Do you remember your first day at school? I experienced fear of the unknown, lack of confidence and being unsure of what lay ahead.  I was shy and scared on my own and everyone looked bigger than me. Yet after a while I felt more confident around the classroom with my teacher and I made friends. The fear went and for the first time I felt more comfortable. As time went by what I learnt and I used it enhanced my ability to deal with every situation.

Acts 2:1-13

I believe it was just like that for the apostles on Pentecost Sunday. Gathered together in a room unsure of what to do now Jesus had gone they felt uncertain. However when they became filled with the Holy Spirit they were prepared to take risks and able to do things beyond their comprehension, e.g. speak in foreign languages without learning them first. Imagine if we could do that.

They proclaimed that Jesus was indeed the Son of God and through his resurrection was the way to eternal life. Through such a proclamation they were placing their own lives in jeopardy. Yet for the first time people were hearing about eternal salvation.

Like with our learning we have a choice to listen to the word of God, hence increasing our life choices which gives greater meaning and purpose to our lives.

You Will Be My Witnesses” Luke 24:48

This was the challenge that Jesus gave his disciples before he ascended into heaven.

I often agree to do something for someone else without realising the implications of what I have agreed to.  The disciples possibly had no understanding that proclaiming the message of salvation that began in Jerusalem is now heard by Christians throughout the world today.

I now reflect on how I may have had an impact on others through my work and in my relationships without realising the implications I may have had on their lives. It is important to be has a Christian that my life and my actions witness the message that Jesus first proclaimed of salvation. In other words through a faith in God we can make the impossible, possible.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give as the world gives.”

For me when I reflect on what peace means I think about being in harmony both in my relationships with others and the world around me.

Peace begins with my family by creating harmony through both my words and actions. Making sure that I think before I ask someone to do something or if I offer suggestions that involve change expect feedback. It is always important to evaluate your interactions with others and be positive to ensure your relationships are healthy and open.

The most important point I would argue is to consider that no situation is hopeless. By being persistent and never giving up I have always believed is the catalyst for change. This is the peace that Jesus gave us the faith to believe that we are agents of change.

In last Sunday’s Gospel from John 13:34 Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment, “love one another just as I have loved you. By this everyone will know you are my disciples.”

Hence Jesus was challenging the disciples to live a faith that went beyond words but was demonstrated through their actions. The very challenge Christians face today in their own lives. I believe that by exhibiting positive actions it inspires others in their own faith and encourages us to persist in the task of seeing the good in others no matter how trying the circumstances. Furthermore it is amazing how differently I judge the words and actions of others when I examine the circumstances from their point of view.

This was one of the greatest challenges Jesus gave his disciples and he also asks us to demonstrate in our lives today.

 Reflecting on last Sunday’s Gospel Reading , John 20:1-9 I am reminded like Peter about the scripture,

“for as yet they did not understand the scripture that he must rise from the dead.”

Two thoughts I have reflected on about this scripture verse.

That when Peter was listening to Jesus teaching was he failing to understand what Jesus meant or was it beyond his comprehension.

Sometimes I think events turn out in ways we never expected and if we knew beforehand how they were to turn out it would perhaps be better we didn’t know.

Furthermore Peter needed to trust Jesus when he told them that in three days he would rise from the dead. I find it particularly hard to put my faith in people or events that I have no control over until the event has actually occurred.

I realise like Peter I need to listen, trust and have faith in others and that requires not having control over but being excited about the outcomes. Maybe they might even exceed my expectations.

As a small boy how Jesus could be proclaimed a King on Palm Sunday and five days later the same crowd were calling for him to be crucified. Why?

As an older person I realized that in many situations in life people express a different viewpoint to mine and I believe this is reflected in the events of Holy  Week.

For many of the crowd they believed that Jesus was to be the liberator from Roman Rule and whatever else was causing them to feel angry at the world.

