    Threshold
    Thunderbirds
    Time
    Tomb
    Toowoomba
    Torres
    Torres Strait
    Tractarian
    Tradition
    Transcendence
    Transfiguration
    Transformation
    Transgender
    Transition
    Tree
    Trinity
    Trust
    Truth
    T.S.Eliot
    Tufty
    Tutu
    Tweed
    Tyne
    Unity
    Usury
    Veridiitas
    Victory
    Violence
    Virgin Mary
    Virgins
    Waiters Union
    Waiting
    Wales
    War
    Warrego
    Warsaw
    Water
    Wear
    Wedding
    Wellspring
    Widow
    Wilderness
    Willliam Blake
    Wind
    Wine
    Winston Halapua
    Wisdom
    Woe
    Wolf
    Woman
    Womb
    Women
    Wontulp-Bi-Buya
    Word Of God
    World Council Of Churches
    World Youth Day
    Wounds
    Wrestling
    Yahweh
    Yoke
    Zacchaeus

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly