Last Sunday, between worship services, I went for a hike up at Scott Creek. I was hunting for the crucifix orchid (Orthoceras strictum) which, in that spot, can be a pale green colour. I spotted a couple of the maroon-coloured ones in flower, but no green. Just along the track at that point, there is…
Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane. It’s the night of His betrayal and arrest. Tomorrow He will be crucified. He says to some of His disciples, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Mt 26:38). He moves away to pray, and upon returning,…
I waited for you (Luke 15:20) During last Sunday’s Poetry Church, we reflected on one of Jesus’ best-known parables. That of a man whose son takes his inheritance early, squandering the lot in a distant country, only to find himself with nothing. We read, “he had spent everything… he had nothing… no one would give…
Some of you may know that my Dad is a retired Baptist preacher back in England. For the past six years or so, I’ve sent him occasional copies of sermons that I’ve prepared. I always welcome his feedback. Earlier this week, I sent him copies of two recent sermons, which are based on the upcoming…
Remember those in prison as if you were bound with them (Hebrews 13:3) I was very moved this week by a story I read in the news. Discovered only last week, tucked between the pages of a Bible owned by Dorothy Day, was a handwritten note by St Teresa of Calcutta to Dorothy Day. It…
I went hiking on Saturday. The weather was good, and there were plenty of orchids to see. I had woken up early and rushed through most of my weekend chores, so that my time would be clear and uninterrupted. The hours passed slowly in the scrub of a local conservation park. With just the occasional…
“Who do you say that I AM?” (Mt 16:15) In today’s reading, Jesus asks His disciples, “But who do YOU say that I AM?” (Mt 16:15.) Peter answers: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt 16:16). In John’s Gospel there is another encounter between Jesus and Peter that builds on this.…
The Season of flowers and singing (Song 2:12) Some of you know that I’m a keen gardener, as well as a keen hiker and trekker on the Heysen and other local trails. It’s not a new passion – I grew up in my dad’s greenhouse, my entire childhood it seems was spent in or around…
Clayton Wesley, 6 August 2023. Pentecost 10: “You give them something to eat” (Mt 14:16) Mt 14:13-31, Psalm 145:8-16 We were thinking a few weeks ago about Jesus’ miracle of turning water into wine, and it being the best wine. And we considered how the Bible is full of images of God’s provision, of invitations…
Clayton Wesley, 25 June 2023. Pentecost 6: “You’ve kept the good wine until now!” (Jn 2:10b) Song 2:10b-13 and John 2:1-11 If there’s one thing I *love*, it’s a special occasion. And nothing quite beats a wedding for me! For all sorts of reasons: on one level, there’s the thought that in a world full…