However what Jesus offered was a different philosophy about the way we should live our lives not a solution. That was to bring about change through love not seeking power. Unfortunately not everyone embraced this philosophy and because they didn’t like what they heard or saw it as threatening the status quo Jesus died on a cross. He was crucified for having a different opinion.Fortunately, three days later he rose from the dead and his message to love lives on today.

Last Sunday’s Gospel John 8:1-11 was the story about the woman who was going to stoned until Jesus said,

“Let anyone without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

What Jesus is challenging us to think about is not to be so quick to judge based on your own perceptions and the court of public opinion but to critically evaluate s the situation so you make a wise choice.

One day my wife and I were walking down the street on extremely hot day in Port Adelaide where we saw an elderly woman lying in a daze on the footpath. As several people walked past her or over the top of her my wife, a heavily set man with tattoos and I stopped to see what happened.

The woman had not been drinking as some people may have assessed and been reluctant to help but as we found out she had suffered heat stroke.

My wife went into the nearby chicken shop and asked them to call an ambulance and bought her a drink while the man and I tried to make her comfortable.

Finally the ambulance came and as the elderly woman climbed in she handed my wife a posy of flowers that she had been clutching on to.

It was a very powerful image to me of how kindness won over judgement.

In last Sunday’s Gospel, Luke 15: 11-32 was the Parable of the Lost Son. 

The latter part of the parable refers to the older brother who was angry. This was because the Father embraced the son who had left and spent all his inheritance on himself while he dutifully stayed at home.

There are three points I would like to make that illustrate the elder brother’s response. 

Firstly, the elder brother feels unappreciated by the Father as he stayed home and did what he was asked while the younger brother got to go out and have a good time.

Secondly, he felt jealousy and resentment towards the younger brother. He also would have felt the Father favoured his younger brother because on his return he was rewarded by the Father with a party while he had never received the offer of any celebration.

Finally, the question for the elder brother is he needs to question what his motivation is for working on his Father’s property. At the moment he is looking at the actions of his Father and brother purely from his own point of view. 

I believe through the elder brother, Jesus is challenging us to change our perceptions towards any situation despite what we may believe result in unfair outcomes. He is asking us to put ourselves in other people’s shoes and perhaps our view of what occurred may change. God through the forgiving Father has demonstrated that no matter the situation there will always be love and compassion for us. The change comes from us.

This weeks gospel is from Luke 13: 1-9

“A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.

“Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’

“But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

‘And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’

The two major points that I would like to raise about this parable are the expectations that the owner of the vineyard had on the fig tree and the patience of keeper of the vineyard to give my time for the tree to bear fruit.

The scripture challenges us not to be quick to destroy something that we hoped would be of benefit to us despite not fulfilling our expectations. Too often we place expectations on others that we would not liked placed on ourselves. Thus we need to be like the keeper of the vineyard not to hastily judge or act but to display patience that will eventually reward us. Hence by giving people or events the time and support they require we are providing them with the opportunity to succeed.

Why did Jesus choose the desert to confront temptation is the question I would like to reflect on today?

After 40 days and nights he was surely at his most vulnerable and he did not to succumb but demonstrated great mental strength as an inspiration to us all in this period of Lent.

The desert symbolizes for us not only life’s struggle as Jesus overcomes the harsh climatic conditions of the desert but also a time of reflection on the way we can balance our life and keep moving forward positively.

The three notable passages of scripture that I would reflect on and how it relates to my own life during Lent are:

“One does not live by bread alone.” Luke 4:4

Jesus states that we need to continue to hunger for God despite the difficulties we face or choices we have that provide satisfaction for only a short time. The challenge for me is to think before I act and not eat so much chocolate.

“Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” Luke 4:8

Jesus asks us to serve God by serving others. The challenge for me is not just to serve but to have a purpose that becomes sustainable process for those I serve not just a rescue mission.

“Do not put the Lord your God to the test ”Luke 4:12

Jesus invites us to allow God in our lives and request through prayer God’s help and not try to do everything ourselves.The challenge for me is to ask for help or ask different people to help me.

All three of these challenges continue to occur regularly in our lifelong faith journey.