"...ascending and descending..."

Homily for 2nd Sunday after Epiphany

2012-01-16T12:49:00.000+11:00

You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending anddescending upon the Son of Man.

If I had to pick one single verse, if it ever came to that,when for some bizarre reason, that each of us were only allowed one singleverse of scripture, or when we pass through this stage of our physical lives,we have to account for ourselves with a single verse, this final line of thefirst chapter of John would be mine.

You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending anddescending upon the Son of Man.

I must admit I prefer the older translation of this:

Verily, verily, I say unto you,Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descendingupon the Son of man.

It has a certain sense of the power andpresence of Jesus addressing Nathanael.

I can still see, hear and feel the time I first heard it.

I read through the rest of gospel,eagerly waiting for this moment, when I would read about these angels andJesus.

Chapter after chapter, they failed toappear.

I felt a bit ripped off.

I thought maybe the bible I had wasmissing a few pages.

They didn’t show up.

This wasn’t too good for me as a newChristian, as here was a promise made by Jesus, but it wasn’t fulfilled.

I took some comfort by the promise at theend of John’s gospel that there many other things that Jesus did in his earthlylife that weren’t recorded, and figured that this event was just one of them.

But that didn’t make sense.

How could something so marvellous asangels ascending and descending upon Jesus be “just another event” that couldbe left out?

I was confounded. I read as much as I canfind on this passage, but found no general consensus on what it meant.

I prayed and meditated on the passage.

What does Jesus mean?

What are these angels that will be seen?

Why is it they will be ascending thendescending on upon him, the Son of Man?

One of the keys to this passage lieswithin the book of Genesis.

Inthe same way that the writer John started his Gospel with a deliberate echo ofthe beginnings of Genesis, “In the beginning….’

Here he ends this section of Jesusministry with another echo from Genesis, this time from the story of Jacob atBethel, from chapter 28:

He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because thesun had set.

Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head andlay down in that place.

And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top ofit reaching to heaven;

and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

So we have Jacob falling asleep anddreaming. In his dream he sees a ladder that reaches from the very soil to thevery heights of heaven. He sees angels ascending and descending upon thisladder.

In his dream, God speaks and makes acovenant with Jacob. Jacob awakes from his sleep and says:

"Surely the LORD is in this place. Howawesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this isthe gate of heaven."

So where Jacob recognises that the placehe is in is Holy, and he goes on to anoint an altar to the Lord there, Jesus isusing a phrase that has been used to express God’s presence, but this time itis not a place, it is a person, it is he, the Son of man.

Jacob recognises that where he is thevery gate to heaven.

Jesus is saying that He himself is thesame: he is the gate to heaven; he is the presence of God on earth.

Where with Jacob, the angels ascend anddescend on a ladder, Jesus says they ascend and descend upon him.

So what John is doing at the beginning ofhis Gospel is setting the whole story of the incarnation, the idea of God inflesh, with the beginning of creation.

At the end of this section which dealswith beginnings of Jesus’ earthly ministry, mainly his baptism by John and thecalling of the first disciples.

He ends this section with a concept thatreally announces the arrival of God’s presence on earth.

Ifyou were in any doubt after the first section of this chapter, this last linereally underlines the idea. Jesus is God incarnate.

This is all fine and well, but it stilldoesn’t explain where this happens, where these angels will ascend and descendon Jesus.

Now, angels are best understood asmessengers of God.

They are not God, they are not man, theyare a completely unique thing.

They are divine, but they are not God.They are messengers of God.

The Archangel Gabriel informed Mary of herrole in incarnation. He was a messenger of God.

The angels Jesus speaks of are the same.

What they represent is a continualconversation between the father and the son.

A continual conversation between the heavenlyand earthly realms.

They are the gateway from earth toheaven, and they are the gateway from heaven to earth.

Itis a two way conversation. It is a two way conversation that centres on Jesus.

This passage not only underlines theincarnation, it also tells us what it means to us.

And it is here that we need to readcarefully. Jesus has been talking to Nathanael.

“You, (meaning Nathanael,) will seegreater things than these”.

But then it changes.

You, plural, You will see.

This plural you is important.

Itcould be the other disciples around at the time, and Jesus is addressing thewhole group.

I sense that it is more than this.

You, all of you, all who read this, allyou who hear of Jesus, all you who recognise the Jesus as the Son of God,whenever, wherever, you will see heavenopened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.

John is letting us know that as we readthis gospel, what we are witnessing is this event.

Throughout the whole of the gospel,everything Jesus does and says is this event.

The event is in fact the very person ofJesus, the son of God.

Itisn’t a single event, it is a continuous thing, it is an eternal thing. Godincarnate in the form of Jesus, and his continual presence as given to us bythe Holy Spirit. All we have to do is look.

The promise to Nathanael is a promise tous.

By our lives lived together with Christ,we, and all who have ever believed, will see, do see, and have seen, the angels of god ascending anddescending upon the son of man, Jesus Christ, the son Of God, God incarnate.

This promise is for anyone who wants tosee.

And as Nathanael was invited by Phillip,we too are invited, by the simple words: “Come and see.”

Homily for Epiphany

2012-01-04T22:10:00.000+11:00

“we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

The story of these magi is most likely the most popular Christian story that there is. This is a story that people, and most especially, people that aren’t church goers, really relate to.Three wise men on camels carrying gifts. For many, this is the symbol of Christmas.

Driving around Singleton this last fortnight to look at all the houses decorated with Christmas lights, I noticed that the three wise men and the star would only be second to father Christmas and Reindeer. Why these magi? Why not the shepherds? Why not the angels? Why not the infant Jesus?

I think it is because of their very mysteriousness, but also it is the undeniable and intrinsic truth of their story.

The first we hear of them, they have arrived in Jerusalem, asking anyone who would listen:

"Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?"

I imagine that many of those they asked had no idea what they were talking about. They hadn’t heard anything about a birth that was so special.But then the magi state how they know this information:

“For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage."

Someone must have heard this and thought it important that King Herod knew about these foreigners wandering around hunting for the new born king of the Jews.

Herod is worried. He knows this is not good news for his rule. A divine ruler, the Messiah is going usurp any authority he has. He sees his days numbered.

He calls the chief priests and scribes to find out where this child is to be born. He needs the answer to the magi’s initial question:
"Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews?"

He asks the scribes and priests. They know their scriptures well. From prophecies in the books of 2nd Samuel and the prophet Micah, they can name the town of Bethlehem as the place.

What we can see here is God’s revelation to two groups of people in two different ways.

The Magi were Gentiles, non Jews. Gentiles were deprived of the scriptures, and so they were not given an explicit revelation as the Jews were. It was through nature that God revealed himself to the gentiles.

The magi receive their revelation through the stars. Their gazing and interpretation of the movement of the stars showed them something significant was happening Israel. They interpret the movement as being a birth star. So significant is the star and its movement, they deduce that it must be represent a King. They didn’t have the scriptures to work this out.It was their astrological gifts that showed them.

Yet, it was an imperfect revelation.It tells them of the birth, but not exactly where.

That secret is locked up in the scriptures.

Those who have the key to the scriptures, the scribes and high priests are unaware that anything is happening. They can read plainly what the prophets have said.They know the Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem. Now they have a group of magi arriving, who have followed a star for probably two years, arrive and tell them they know the King of the Jews has been born.

Both groups have a piece of the puzzle.

Yet only one group thinks it is worthwhile. The religious and political leaders do nothing. They don’t follow the Magi to worship the new born king. In fact the king, the chief priests, and the scribes conspire against the messiah. They play no part active part in Jesus birth story. They just sit there. They know where the Christ is to be born, but they don’t sense what is actually happening, or ask the magi anything about what they know. They fail by being passive.

The other group, who represent the Gentiles, the magi, see a sign and journeys far to respond to the hint of Gods action in history.

When I look at this manger, when I see the infant Jesus lying there, I wonder what group I am in.I wonder what group our church is in. I wonder what group the whole worldwide church is in.

We are not the magi. The magi represent the journey from the first inklings of something to recognition, to homage. That is what they are. Once that journey has taken place, something else occurs. They become members of the Body of Christ.

The infant body in the manger grew up, lived, taught and healed, was crucified, died, rose again, and ascended into heaven. But we are now the body of Christ. We say this every week. We are the mystical body of Christ, the same way that the baby in the manger was the body of Christ.

So we are neither group, we are the body of Christ.

I think the sad truth is that we the church sometimes forget that we are the body. We in many ways have become like the scribes and high priests and political rulers.

The magi are still around, they see signs of God in their lives, they interpret things they hear and see as God working in their lives. They may come to church to pay homage to the infant, they come to be a part of the body of Christ, yet when they arrive and tell of what they have seen and experienced, instead of meeting the body of Christ, they meet a bunch of scribes and high priests who either ignore them, or tell them that they know nothing.

These magi know nothing of the scriptures, yet they know there is something going on. They see our buildings and know there is something beyond everyday experience inside. They come to find Christ, but they don’t really know anything about him.

I see a time when these magi will come to our church and tell us things about Christ that we don’t understand. They will have found Him working in their lives, yet won’t know anything of scripture. They will come with voices and visions that will look and sound peculiar to us. They will tell us things that we may not want to hear.

When this happens we can’t be like the scribes and high priests and ignore them. We need to listen. We need to help them with our knowledge of the scripture and journey with them as they journey to us.

What they are searching for is the body of Christ. They instinctively know they want to be a part of it. They enter our churches and become confused or depressed because they know what it is supposed be like, yet what they encounter is nothing like it. There are glimpses of Christ for them, but it is hidden away, like the scriptures were hidden from the Magi in the gospel.

