Book: Luke

In the birth of the baby we see the presence of God in smallness and obscurity, enabling us to see that small beginnings are no obstacle to big visions of the reign of justice and peace and freedom.

God is so totally about life, life and more life, that we have trouble comprehending anything of what God is on about.

Letting go of the idea that we can earn God’s favour is very difficult for most people, but it is a key to enjoying the fullness of life and grace.

Jesus calls us to be open to others, not shutting anyone out of our consciousness or care, and treating all as beloved neighbours.

A sense of shame can be God’s invitation to accept healing and new life.

Faith is not the absence of doubt, but the courage and trust to be faithful to God in your your actions and life, despite doubts and disappointments.

The Lord’s Prayer is given to us, the Church, as a model to shape all our praying.

God’s anger over injustice and hypocrisy is the hot passionate anger of a lover betrayed and aggrieved, an anger which craves reconciliation and rekindled love, not punishment.

God’s call to us is to be the embodiment of divine compassion.

Christ calls us together into a spirit-filled body in the face of demonic forces that would seek to drive us apart and trick us into the fatal error of going it alone.

We are called to confront and oppose the abuse of power, but also to continue to love and offer forgiveness to those whose actions we are opposing.

When drought and death threaten to destroy us, God will bring us through the barren times and raise us back to life, for doing so is the defining sign of God’s presence.