Sunday reflections

The parable in this week’s gospel tells us about the experience of being loved. It is about a father who shares his love equally with both his sons and as they mature into adulthood, he gives them space to make their own decisions.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. I saw these words on a poster in an employment agency I blessed. Yes, so often we judge others, based on first impressions. Once formed, first impressions can be difficult to let go, in order for us to give someone another chance or see them anew. It’s not easy to change our opinions or judgements.

In Celtic Christianity, there is a concept of “thin spaces”—places where the boundary between the earthly and the divine feels particularly close. In the Biblical stories, mountains often serve as “thin spaces”, where moments of transcendence lead to direct encounters with the sacred.

As we begin the season of Lent, we hear Luke’s version of the three temptations of Jesus at the beginning of his public ministry. His responses will determine the direction of his mission.

This week’s first reading offers the kind of pithy advice that would have been common in the ancient world. In this case, the author of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus as also called, encourages the reader to test the words and actions of others. This way, we avoid looking foolish for endorsing someone with egregious character flaws.

In the Book of Samuel, we find two mortal enemies, David and Saul, in conflict. Saul is the anointed King of Judah and David has been anointed to succeed him. What happens next is an all too familiar human story. David is jealous of Saul’s power; Saul is suspicious of David’s motives.

The banksia, unlike many other Australian native plant species, is not destroyed by bushfires. In fact, the fire’s extreme heat and smoke helps it regenerate. The heat, as well as the chemicals from the smoke and ash, trigger the opening of the banksia’s woody seed cases which releases the seeds within. These seeds are dispersed and subsequently germinate in rich soil.

In this week’s gospel, we witness the all-too-familiar story of Jesus by the Sea of Galilee calling Simon Peter and other fisherfolk to join him in his mission. Unlike similar call stories in Mark (1:16-20) and Mathew (4:18-22), the journey to discipleship in Luke is not a single moment of decisive conversion but rather a gradual process, marked by repeated encounters, personal challenges, and an evolving understanding of Jesus’ identity.

Have you ever wondered what God looks like? Various images might come to mind, but why not turn to the person next to you who is made in the image and likeness of God? But, what if God looks like this baby? A child whose crying wakes us and worries us at moments as we hold them close, a child who depends on us for life.

Returning home after more than eleven years ‘on mission’ overseas has been a challenging and confronting experience. So much has changed. I’ve changed. Society has changed. The Church has changed. So much is unfamiliar to me and I’m ‘unknown’. I feel like a foreigner in the country I call home.