I believe that the situation the church finds itself in today is like holding one half of the puzzle.

We have the scripture, the sacraments and the traditions. We hold them as members of the body. Yet, they have become hidden from magi of today. It is those magi who have the other half of the puzzle.

We will find the other part of the puzzle when we listen to their stories of how God revealed himself to them. It will be in our listening to their stories of their spirituality that we will see how God is working in places outside of our traditions. By us sharing our stories with them, they will see how God is working within the church, within the body of Christ. To be able to reveal Christ to the magi, we need to be able to see where he is already being revealed. We can show the magi where Christ is in their lives.

This is why I think the magi from Matthew's gospel are so popular in the wider world. People who aren’t church goers somehow see themselves within the image of the magi, making their journey towards Christ. Like the Magi, they journey long distances, knowing something of God, yet not knowing exactly where He is. It is when the star that they are following stops above our church that we need to be the body of Christ and not act like the scribes and high priests. Instead of being passive and dismissive, we need to journey alongside them and lead them to the manger, to the body of Christ.

Life at present (25)

2011-11-07T16:15:00.001+11:00

This is my last week at university. I feel a strange mixture of joy, sadness, achievement, and disappointment.

Life at Present (24)

2011-10-17T08:57:00.001+11:00

The luminous and the numinous. Fat chance.

Life at Present (23)

2011-10-16T12:43:00.001+11:00

This is the window I see from my seat in the sanctuary.

Life at Present (22)

2011-10-12T12:45:00.001+11:00

Woof woof!

Life at present (21)

2011-10-06T12:31:00.001+11:00

It really is groundhog day.

Life at present (20)

2011-10-05T18:39:00.001+11:00

This is my dinner. Campbell's Country Ladle Minestrone soup and three slices of toast. It's a banquet of sorts.

Life at present (19)

2011-10-04T18:38:00.001+11:00

There she goes.

Life at present (18)

2011-10-03T12:28:00.001+11:00

This is what is going on today. The books are from the International Critical Commentary series. These ones are on Mark, Matthew, and Luke. The CDs are the great Mark Hollis trilogy of 1988-98: Talk Talk 'Spirit of Eden' and 'Laughing Stock,' and the eponymous solo album. Good times if I wasn't so stressed about getting this Transfiguration essay completed on time.

Life at present (17)

2011-10-02T12:46:00.001+11:00

Tigga is scared of thunder storms. I am scared of never finishing my work because I am sick.

Life at present (16)

2011-10-01T14:59:00.001+10:00

Tigga is helping me with my essay. She doesn't really understand the real error of Arianism, but likes food.

Life at present (15)

2011-09-30T10:09:00.001+10:00

Last night Tigga raided our cupboards. She managed to find a box of choc chip muffins, a taco kit, a bag of almonds, a packet of rice crackers, a bar of Whittaker's dark chocolate and the remnants of a Cadbury's Old Gold bar. This is the face of shame.

Life at present (14)

2011-09-29T10:42:00.001+10:00

I am at home today with my daughter, cats and dog (not pictured). We are playing 'girls go games,' sleeping and writing an essay. Who is doing what is up to you to work out.

Life at present (13)

2011-09-28T09:27:00.001+10:00

I am working on an essay at home. So many more distractions.

Life at present (12)

2011-09-27T13:54:00.001+10:00

I am having a tea break from Arius and Origen. Beetroot is having a long soak in her reality.

Life at present (11)

2011-09-26T14:27:00.001+10:00

Today I took my daughter and her friend to the Smurf movie. Not the best movie I have seen, but not the worst.

Linda Rich

2011-09-25T17:30:00.010+10:00

Linda Rich was a Christian folk singer who recorded three albums: There's More to Living than I Know So Far (1969), Patterns (1970), and Apple Tree (1975).

All three albums are fantastic: melancholy, spiritual, sparse, gentle, rich, and luminous. her voice is somewhat like early Joni Mitchell (1968-71) but more mezzo-soprano, with fewer melissmas. her guitar playing is functional, but delicate. When there are arrangements, the strings are tasteful. On several tracks on both Patterns and Apple Tree there is some fulte work that gets some spacey-echo happening. It's not quite psych, but very close.

Her lyrics are very Christian, but she also ventures into some searching territory, particularly "An Agnostic's Prayer" from Patterns. I particularly appreciate her more atmospheric lyrics:

"Sun streaming through stained glass windows,

coloured shadows in a darkened room,

red on brown,

make colours sound,

and give the peace of knowing You"

"Stained Glass Windows" Apple Tree

You can download all three of these albums here: The Ancient Star Song

I highly recommend these albums to anyone, Christian or not. There are moments of pure sublime beauty on all of these records, and you can hear the questioning and joy of Linda's faith in all her songs. She doesn't package up Christianity into a neat, happy box; rather she asks questions and admits her failings, yet she also expresses her love of Christ in a gentle joyousness that is sincere and real.

Life at present (10)

2011-09-25T08:49:00.001+10:00

This is where I am today.

Life at present (9)

2011-09-23T12:31:00.001+10:00

This is a photo from the same spot as this time last week. I look at the clock and work out when I can have my next break.

Life at present (8)

2011-09-23T09:02:00.001+10:00

This is the infamous library. I will be in there in a minute, researching Arianism and Origen. I may also be listening to Steve Hillage. I may also be depressed and cranky. I may also be snoozing.

Life at present (7)

2011-09-22T08:26:00.001+10:00

This is my friend Jody. She is driving us to Cessnock for a clergy conference. What an exciting life we lead.

Life at present (6)

2011-09-21T14:24:00.002+10:00

There is a disco ball on the foyer at the bottom of stairs in front of the toilets. I have never seen any dancing there, but I must admit to having been a bit fleet footed on my way there after a day of drinking those green tea drinks.

Life at present (5)

2011-09-21T09:11:00.001+10:00

There are positives and negatives about this bridge. On the good side, it means it is very nearly coffee time, or when approaching from the other way, it means library time is over. On the bad side, it means library time is about to start, or when approaching from the other way, it means I start think about how little I achieved while at the library.

Life at present (4)

2011-09-20T09:14:00.001+10:00

Most mornings I drop my daughter of at school, then wander, as to the gallows, to the library. Between the two there is this woodland wonderland. No elf sightings as yet, but I have seen some lost students.

Life at present (3)

2011-09-19T14:57:00.001+10:00

Another part of daily life is picking up mu daughter from school. In front of the church the school is attached to is a statue of Mary. I have beem struck by how this looks on hot Australian afternoons against a backdrop of gum trees, powerlines, and rusty rooves and cars.

Life at present (2)

2011-09-19T08:51:00.001+10:00

Another brief installment of what I hope doesn't become a regular series. This is a photo of pre-study: coffee and music. I was listening to Rush 'Power Windows' (1985).

Life at present (1)

2011-09-16T12:53:00.001+10:00

This photo is a very accurate representation of life at present: library, laptop, headphones, green tea drink. The fact that I am taking a photo of it and blogging about it suggests the reality: procrastination and distraction.

Cathedral Vision

2011-02-24T11:40:00.004+11:00

I was told about the Christchurch earthquake while I was at a clergy development day. We were hearing a lecture on Matthew's Gospel.

The priest at the church where I am a student is also from Christchurch. At a bit after 10:30 he came over and told me what had happened. All he knew was that there had been an earthquake in Christchurch, the Cathedral was ruined and there were fatalities.

When he said this, I had a vision, which I have attempted to draw above. It was of the front of the Cathedral and all about was red. What the image doesn't have is the feeling that accompanied it. It was an empty pit, a vast hollowness. It is very had to describe.

I left the room and tried to contact my brother and mother. I couldn't get hold of them. I rang my wife and asked her to try to contact them. I wandered around outside in a sort of daze, having no idea of what was happening back home.

My wife texted me with a message that said "I think I should come and get you." This sounded like very bad news. My first thought was that my mother had been killed. I started to think about my brother, his wife and three kids. My friends started to pop into my head.

Sarah came and picked me up, and we drove back to our house. The news on the car radio said they had pulled out of the rubble. There would be many fatalities. I broke down.

Since then I have been in contact with so many people. My mother was fine, and my brother and his family are ok too. I have had contact with most of my friends, and they are ok too. There are a few not accounted for as yet.

The last few days have been completely surreal. I wish I was back home with my family and friends. There is nothing I would like to do more than have a cuppa with them.

Christchurch

2011-02-23T10:26:00.006+11:00

Yesterday my home town was devastated by an earthquake. 75 people have been confirmed dead. The CBD is destroyed.

All the while, I watch this on TV here in Newcastle, Australia.

I have never felt so helpless, sick, restless and homesick. There is no way I can understand what my friends and family are going through. There is nothing I can do to help them.

Like many, it was the sight of the Cathedral in rubble that bought the whole thing home. The Cathedral is the centre of the city, physically and spiritually. Christchurch is a predominantly Anglican city, and the Cathedral is right in the centre. It would be hard to live in Christchurch and not have a story or an incident that involves the Cathedral.

As a non-Christian, I used to go to the Cathedral on Friday evenings while on my dinner break from work. I used to sit and listen to the choir as they rehearsed.

The cathedral was the place of my conversion, sort of. It was while watching Midnight Mass at Christchurch Cathedral on Christmas Eve on the telly that I first became a Christian. It was at the cathedral that I had first received Holy Communion. It was at the cathedral that I first prayed.

I was talking with a friend last week about how it was my wish that when I am ordained a priest (God willing) that it might be possible to have the ceremony in Christchurch Cathedral. The chances of this were always remote, but it was a hope.

All of this seems quite pathetic and selfish now. As I sit here and watch the news, read facebook updates on how everyone is, and wonder about those we haven't heard from, my interests and hopes have become insignificant and feel wrong.

I have no understanding of how awful it must be for everyone.

Listening

2011-02-15T20:01:00.005+11:00

Tonight I watched 'The Simpsons' with my family. It was the episode "Jaws Wired Shut." In this episode, Homer gets his jaw broken and is unable to talk. He discovers that his family is quite interesting, summed up with "Wow, Bart has feelings."

The point is that usually Homer is talking about himself and his life, that he does not hear what his family is saying. because he is so involved in his own life, he does not take the time to hear what the rest of his family are saying. Within his enforced silence, Homer becomes a better man. Not only does he hear his family, he hears what they are feeling.

I have been through a similar breakthrough in the past three months while undertaking CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education). Within this course, I learnt how to keep myself quiet and listen to patients. Not only hear what they are saying, but what they are feeling.

I am a talker. I like talking, and am guilty of talking about myself. Often. I am quite a selfish person in that respect, and no one would know that better than my family.

However, during the last few months I have found myself listening more and talking less. It has been quite a change. One for the better, for the most part, yet I wonder how long I can keep it up.

The thing is, the quieter I am the more I hear, the more I am tuned in to what is going on. So far, this hasn't all been a pleasant experience. By not filling space with gabble, the more I 'hear' the dissatisfaction in living, my own, and those around me.

There is a positive, and a large one at that. By experiencing quiet, I have been able to hear God more clearly. The gentle voice that has guided me once had to eke it's way through my own nonsense. Now, it is a more regular murmur.

Don't think I'm going crazy and hearing voices. It's not like that. Hearing is the wrong word. Like how Homer started 'hearing' his family when he stopped talking ("Wow, Bart has feelings"), it is the same with 'hearing' God. By keeping quiet, God is revealed in the silence.

Service, music, and another year

2011-01-01T11:39:00.006+11:00

Saint Cecilia

Well, 2010 is done, and my blogging stopped in July. It was a very busy year I guess, with a lot more church work and essays and stuff, random thoughts posted online shrunk into nothing over the past 12 months.

The other consequence of the busyness was a lack of music composition. 2010 is the first year since 2004 that I didn't "release" an album or a major work. My intention was to finish a piece that I began in May in the last week of the year, but the process of living meant that Ascension sits incomplete in my hard drive.

This has led to a serious consideration: up until this time I have regarded myself as a composer or a musician. The last break I took was in 2003 when my daughter was born and time and energy to compose was scarce. The reason for a "break" in 2010 was also to do with time, but rather than parenthood it was theological study and ministry that caused the music to stop.

Since becoming a Christian, I have regarded my music as part of my ministry. For good or no, it was part of my service. In 2010 several of my pieces were used in worship and meditation services, often (to my surprise) to great effect. This was an affirmation of part of my ministry, but also a realisation that the pieces may be of limited appeal!

Anyway, I have to consider where my music and how much time I devote to it will fit into my life as of now. I am not ready to give up composing, yet I know that time is only going to become scarcer.

I know I was called into the service of the Lord, and my understanding of that has been as a priest. However, if that means giving up music, is that really serving as best I can?

Now there are varieties of gifts,
but the same Spirit;
and there are varieties of services,
but the same Lord;
and there are varieties of activities,
but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7

This all may sound rather precious and ego driven, but I assure you it is not so. My love of music, my own music, and my thoughts on contemporary church music are at an important juncture. I think most hymns are lacking in mystery and spiritual depth. I struggle to feel connected with God or able to worship to most of the musical drivel in church. The indwelling of Christ becomes a very distant glow that is rather a memory than a moment of oneness when singing most hymns. However at a contemplative service late last year, Christ was present for those present, and it was very humbling that one of my pieces was part of that experience.

The music that I have composed since my conversion has all been with such an experience in mind. To know that in 2010 I let myself down in the creation of a new piece to be a part of that ongoing work is a bit painful.

But, at the end of the day, it is whether the piece will exist or not that is the issue. As the writer of Ecclesiastes says:

Do not say,
‘Why were the former days better than these?’
For it is not from wisdom that you ask this
Ecclesiastes 7:10

The ups and downs

2010-07-21T23:21:00.004+10:00

I have just returned from a 3 day retreat. As a group of ordinands, we do this every year, and it is always a wonderful time.

This time, I left with a definite sense of melancholy. Had I used the time right, did I waste the experience, did I really listen to my companions, did I really listen to God?

I read Elisabeth of Schonau's First Book of Visions and Hildegard von Bingen's Scivias. Both hard work and enjoyable.

We discussed our calls to the priesthood and how we think this will look, what it means, all that sort of stuff. It was here that the melancholy kicked in. My call was instantaneous and life changing, like 180 degree turn around. It was completely impossible to ignore and difficult for everyone around me.

My call is still as strong, but what I think my ministry will be is really quite different than what I expected. I probably was in fantasy land in what I thought the job entailed, but the reality seems to be a rather harsh and unforgiving role that seems to ask for disrespect and criticism.

Whinge, whinge, whinge.

All of this would be a complete load of nonsense and absolute awfulness if it wasn't for the presence of the living Christ in each moment of my life.

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Mark 8:34

I don't do it on my own. Christ is with me. But by hokey sometimes it feels like a wrong turn. Sometimes I feel like a complete fraud. Other times I feel like I don't actually know anything. Of course there are other days when it is rolls along smashingly, and it is so clear as to be a blinding light, yet one that soothes the eyes.

This whole priesty thing is easily the biggest challenges I have have had. It has pushed my limits like nothing else, and has made me question my very existence and the existence of God. And it has also given me moments of gentle joy and sublime consciousness.

It is a difficult path, no question about that.

Saint Perpetua

2010-03-08T09:40:00.000+11:00

Saint Perpetua

Christopher Orczy

2008

The blessed Saturus related this his vision, which he himself committed to writing: — " We had suffered," says he, "and

We were gone forth from the flesh,
and we were beginning to be borne by four angels into the east;
and their hands touched us not.

And we floated not supine,
looking upwards,
but as if ascending a gentle slope.

And being set free,
we at length saw the first boundless light;
and I said,
'Perpetua, this is what the Lord promised to us;
we have received the promise.'

And while we are borne by those same four angels,
there appears to us a vast space which was like a pleasure-garden,
having rose-trees and every kind of flower.
And the height of the trees was after the measure of a cypress,
and their leaves were falling incessantly.
Moreover, there in the pleasure-garden four other angels appeared,
brighter than the previous ones.

And those four angels who bore us,
being greatly afraid,
put us down;
and we passed over on foot the space of a furlong in a broad path.

And we came near to place,
the walls of which were such as if they were built of light;
and before the gate of that place stood four angels,
who clothed those who entered with white robes.

And being clothed,
we entered and saw the boundless light,
and heard the united voice of some who said without ceasing,
‘Holy! Holy! Holy!'

And I said,
'Perpetua, you have what you wish.'
And she said to me,
'Thanks be to God,
that joyous as I was in the flesh,
I am now more joyous here.'

The Dearmer Society

2010-02-04T21:55:00.003+11:00

Today I was inducted as a member of The Dearmer Society.

The website explains what it means very thoroughly:

Dearmer Groups are for ordinands currently in training who aspire to membership of the Society of Catholic Priests (SCP) and who are in sympathy with the principles of membership.
Those living under priestly orders experience both the joy and privilege of ordained ministry and also the sacrifice that ordination brings.
At a time of great change and stress within the national and world Church, many priests are both at risk of isolation and loneliness, and also find themselves challenged by the changing expectations of the church.
Membership of SCP offers collegiality, encouragement and support in the face of such conditions.

Aspirants are encouraged to adopt the rule of life of the Society, that is
Eucharistic centred spirituality
to say the Daily Office
to consult a Spiritual Director
to pray for their fellow members of Society
to use the sacrament of reconciliation
to offer confidential pastoral care to fellow members
to attend all meetings of their group unless prevented by good reason.

Any one who reads this blog will know that all that is fine with me. The fact that the group takes its name from my liturgical hero Percy Dearmer is a complete bonus.

Our Lady of Guadelupe

2010-01-06T21:20:00.000+11:00

Rosary

2010-01-03T22:18:00.000+11:00

The Presence

2010-01-03T16:32:00.000+11:00

The Presence

A.E. Borthwick

(1932)

Music for Advent

2009-12-24T15:36:00.000+11:00

Visitation

Christopher Orczy

2009

And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Judah;
and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.
And it came to pass,
when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary,
the babe leaped in her womb;
and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost;
and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry,
and said,
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And whence is this to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?
For behold,
when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears,
the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And blessed is she that believed;
for there shall be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

And Mary said,
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaiden:
For behold,
from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
And holy is his name.
And his mercy is unto generations and generations on them that fear him.
He hath shewed strength with his arm;
He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.
He hath put down princes from their thrones,
And hath exalted them of low degree.
The hungry he hath filled with good things;
And the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath holpen Israel his servant,
That he might remember mercy
(As he spake unto our fathers)
Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

And Mary abode with her about three months,
and returned unto her house.
Luke 1:39-56 RV

I have just completed the final part of my Advent trilogy. The first part, Annunciation, was completed in 2007. You can read more about that here. The third part, Nativity, was completed in 2008. More about that here.

This last piece comes in between the two, as will be noticed by the above Gospel reading, concerns Mary's visit to Elizabeth, just after being informed about what is to occur.

Where in Annunciation, I wanted to treat the dialog between Gabriel and Mary, with Visitation I wanted to give two portraits of the two women involved. There are similar themes and sonorities between the two pieces, as both women are talking about the same thing: Christ.

I suppose this work may sound a bit gloomy, especially for a reading that is essentially joyous. While it may be a wondrous thing that has occurred, the shadow of the cross is looming.

Please forgive my take on this. It certainly isn't what I would preach on this passage. I do invite you to listen to the now complete Advent album. These pieces express my feelings of the Incarnation. The most wonderful thing to occur is also very difficult to understand. The immensity of the event is unfathomable.

These pieces also reflect my journey as a Christian. I experienced my conversion on Christmas Day 2006, and I knew at that point all future compositions would be devoted to the faith. I also knew I could no longer expect money for doing so.

You can download Advent for free here.

Enjoy these pieces, and have a very merry Christmass.

Music for Advent: Visitation

2009-12-24T15:01:00.004+11:00

Visitation

Christopher Orczy

2009

And Mary arose in these days and went into the hill country with haste,
into a city of Judah;
and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth.
And it came to pass,
when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary,
the babe leaped in her womb;
and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost;
and she lifted up her voice with a loud cry,
and said,
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
And whence is this to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come unto me?
For behold,
when the voice of thy salutation came into mine ears,
the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
And blessed is she that believed;
for there shall be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.

And Mary said,
My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath looked upon the low estate of his handmaiden:
For behold,
from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
And holy is his name.
And his mercy is unto generations and generations on them that fear him.
He hath shewed strength with his arm;
He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.
He hath put down princes from their thrones,
And hath exalted them of low degree.
The hungry he hath filled with good things;
And the rich he hath sent empty away.
He hath holpen Israel his servant,
That he might remember mercy
(As he spake unto our fathers)
Toward Abraham and his seed for ever.

And Mary abode with her about three months,
and returned unto her house.
Luke 1:39-56 RV

This last piece comes in between the two, as will be noticed by the above Gospel reading, concerns Mary's visit to Elizabeth, just after being informed about what is to occur.

I suppose this work may sound a bit gloomy, especially for a reading that is essentially joyous. While it may be a wondrous thing that has occurred, the shadow of the cross is looming.

You can download Advent for free here.

Enjoy these pieces, and have a very merry Christmass.

The Mystical Nativity

2009-12-23T11:00:00.000+11:00

The Mystical Nativity

Sandro Botticelli

(C. 1550)

Our Lady of Zeitoun

2009-12-23T08:56:00.000+11:00

Elevation of the Host

2009-12-22T18:26:00.000+11:00

Monstrance

2009-12-22T17:50:00.000+11:00

Real Presence

2009-12-22T17:42:00.000+11:00

Lightning

2009-12-22T17:25:00.000+11:00

for as the lightning,

when it lighteneth out of the one part under the heaven,

shineth unto the other part under heaven;

so shall the Son of man be in his day.

Luke 17:24 RV

Light of men

2009-12-22T12:06:00.000+11:00

In him was life;
and the life was the light of men.
John 1:4 RV

The Blood of Jesus

2009-12-22T11:57:00.000+11:00

Tresors de Satan

2009-12-22T09:09:00.000+11:00

Tresors de Satan

Jean Delville

(1895)

Compare with L'Homme Dieu

Hell is nothing else but

nature departed or excluded

from the beam of divine light.

William Law

Saint Christopher

2009-12-22T08:03:00.000+11:00

Mystical Mass

2009-12-22T07:58:00.000+11:00

Photo of Jesus

2009-12-22T07:50:00.000+11:00

(l-r: Peter, Jesus, Beloved Disciple)

I am not sure where this came from, but it is quite cool. I like the idea that this is a fake photo from the early 1900's that may have had some people fooled that it was real.

Ad Orientem

2009-12-21T18:25:00.000+11:00

Solemn High Mass, Community of the Resurrection, Mirfield, 1960s

Mode of Incensing the Altar

2009-12-21T18:06:00.000+11:00

from Ritual Notes.

Aureole

2009-12-21T16:49:00.000+11:00

The golden halos around the heads of pagan gods and Christian saints refer both to their being bathed in the glory of the sun and also to the fact that a spiritual sun within their own natures is radiating its glow-ray and surrounding them with celestial splendor. Whenever the nimbus is composed of straight radiant lines, it is solar in significance; whenever curved lines are used for beams, it partakes lunar nature; whenever they are united, it symbolizes a, harmonious blending of both principles. The circular nimbus is solar and masculine, while the lozenge-shaped nimbus, or vesica piscis, is lunar and feminine. The same symbolism is preserved in the circular and lozenge-shaped windows of cathedrals. There is a complete science contained in the shape, color, and adornments of the halos of saints and martyrs. A plain golden ring usually surrounds the head of a canonized saint, while God the Father and God the Son have a far more ornate aureole, usually adorned with a St. George Cross, a flowered cross, or a lilied cross, with only three of the arms visible.

From Audsley's Handbook of Christian Symbolism.

Christmas with George Herbert

2009-12-21T16:40:00.002+11:00

Christmas

ALL after pleasures as I rid one day,
My horse and I, both tir’d, bodie and minde,
With full crie of affections, quite astray ;
I took up in the next inne I could finde.

There when I came, whom found I but my deare,
My dearest Lord, expecting till the grief
Of pleasures brought me to him, readie there
To be all passengers most sweet relief?

O Thou, whose glorious, yet contracted light,
Wrapt in night's mantle, stole into a manger ;
Since my dark soul and brutish is thy right,
To Man of all beasts be not thou a stranger :

Furnish and deck my soul, that thou mayst have
A better lodging, than a rack, or grave.

THE shepherds sing ; and shall I silent be?
My God, no hymne for thee?
My soul ’s a shepherd too : a flock it feeds
Of thoughts, and words, and deeds.
The pasture is thy word ; the streams, thy grace
Enriching all the place.
Shepherd and flock shall sing, and all my powers
Out-sing the day-light houres.
Then we will chide the sunne for letting night
Take up his place and right :

We sing one common Lord ; wherefore he should
Himself the candle hold.

I will go searching, till I finde a sunne
Shall stay, till we have done ;
A willing shiner, that shall shine as gladly,
As frost-nipt sunnes look sadly.
Then we will sing, and shine all our own day,
And one another pay :
His beams shall cheer my breast, and both so twine,
Till ev’n his beams sing, and my musick shine.

George Herbert

New Blogs

2009-12-21T13:56:00.006+11:00

I have set up two new blogs in the past week. That may seem to be a bit over the top, but I have noticed that things are heading in different directions.

The first new one is about Jesus music from the mid 60's to late 7o's. It will consist of compilations, lectionary relevant songs, Mass settings, and bits and bobs about whatever Jesus rock I am into. I also hope to discuss some of the differing theological ideas this music brings up.

That '70s Church

The other new one is a bit different. It won't consist of much writing; more images, music, phrases, symbols etc. It is generally based around Christian unblack metal, gothic stuff, and so forth.

The Church of the Mystical Light of Christ

There will still be stuff happening here on ...ascending and descending..., but it by moving these two more practical elements away, it leaves this blog for theological and personal reflections.

So there you have it. One blog for being a hippy, the other for being a metalhead. And this one for whatever it is that I normally carry on about.

Holy Trinity

2009-12-21T13:08:00.000+11:00

Holy Trinity

Fridolin Leiber

(1853-1912)

Julian of Norwich

2009-12-21T12:48:00.000+11:00

And at the end of woe suddenly our eyes shall be opened,
and in the clearness of light our sight shall be full;
which Light is God, our Maker and Holy Ghost,
in Christ Jesus our Saviour.
Thus I saw and understood that our faith is our light in our night;
which light is God,
our endless day.

Angel

2009-12-21T11:32:00.000+11:00

Angel

Joseph Cornell

1957

L'Homme Dieu

2009-12-21T11:28:00.000+11:00

L'Homme Dieu

Jean Delville

(1903)

The Carrier of Light

2009-12-21T11:22:00.000+11:00

The Carrier of Light

Jean Delville

There was the true light,
even the light which lighteth every man,
coming into the world.
John 1:9 RV

The Metal Years: Part Three

2009-12-09T13:08:00.010+11:00

At this time I was reading about occulty bits and bobs and listening to death metal almost exclusively; I was 19. I eventually settled down a bit, and started to take my own music a bit more seriously. I was still reading occulty stuff, but death metal started to recede into the background a bit. This was also the time of the first rumblings of "black metal": the second Dark Throne album came out, and the metal scene in Christchurch experienced a schism. I didn't really get the black metal sound. It wasn't heavy really, but was sure evil. By this time I was really mellowing out musically, listening to Tangerine Dream, Brian Eno etc. I would still check out the odd new release, but eventually I ended up getting rid of my collection; not so much out of wanting to rid myself of it, more due to lack of finances to buy other new albums. The stuff I didn't listen to eventually would be sold.

Over the years a few albums would return, but mainly out of nostalgia. Occasionally a new album would appear at the right time, Slayer's Diabolosa in Musica (1998) being such an album. 1998 was an incredibly dark year, and that album was perfect. 1998 was also my first year of being "confronted" with confessing Christians. Teacher's College was filled with young Christians. Unfortunately, while they were fine people, their faith had very little effect on me; if anything, it pushed me further away. In this same year, I had an odd experience. I was walking down Innes Rd, looking up at the cross of the roof of Our Lady of Fatima school. I wandered onto the road, staring up at the cross, right into the pathway of an oncoming car. I was narrowly missed.

Anyway, on Christmas Eve 2006 I experienced an instantaneous conversion to the Christian faith. This initially turned me away from all "rock and/or roll" and put me on a diet of Messiaen and Hildegard von Bingen. Eventually I would go back to prog, and decipher the lyrics anew (an example of such a hermeneutic can be found here. Yet, Christian music remained classical, and I certainly wasn't going to start listening to Hillsong.

Eventually I broke my self emposed embargo on Christian rock music, and it was through the previously mentioned death metal albums that I found a whole new old world. I wrote about this discovery when it happened here.

Crimson Thorn were the band that first really got me. They sounded like Suffocation circa 1991, classic old style death metal. There was nothing in their sound that was new or different, other than their lyrical content:

For those who are perishing
The message of the Cross is foolishness
But those who have received Christ
Will have everlasting life

This is pretty different than the Morbid Angel and so forth. However, the spiritual intensity is the same. If anything it is more fervent. Where some death metal may be using occult imagery, it is possible that it may be being used for shock or "fashion" sake. These guys really mean and believe it.

Horde was a whole new thing for me. As I mentioned earlier, black metal never appealed to me, not on spiritual grounds (but I must admit, even then I thought the anti-Christian thing was a bit high school) but the sound was thin and under produced; the vocals a screech instead of a growl. It wasn't heavy. Horde changed my earlier opinion. It was a screech, it wasn't heavy and it is was insanely lo-fi. Where Crimson Thorn expressed the faith in strong terms, Horde was more about what to do with satan. Sort of like a reverse black metal.

Crimson Moonlight was more black metal, but had a strong atmospheric keyboard sound. Back in the early 90's, keyboards were extremely rare within death and black metal. There was a band who had a keyboard player as a bonafide member (Nocturnus) and many albums had atmospheric introduction pieces (usually courtesy of Ken Smith), but the music was strictly guitar based. The keyboard element is normally dramatic and movie soundtrack like, the sounds being largely orchestral. Crimson Moonlight would eventually remove keyboards and create a blackened-death sound (Veil of Remembrance, 2004). This sound would be developed further by other bands, Vaakevandring who only completed one demo managed to use the symphonic style in a very dramatic and melancholy way. This song is a great depiction of the difficulties of following the Christian faith.

By the mid 00's all sorts of things were accepted within black metal: flutes, angelic vocals, strings. It is difficult to regard some of this stuff as black metal, sounding as it does a bit like more like hard gothic rock. What this expansion of timbre does is create a more majestic, etheral and mystical sound.

It is this mystical feel that is in many ways the sign of where Christian music needs to head. What we hear from Hillsong and general ccm is bland and the only difference it actually has from the mainstream is the lyrical content. Christians are called to be in the world, not of the world. Where normal Christian music has become an corporate industry, with it's own moguls, stars and over-exposure, Christian metal has remained underground, and in many ways is even more subversive than normal metal, in the sense that it's lyrical content is by far from being the norm. As St Paul tell us:

For though I am free with respect to all,
I have made myself a slave to all,
so that I might win more of them.
To the Jews I became as a Jew,
in order to win Jews.
To those under the law I became as one under the law
(though I myself am not under the law)
so that I might win those under the law.
To those outside the law I became as one outside the law
(though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law)
so that I might win those outside the law.
To the weak I became weak,
so that I might win the weak.
I have become all things to all people,
so that I might by any means save some.
I do it all for the sake of the gospel,
so that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NRSV

The Metal Years: Part Two

2009-12-08T03:32:00.004+11:00

In Christchurch (where I was living at this time) there was a t-shirt and record shop called Ace T-Shirts and Grunt Records. It was a metal shop, so I had never really had any reason to go there. The metal I wanted I got from the shop I worked at.

At this same time there was a music show on Friday nights. This show had a metal section that was hosted by Bruce Rae, the owner of the aforementioned shop. On one night I was with my mates from work, and as usual we were watching the show, having a few drinks and the odd smoke. Then this came on......

I was transfixed. Here was something really heavy. What was this? It was Death Metal, and man, I wanted some.

In between Metallica and Death, I had been "through some stuff" I guess. Booze, pot, exams, leaving school, starting fulltime work, girlfriends and being a teenager all somehow combined into loving the sound of this stuff.

I went to Grunt Records that week and bought a few albums. I was hooked, but was picking up anything blindly: death, thrash, power, and doom metal all at once. Then I stumbled upon Celtic Frost.

This wasn't like the others really. It was depressing, more like the gothic stuff I was into (Fields of the Nephilim, The Sisters of Mercy, The Cure etc) but was deadly depressing. Listen to the first vocal "grunt" at 0:33. It sounds like he is barely living. Then check out the amazing tempo change at 1:40. The sense of slowing inertia, slowly falling out of angst into terror. This was played many, many times with my brother. Very loudly, very blitzed, very early in the morning.

I started reading metal magazines, scouring the reviews for the death stuff, knowing waht reviewers dug death metal. I noticed a things reoccuring in liner notes: Scott Burns (producer), Dan Seagrave (artwork), Tampa, Florida; Kent Smith (sound effects). All roads were leading to understanding a scene. If an album ticked a few of those boxes, it was worthy of my money. Like Sepultura. I had read about them constantly in the magazines. They were "the big one", but getting hold of this album was hard. Grunt Records was always sold out. Then one day, Bruce himself gave me the call: "Your Sepultura album is here".

The bar was raised. I had never heard anything so watertight, fast and heavy all at once. Far out. If ...and Justice for all was the yardstick, this went way beyond measure. There is another one of those falling slowing tempo changes at 1:25. Where with Celtic Frost it was falling in a heap, with Sepultura it was like moving forward and backwards at the same time. Sepultura were the band that every metaller who I was talking with agreed on; whether you liked thrash or death, Beneath the Remains was recognized as the best. Listening to it today, it is still easy to see why, especially thinking it is from the same time as ...and Justice for all. (1988)

By this time, we were importing these albums into our shop, and everyday there would be someone to talk about the latest such and such album. These guys sort of became mates. We would get together at someones house and take turns in what to play. Bands were being formed. I even started one (well, sort of. I got my first mention in a music magazine talking about a band I was forming. Nothing really came of it.) There was a central figure in the group, an older woman who had three school age kids. Her house was the general meeting place, and she always had the latest albums before any of us had heard about them. Looking back, it was pretty odd. Not dodgy, but sort of incongruous.

It was here that I was introduced to Obituary. On the heaviness scale, this was heavy. I have no idea what he is going on about; apparently he didn't even use words all the time, but what a voice! I had always been aware of the darkness of this music, but this song made me completely aware of it. At 2:28 everything slows down, the lyrics are "into the soul," the guitars are flanged to give an other wordly effect. The guitar solo starts. I distinctly remember imagining it was like falling into hell, but trying to claw back up. The solo was satan's claws at my ankles.

Oh yeah. I'll have more of that. It was scary but spiritual. The whole idea of metal and the occult is as old as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. One can even trace it back to Robert Johnson at the crossroads. Going back further, music and the occult can be found together in Berlioz and Liszt. It was the next couple of bands that I encountered that were to change this as an idea of imagery to one of actual belief and practice.

Morbid Angel were widely known as being occult practioners, mainly of the Necronomicom variety. They were also extremely anti-Christian, and were also prone to mention satan regularly. Also these were the first hyperblast drums that I had ever heard. They also used some nice choral effects (at 1:53) which gave the whole thing a mystical air. No longer was the music brutal and about corpses and zombies, here was something that seemed to be about belief and religion. At 3:25 is where the whole thing becomes tangible. To a young spiritually green young me, this was very powerful. It was on this stuff that I cut my spiritual teeth.

One thing I know for sure, is that if I was told then where I was to end up, I would not have been all too happy with the present day version of myself. I also know that if the Christian faith had been presented to me in the way I now understand it, I would've been in hook line and sinker. The occult was mysterious and actually seemed to provide spiritual experience. The Christianity that I knew then was bland and boring. The mystery and mystical nature that is inherent in the faith is of a far greater substance than that of any occulty thing. It is a shame I didn't see that then.

But that is for the next post.

The Metal Years: Part One

2009-12-07T23:54:00.003+11:00

My recent metal phase has been making me feel nostalgic. I said something recently to someone about being "bitten by the metal bug" and how the love for a good riff never dies.

I have decided to write about this over a few blog entries.

.....And thus began my journey into metal.

Peace sells but who's buying? by Megadeth was my first metal purchase. It was 1987, and I was working at the record shop. There was a copy in the sale bin (vinyl). I'm not exactly sure why I picked it up, but was more than likely the colours of the cover.

I remember getting home and putting it on. I had never heard anything so angry, fast, heavy and "forbidden". I knew this was something that was going to annoy my mother. My brother dug it as well, and we played it heaps. Really loud and air guitars. "Start the clock!"

I needed more pretty soon. I'd always thought Metallica was a terrible name for a band, but apparently they were good.

By hokey they were good. All the above: angry, fast, forbidden, and really heavy. There seemed to be a bit more going on in the lyrics. This one I bought on tape, as I knew it would be perfect for the walkman; both on skateboard and on the bus. Getting into Metallica got me hanging out with some different guys at school. Tough guys, the sort that were always in trouble. The type of guys who drunk, smoked pot and had girlfriends who weren't "nice".

Like anything, it leads on to other stuff.

This was a whole different realm. All the above: really angry, really fast, forbidden, and really heavy. Add to that evil. These guys were going on about Auschwitz, satan, blood sacrifices; everything you weren't supposed to go on about. I had never actually felt scared listening to a record before. I have to admit I didn't really dig it that much. It was just too everything.

Fortunately, Metallica released their new album, ...and Justice for all.

This album completely blew me away. It was such an advance on anything I had ever heard. Long songs, good lyrics, really heavy. It also seemed really intelligent. All of my friends got into this one (well, most of them). I remember my brother stating that this would be the album that all other metal albums would be measured by, a yardstick.

After that, I went into a metal wasteland of WASP, Motley Crue and other assorted stuff. Nothing was going to compare with Justice and I didn't feel like going down the more extreme path of Slayer.

And apparently, there was stuff around that was heavier and faster than Slayer.

But that will have to wait for the next entry...

It's a hobby

2009-12-04T22:31:00.003+11:00

My wife recently posted this picture of me up on facebook, with the title "an example of my husband's obsessive tendencies.

She may have a point, but as I always retort "it's a hobby".

The hobby consists of downloading, burning and printing Christian music. It started about this time last year, when I was hunting for some progressive rock (a la Yes) but with Christian lyrics.

It has since grown to covering the whole gamut: from nuns and priests to country to folk to Merseybeat to psychedelia to pop. In that time I have collected over 350 albums.

What is happening in the above photo is organising the collection chronologically: 1964-1982.

The piles next to my legs are the UK portion, along with Catholic folk stuff.

What the photo doesn't show is the cataloging of the songs and artists. All songs are sorted into Bible verses or liturgical movements. Where a song is variable with it's verses, it is labelled by the event or person involved. (Interesting note: the two most represented New Testament books are Thessalonians and Revelation. The Second Coming was very topical to young hippie Christians.)

So there you have it. When I am not reading (note books on couch behind me: Albert Schweitzer, Evelyn Underhill, Bernard McGinn. Pauline Mysticism is the topic du jour) I am organising Christian music 1964-82.

It's a hobby. Of sorts.

A purely Johannine Christianity?

2009-11-13T08:54:00.003+11:00

I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book,
If any man shall add unto them,
God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book:
and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part from the tree of life,
and out of the holy city,
which are written in this book.
Revelation 22:18-19 RV

I have often thought about what the faith would be like if all that survived was John's Gospel. What would be missing?

Many things. The Infancy narratives being the most obvious. Our understanding of the Last Supper would be very different, if we were to have it all. The Transfiguration, The Ascension, The Sermon on the Mount, The Prodigal Son. The list is obviously huge.

What would we be left with?

Just imagine if Paul's letters had not survived, and John's received a greater prominence? And (if one assumes that Revelation is genuinely Johannine) how would our view of God be altered if Revelation assumed a larger percentage of the New Testament?

I would love to study this idea in greater detail.

A Gentle Collision

2009-11-10T23:08:00.003+11:00

They are not of the world,
even as I am not of the world.
John 17:16 RV

And be not fashioned according to this world:
but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
Romans 12:2 RV

I have been made increasingly aware of the tension of Christian and secular living. While I have been aware of this since becoming a Christian, it seems to me that the two worlds I live within are not that compatible.

The first inkling was due to social networking like Facebook and Twitter. I have two sets of friends on both: Christians and (essentially) athiests. Some of my secular friends post some pretty freaky stuff: drugs, sex, anti Christian stuff and so forth. This is not a problem for me; I accept everyone for who they are. Conversely, some of my Christian friends post some freaky stuff as well: constant "Jesus is Lord" updates hourly; Bible verses, weird Christo-politico stuff and so forth.

It dawned on me that I am unable to hide the secular replies to my posts from my Christian friends. I am also unable to hide my replies to Christian posts from my secular friends.

It is not that I want to hide anything from anyone. I certainly don't hide my faith from my secular friends; in fact, many of my status updates and posts are Christian and /or Jesus Music related.

There is another side to all this. My love for the late sixties and seventies Jesus music has been a sort of evangelizing to other music buffs. It has also been an element of secularization sneaking into my listening (That is simplistic really. I have always listened to secular music, it is only recently that Jesus music has come along). It is more to do with my ecclessiology. Previously nothing other than an organ (or harmonium) and a choir would have been acceptable to me as Church music. I suppose after a year of some pretty average music at church, the idea of a Folk Mass, or even a Psychedelic Mass seems far more appealing.

The idea of transversing these two worlds doesn't concern me. I actually like it. I guess it is more the idea that they exist that is the issue. A recent visit back to NZ made me very aware of how far I have grown/gone on my Christian journey. Doing air guitar to a Rock Mass makes me realise that I am still the same person.

Love Action

2009-10-30T16:09:00.007+11:00

Hereby know we love,
because he laid down his life for us:
and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoso hath the world’s goods,
and beholdeth his brother in need,
and shutteth up his compassion from him,
how doth the love of God abide in him?
My little children,
let us not love in word,
neither with the tongue;
but in deed and truth.
1Jn 3:16-18 RV

On Friday, Ivy read the above out at her school Mass. Fewer things have made me prouder as a father than that. I love Ivy being involved in her school church services, but to reading from 1 John is a whole new level. When she was reading it to me to practice, I was struck by a few things, not least how advanced the thought is for a 6 year old. I know when I was that age, I wasn't thinking in these terms.

The other aspect that got me was how far into James territory this section of the letter is. I have always emphasized the "mystical" elements of this text, but here, pure and simple is a very socialist, James-like statement:

But whoso hath the world’s goods,
and beholdeth his brother in need,
and shutteth up his compassion from him,
how doth the love of God abide in him?

This is of course a very true statement. If God is Love, and if God does abide in us, how is it at all possible for us not be this love for everyone?

I honestly struggle with this. Some are more difficult to love than others. Sometimes I find it easy to love everyone and all creation. Then the next moment, I can only wonder why some people exist. Ouch. At those times, I can feel an awful distance come into my life, a separation of my being with that of God.

Anyway, these are the constant struggles which make up a part of the Christian journey. No one said it was going to be easy, not least Jesus Himself.

Here is a song I really dig, and dug when it came out.

The Human League: Love Action (1981)

Still around

2009-09-18T17:35:00.003+10:00

I have just noticed that I have not blooged for nearly 3 months. It is not that I have been overly busy, rather just doing other stuff. Like learning ancient Greek. Like the philosophy of psychology. Like hunting out some great Christian hippy music. Like sleeping.

Spirit, Light, Love.

2009-07-09T18:37:00.004+10:00

God is a Spirit:
and they that worship him
must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24 RV

God is light,
and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5 RV

God is love;
and he that abideth in love
abideth in God,
and God abideth in him.
1 John 4:16 RV

Todays Morning Prayer reading was from the Gospel of John again, this time from the Samaritan woman at the well.

The part that leapt out at me was

God is a Spirit:
and they that worship him
must worship in spirit and truth.
John 4:24 RV

It carries on from what I was saying in my previous post. It is not enough to profess the faith, it must be felt, otherwise it is hollow and meaningless.

A friend recently asked me what I thought God was: a he, and it, or whatever?I thought about these "God is....." sayings.

Spirit. Light. Love.

I agree with all these, but the one I have experienced is Love. The one I relate to, and think about the most is Light. For some reason this really appeals to me

God is light,
and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5 RV

No darkness! Pure 100% light. I instantly think of The Transfiguration.

Jesus became pure light in front of the three, and they understood it.

Imagine feeling love that was light.

And people say Jesus wasn't a hippy.

Sons unto Glory: The Harvest is Ripe

2009-07-06T20:50:00.008+10:00

The Harvest is Ripe

Sons unto Glory

1976

For it became him,
for whom are all things,
and through whom are all things,
in bringing many sons unto glory,
to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Hebrews 2:10 RV

Another recently discovered Jesus music gem has been the above album. It is not the most promising cover, I will admit, but it is a corker.

The opening second is a whispered "Praise Jesus". It is honest and really hippyish. It is a humble beginning for a great rural prog Jesus freak half an hour. Loads of organ, burning leads, funky bass work. The lead vocals are straight mid Seventies USA

The title track is a stunner. a 6 minute mainly instrumental with loads of clavinet and electric piano; very close to Todd Rundgren's Utopia (1974) album in sound. The song climaxes when the vocals kick in: "Come to Jesus; Lay your burdens down." It sounds like the most wonderful thing: relaxing, euphoric, hazy. Absolutely fantastic stuff.

The track that got me writing was "You must be born again". Not the best track, but it starts with a funky groove, with the singer talking over the top, about Jesus freaks, man, it's good news brother, and assorted hippy bits and bobs. When he says "it's good news" he is so happy, you vcan hear a hint of a laugh.

Todays 2nd reading at Morning Prayer was the section that deals with the idea of being born again:

Jesus answered,
Verily, verily,
I say unto thee,
Except a man be born of water and the Spirit,
he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee,
Ye must be born anew.
The wind bloweth where it listeth,
and thou hearest the voice thereof,
but knowest not whence it cometh,
and whither it goeth:
so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
John 3:5-8 RV

I don't regard myself as "born again". There are way to many bad connotations that go with such a phrase. I did go through a huge, instantaneous conversion. This changed my life immessurably. I don't think of it as being born again, more like layers of gunk being washed away. It wasn't so much becoming new, as revealing what was there all along.

What Jesus is saying to Nicodemus is that one needs to experience such a reawakening within oneself. It is not enough to start going to church and professing the faith. One needs to filled with the Spirit; one needs to allow this to happen. This is the way to the Kingdom of Heaven; and it starts as soon as you listen to the whisper of the Spirit.

The last song on The Harvest is Ripe is all about the whisper of the Spirit. A delicate song of acoustic guitar, with gorgeous string synth washes. A gentle ending to a great album.

You can download it here: The Ancient Star Song

First Revelation

2009-06-27T15:07:00.016+10:00

Along my journey of Jesus music, I have found many gems, and also a fair share of turkeys.

First Revelation are an example of a gem: odd, eclectic and shiny.

The band consisted of Danny Kimer who played all sorts of guitars, banjos, and probably many types of other stringed instruments. His wife, Lynda, sung and played organ and synthesizer. She had a voice like Grace Slick, and Danny played guitar like Jeff Beck and Chet Atkins.

First Revelation recorded three albums. The first was under the name Danny and Lynda, and was called "Gospel".

I have not been able to find this anywhere on the net, so I have no idea what it sounds like, but it is so on my hunt list.

The next album was recorded twice. I have heard the second version of this:

This is a fine album; it has some great stuff on it. The keyboard work is wonderful; a mix of monophonic moog lines and fairgroundlike organ. Lynda's voice is resonant and understated, yet emotional. Danny's guitars are all over the place: fuzz leads, banjo, and some serious smoking lead work. I instantly liked this album. There is something so odd about it. Lynda's keyboards are a bit sloppy, and loose, but so wwonderful and charming. They are in fact the main drawcard for me. Her organ sound is a bit cheesy and loopy, but it just adds to the overall coolness.

A couple of weeks after getting the This Side of Eternity, I went in search of the follow up, with not much luck. Eventually it turned up, and it has been a constant listen since. In many ways it is a better album than the other, a bit more together, more acoustic guitars. Lynda's keyboards are tighter, with a bit more moog work; her voice is richer. Yet, the production is a bit more homey, lo fi. That is not a problem in itself, but just surprising.

The lyrics to both albums are very Christian, no mucking about. The songs are about evangelising more than anything else. This is all fine, and in fact gives the whole vibe an even odder feel. I particularly like their take on "New Jerusalem".

You can find these albums at The Ancient Star Song.

There is much more info about the Kimers here.

When I heard these albums, I had no idea what the Kimers looked like.

When I went to the site that explained their story, I found the above pictures. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my wife looks like Lynda! Yet another reason to love this band.

MacMillan Greek New Testament Commentaries

2009-06-24T13:55:00.004+10:00

My current collecting obsession is the MacMillan Commentaries on the Greek New Testament. I have managed to get quite a few of them over the past year or so, but a few have eluded my grasp. For those so biblio-inclined, here is the list, that may or not be complete:

Matthew McNeile, 1915

Mark Swete, 1913

Luke Creed, 1930

John Westcott

Galatians Lightfoot, 1865

Ephesians Westcott

Philippians; Lightfoot, 1890

Colossians & Philemon Lightfoot, 1879

Thessalonians 1 & 2 Milligan

Hebrews Westcott, 1903

James; Mayor

1 Peter; Selwyn

2 Peter & Jude; Mayor

John 1, 2 & 3; Westcott 1883

Revelation; Swete

Titles in bold I do not have. Hint hint for birthday.....

These, combined with the International Critical Commentaries, would make a mighty exegetical bookshelf.

Wake up sleepy head!

2009-06-16T22:41:00.008+10:00

A great gale arose,
and the waves beat into the boat,
so that the boat was already being swamped.
But he was in the stern,
asleep on the cushion;
and they woke him up and said to him,
‘Teacher,
do you not care that we are perishing?’
He woke up and rebuked the wind
Mark 4:37-39 NRSV

One of the factors within the stilling of the storm is the fact that Jesus is asleep, and the disciples are worried and think that he doesn't care.

Within Mark's Gospel (and the other synoptics, but we are dealing with Mark here. To me it makes sense to compare Mark with Mark. It is his wording and version of events that is being looked at.) this is the only time Jesus is actually stated as being asleep. This isn't to say that He didn't sleep at other times. In fact, when He does stay up all night, a point is made of it. However, the fact that this is the only time Mark actually mentions Jesus sleeping may be of some import.

Within the Psalms of the OT sleep is used in two different ways. One expresses an idea of when things are bad, God is viewed as being asleep:

Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord?
Awake, do not cast us off for ever!
Why do you hide your face?
Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?
Psalm 44 23-24 NRSV

This is how the disciples on the boat are thinking.

Another representation where being able to sleep can represent complete trust in God:

I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O Lord,
make me lie down in safety.
Psalm 4:8 NRSV

This is how Jesus is represented in the boat. He has complete faith in the Father. Storm or no, He knows it will be fine. This may be a little easy however.

In this case, I think the agony at Gethsemane may hold the meaning

On the boat, it is Jesus who is asleep, and the disciples who wake him up.

In Gethsemane, Jesus asks the disciples to stay awake, yet they fall asleep.

‘Abba,
Father,
for you all things are possible;
remove this cup from me;
yet,
not what I want,
but what you want.’
Mark 14:36 NRSV

Here, Jesus lets us know what the whole point of it is. It is about what we want, or think is fair. It is really about letting go. It is about trusting, faith, and knowing that what God wants for us is.

I have to admit I am finding this the most difficult part of all this. I really want to say that when Jesus was aware of the full extent of what lay in store for Him at Calvary, He too was worried. He too asked God the Father to sort it out for Him. But it isn't that simple. He adds, that He is aware it is not His decision, but the Father's. He was aware of the awfulness of what was to occur, yet He had total faith in God the Father. He trusted.

If we are Christians, how do we respond? When our lives turn to mush?

‘Why are you afraid?
Have you still no faith?’

Is there anybody out there?

2009-06-15T00:20:00.008+10:00

‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’

‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’

These two phrases are key to what the passage of the stilling of the storm is really about, and what we can take from it for our own lives.

The storm of course represents any form of grief that we may be going through.

Depression, illness, unemployment, anxiety, lack of money, lonliness, tension, conflict.....

The list could go on and on.

Within the context of the story, the storm arrives very quickly. A few moments ago, Jesus was teaching. Of the go, to the other side, then the clouds gather. If it was looking too dodgy, I doubt they would have decided to cross. Also, the fact the Jesus has had time to have a little kip gives us an idea of the length of the voyage.

The point is that these storms can come up on us quickly. An extra bill in the mail can change a whole month, can change all sorts of plans. Can change hope into despair. A fall may brake a bone. A cold can turn into a flu, from a sniffle to a week in bed. Who's going to cook dinner? A discussion can quickly turn into a disagreement, into a feud. A friend can move away to another city, or country. A friend may pass away. All of a sudden we may realise that we are in fact quite alone.

It is at these moments we can be like the disciples in the boat with Jesus:

‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’

"Why am I going through this?"

"What have I done to deserve this"

"How come this is happening now?"

"Lord, help me through this"

We feel we have been deserted by God, we are alone in the storm. It seems as though God does not care.

In the reading, Jesus sorts the storm out. Then He says

‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’

Indeed.

Why do we assume that things going wrong, the storm, means God does not care?

That'll learn 'em

2009-06-08T19:17:00.005+10:00

Christ Stilling the Waves

Edward Burne Jones

(1880)

On that day,
when evening had come,
he said to them,
‘Let us go across to the other side.’

And leaving the crowd behind,
they took him with them in the boat,
just as he was.
Other boats were with him.

A great gale arose,
and the waves beat into the boat,
so that the boat was already being swamped.

But he was in the stern,
asleep on the cushion;
and they woke him up and said to him,
‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’

He woke up and rebuked the wind,
and said to the sea,
‘Peace! Be still!’
Then the wind ceased,
and there was a dead calm.

He said to them,
‘Why are you afraid?
Have you still no faith?’

And they were filled with great awe and said to one another,
‘Who then is this,
that even the wind and the sea obey him?’
Mark 4:35-41 NRSV

I am currently preparing my second sermon of the year, based on the above passage.

It is a wonderful section of the Gospels, and Mark's version is my favourite telling of this event. In typical Marcan fashion, he places the moods of the disciples closer to the surface than the other evangelists. Throughout Mark, the disciples seem hopeless, they don't understand anything, and seem to constantly need reassurance. They doubt Jesus' divinity.

Yet, in Mark, Jesus is also a bit stroppier. The episode where he curses the fig tree, and in the above passage:

He said to them,
‘Why are you afraid?
Have you still no faith?’

In Matthew and Luke, He is gentler toward them; he understands they not understanding. Here in Mark, you can almost hear His frustration. How much more will they need? As we know, it will take a lot more than just claming a storm to prove who He is.

Before going into some homelitical exegesis, there are two bits of information that aren't in the reading, but from earlier within the same chapter.

Again he began to teach beside the lake.
Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the lake
and sat there,
while the whole crowd was beside the lake on the land.
Mark 4:1 NRSV

This lets us know where Jesus was, the fact that He was already in the boat, and that He had been teaching there before. This was not a new occurance, but I suspect this is the largest crowd He has had up to this point. There were so many people, He had to step into the boat, either for the sake of space, or to gain height so a larger than expected crowd could hear and see Him.

I like to think there is something about the fact that He alone is on water, while severyone else is on land. Something for further investigation.

Jesus then taeches in a series of parables. After this Mark informs us:

he did not speak to them except in parables,
but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Mark 4:34 NRSV

To the average punter, He spoke in mysterious tales. Those who get it will get it. However, He will explain all this in full to His disciples. I can't help but think that the stilling of the storm is one such occasion.

Jesus sleeps, the storm comes, the disciples freak out and complain to Him that He doesn't care. Was this a test? Was the stilling of the storm an enacted parable to teach faith?

Glory Road Exit

2009-06-07T21:20:00.005+10:00

Glory Road

Exit

1977

Over the past six or so months, I have raved on about certain Jesus music albums: Jimmy Hotz, Concrete Rubber Band etc. The one album that has really blown me away is "Exit" by Glory Road.

A wonderful mix of progressive rock and acoustic country folk, with vocal harmonies that CSN would be proud of. It also has some nice touches, like backwards guitars, atmospheric synths, and to top it all off, the lead singer, Greg Williams has a fantastic voice.

The lyrics are very Christian, but not in an evangelical, "come and be a Christian" kind of way. They speak of the Christian experience with a sense of beauty and mystery. Conversion is sung of in terms that are dreamlike and warm. It is really a beautiful album. It is however, a bit patchy. Five of the eight songs are complete stunners however.

I love this album, and would love for it to reach as many people as possible.

Here is a link to download the whole thing: Exit- Glory Road

But before you go ahead and download that, bear in mind:

The sound quality of this transfer is very poor. It might as well be single channel. It is boomy and very unclear.All that being said, it is still manages to get through.

However, joy of joys, yesterday I found another source of mp3's. These are quality, taken from clean vinyl, and the difference is huge. The guitars chime and glisten, the harmonies shimmer, the keyboards create an atmosphere that is mysterious and wondrous. Four of the five aforementioned stunners can be downloaded here from Bernie Rolfe's site:

Please give these songs a listen. This is easily one of my favourite albums, and easily my favourite Jesus Music album.

If you know anything about this band, album, or know what any of the guys are up to, please leave a comment.

Poverty, oppression and the Incarnation in the Kingdom of God

2009-06-02T19:47:00.002+10:00

And the Word became flesh and lived among us
John 1.14 NRSV

The incarnation and Jesus’ teaching on the perils of wealth are two inseparable concepts. The narratives surrounding His birth (The Annunciation, The Visitation, and The Nativity) show that even before He became flesh, His mission was for the poor and the oppressed. By looking at the implications of God becoming man for society and what Jesus taught about the social equality of the Kingdom of God, we can see that the incarnation is ultimately linked to social justice.

The incarnation is the central and unique principle of Christianity;[1] God took our common nature to himself.[2] Without assuming human nature, the Son of God could not have lived and realised a truly human history.[3] A Jesus who is not truly divine implies a God who was unwilling to assume our condition, therefore not placing a high value on humanity.[4]

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

John 3:16 NRSV

By the Word becoming flesh, the brotherhood of all men became a reality for humankind.[5] By the incarnation, the Son of God claims the Kingdom for God over the whole of human life; this goes beyond transforming conditions, but to transforming the whole meaning of all life.[6] It is the manifestation of divine goodness in the flesh, in Jesus as Son of God first, then through the Holy Spirit in members of his mystical body.[7] It is the redemption of the physical body, therefore also of the social relations of the life lived in the body, and of the whole social, economic and political structure.[8] In Christ all men become brothers.[9] The unity of the whole human race was proclaimed. Every human being was declared to be an infinitely sacred and precious thing, with transcendent rights to the fullest development.[10] The separation of the sacred and secular was broken down. The will of God comes to us through our relationships with common humanity which God has taken on himself. It is impossible for those who don’t love those they have seen to love God which they haven’t seen; it is impossible because of the incarnation.[11]

We can see the importance of the socialist message of the incarnation by looking at the texts that deal with Jesus before His earthly ministry. In the Gospel of Luke, where hear that God is to become flesh at the Annunciation, when Gabriel says to Mary:

And now,

you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,

and you will name him Jesus.

He will be great,

and will be called the Son of the Most High,

and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.

He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever,

and of his kingdom there will be no end.’

Luke 1:31-33 NRSV

This is the news of the incarnation; God in midst of Gods people. While it may not have any socialist message, it is interesting to note that the annunciation takes place to a young woman in a house, not to a person of power in an important place.[12]

Mary then goes to visit Elizabeth at her home to serve her. (Luke 1:39-56) Like the previous annunciation, this idea of home reinforces the idea of commonality.[13] In the Magnificat, the socialist ideal is strong and irrefutable. Mary thanks God for what is about to occur with the incarnation:

He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

Luke 1:51-53 NRSV

The Magnificat has been called a 'Christian Manifesto,' Stuart Headlam called it “the hymn of the universal social revolution" and the “Marseillaise of humanity."[14] In it, we hear God's new deal for the poor and oppressed, His special concern for the poor.[15] It tells us that we must embrace all humanity; the social doctrine of the church should begin at “he has bought down”.[16] The Magnificat shows us that God himself takes up the cause of the poor. We are to be on their side; to struggle against exploitation and oppression.[17] It calls for an end to dictatorship, or of money being a master. Most of all, it expects solidarity to the poor.[18] “A Pope has declared that the Blessed Virgin is the great foe of Socialism. If the Magnificat be her song, it would be far more reasonable to call her the Mother of it."[19]

The Nativity also belies the socialist nature of the incarnation. Jesus was born in a stable, not a palace or temple:

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth,

and laid him in a manger,

because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:7 NRSV

The first people to be informed of His birth were shepherds; common working men, not religious or political rulers. (Luke 2:8-20) Jesus could have been class He chose; the Jews expected the Messiah to appear as a great Prince.[20] Judaism had invented its own ideologies concerning the saviour. Jesus’ life and teaching was a radical challenge against this. [21]

Within Jesus’ teaching, there is constant criticism of materialism.[22] He was not a social reformer who produced a “socio- economic blueprint for society”.[23] His incarnation is concerned with the whole of life.[24] In our competitive capitalist culture indifferent and selfish masters promote limitless economic growth, and oppress the men who work within it.[25] Mechanisation has either robbed labour of its dignity or has made many people surplus to requirements. But a worker is more than a worker; he is an individual and a citizen. [26] His ultimate value is not merely his value to himself or to society; it is his value to God. Everyone is a soul that God created as act of his love, and every human being is unique and irreplaceable, because they are a child of God.[27]

The first public speech of Jesus proclaimed a social revolution,[28]

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

Luke 4:18-19 NRSV

He announces the dawn of a new era. This is echoed later in the Beatitudes, where money is a central issue:

Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
‘Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.

Luke 6:20-21 NRSV

The Kingdom will belong to the poor, the hungry, and the sorrowful and the persecuted, while the comfortable, well-fed and successful are the targets of the mirror image woes. [29] The rich are then condemned for their indifference to the sufferings of the poor and their profiteering.

Give to everyone who begs from you;

and if anyone takes away your goods,

do not ask for them again.

Luke 6:30 NRSV

If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive,

what credit is that to you?

Even sinners lend to sinners,

to receive as much again.

Luke 6:34 NRSV

The highest expression of love is free surrender of what is truly ours; our life, property, and rights. A lower level is the surrender of any opportunity to exploit others. [30] This is not a condemnation of wealth, it is more that the pursuit of wealth will numb all sense of spiritual reality,[31] creating “a permanent barrier to complete surrender to God's will and the demands of the Kingdom” [32] The pursuit of wealth breeds arrogance, self satisfaction, smugness and indifference to others’ needs. [33] Jesus wanted to put material matters into perspective, to encourage his followers to trust God, to store up their treasures in heaven, not on earth.[34] The service of God is incompatible with mammon.[35] The pursuit of wealth is seen as an obstacle of entry into the Kingdom of God.[36]

The Kingdom of God was central to Jesus’ mission. He expresses the idea over 100 times in the Gospels. [37] The Kingdom is “spiritual and historical, eternal and temporal, outward and inward, visible and invisible, both a system and an energy”. It is not constrained by the conditions of present existence, but is manifest under them.[38] It is not of this world, but very much in it. [39] The Kingdom of God is not confined to church; it embraces the whole of human life[40]. It is humanity organised to the will of God.[41] The event of the incarnation tells us what the will of God is, and is told to us through the infancy narratives: to help the poor and oppressed. By God becoming man, He was showing us His love and the value He places on humankind, and making the brotherhood of all men a true reality. Jesus’ teaching throughout His earthly ministry is consistent with the ideals stated before His birth, and reinforced those ideals of social justice and equality.

Bibliography

Coste, Rene; The Magnificat (1988) Claretian Publications: Quezon City

Dearmer, Percy; Socialism and Christianity (1907) The Fabian Society:London www.anglocatholicsocialism.co.uk

Dowell, Graham; The Magnificat. A Christian Manifesto?

www.anglocatholicsocialism.co.uk

Gebara, Ivone; and Maria Clara Bingemer; Mary, Mother of God, Mother of the Poor (1989) Orbis: New York

Gore, Charles; The Incarnation of the Son of God (1898) John Murray: London

Griffiths, Brian; Morality and the Marketplace (1982) Hodder and Stoughton: London

A.G. Herbert; Liturgy and Society (1956) Faber and Faber: London

O’Collins, Gerald; Incarnation (2002)Continuum: London

Orens, John R; “Dancing the Magnificat” www.anglocatholicsocialism.co.uk

Ramsey; A.M.; From Gore to Temple (1960) Longmans: London.

Rauschenbusch, Walter; A Theology for the Social Gospel (1978) Abingdon: Nashville

Temple, William; Essays in Christian Politics and Kindred Subjects (1927) Longmans, Green and Co: London

Walker, W.L.; The Spirit of the Incarnation (1907) T&T Clark: London

Westcott, B.F.; Social Aspects of Christianity (1888) MacMillan & Co: London