Our slide for our station at Good Friday’s ‘Way of the Cross’ Ecumenical Walk.
Author Archives: marcuscurnow
#40 Find Hope to Start Again, Resurrection and Renewal #40WAYS40DAYS
Mark 16:1-8a
The Resurrection of Jesus
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
Reflection
When my grandfather passed away I was devastated and full of grief. In the midst of my mourning I took comfort that I would be reunited with him again, because he was a believer in Jesus who is the “resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
If we go over two thousand years back in time, we can imagine the devastation and grief of Jesus’ women disciples at the empty tomb of Jesus. They were there to embalm his dead body with spices, but instead were the first to hear of Jesus’ resurrection.
The angel said to them: “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’” (Mark 16:6-8). These words though spoken to women in grief, have something to say to us right now.
I think it is significant that the angel specifically mentioned Peter’s name here, because it is an example of Gods grace to us all in the midst of our failures. Like Peter we may intend to live lives fully committed to Jesus, yet in reality we may often miss the mark. How amazing that at the scene of announcing Jesus resurrection particular care is given for Peter to hope again and be renewed by the Easter events!
Lastly, the women were told to tell Peter that Jesus wanted to go meet him in Galilee, the place where Peter’s discipleship began when he was a fisherman. But, Peter stayed in Jerusalem locked behind locked doors scared and afraid.
When my grandfather died, my grief kept me locked up until I thought of Jesus resurrecting power. It returned my thoughts to my own personal ‘Galilee’, the place where my faith began. Like the women at the grave, I too have heard the proclamation of Jesus resurrection. This powerful reality gave me the hope I needed to go on after my grandfathers’ death and also the renewal to go on when I fail in my Christian walk.
With Jesus there is always hope to start again, the resurrection of hopeless situations and the renewal of our faith.
NM, Newmarket Baptist
#31 Handle Power… #40ways40days2015
40 WAYS IN 40 DAYS LENT 2015
#31 Handle Power
Mark 10:35-45
35James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36And he said to them, “What is it you want me to do for you?” 37And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” 39They replied, “We are able.” Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
41When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42So Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
Servanthood
Be honest, how many of us would like to hang out with successful or well-known people. People feted and sought after by others. I’m not sure how famous Bishop Gene Robinson is (he’s the first ordained openly gay bishop in the worldwide Anglican Communion), but I do remember how some, from those involved with his visit, were keen to keep his company as much as possible. And yes I was possibly a bit jealous.
Conversely are we so keen to hang out with those who form the almost invisible deprived groups in our society: the homeless; the hungry; the sick and the suffering. Jesus is particularly portrayed in Mark as the servant/slave of others. Mark provides more detail than the other Gospels on Jesus’ acts of diligent and faithful service to others for God and, to the shock of his disciples, he calls them to do the same!
Of course, other than Jesus himself, we have great saints to show us the way. Mother Theresa, who established a community of nuns to work in the slums of Calcutta, has been a great inspiration to many. She also insisted that she received as much as she gave. While working with people, who knew real material poverty, she also found great richness and beauty. To her western supporters she once said:
‘We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.’
and also:
‘Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty’.
To serve others, who are in more difficult circumstances than ourselves, can be tough and difficult. It can take us away from our comfort zone into unknown territory and expose us to others with different values and interests. It can also be a wonderful opportunity to widen our world and to rediscover what is truly important.
So are we willing to take the risk?
– Tim H, Moreland Baptist
#13 Flight / Retreat… #40ways40days2015
40 WAYS IN 40 DAYS LENT 2015
#13 Flight/Retreat
Mark 4: 35-41
35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Story
Recently I had the opportunity to go over to the other side…of the Indian Ocean to Kerala. I was super stoked this opportunity had come my way and couldn’t wait to get back to a place that brings me such life. But getting there wasn’t so easy. There were children to consider and generous babysitters to arrange and a house to be cleaned so the babysitters could move in and meals to be cooked and frozen and work schedules altered and business to be put on hold and unhappy clients to be dealt with and bags to be carefully packed and safety and security to be considered and Australian like gifts for hosts to be purchased and trips to chemist warehouse to get litres of hand sanitiser and malaria tablets and hair to be cut and eyebrows to be threaded and appropriate clothing to be thought about (have you ever seen how amazingly groomed Indian women are in all circumstances!) and my baby and big kinder girl to say goodbye to and it all got a little out of hand really!
And so it really shouldn’t have surprised us that after 5 hours in transit in Malaysia, and perhaps a bit of a long nap and we actually missed our flight to India! We love a good travel story and we always say “its all about the journey, not the destination,” but really we felt pretty stupid!
Naturally I was pretty relieved to get to finally get to India. I love India for all sorts of reasons but mainly because I can always seem to find a bit of calm amongst the chaos. This time however, the experience wasn’t so much about the roads or the marketplace or the living conditions but about myself. It was time to find my calm amongst my chaos.
Staying on an island amongst the Keralan backwaters we found ourselves in a little cottage perched on the edge of a large rice paddy. There was a stillness there I have never experienced before. There seemed to be little wind or breeze and such quietness that when the prayers from early morning Catholic mass, the Hindu chants from the temple, the bells from the orthodox church and the birds and bats flying in all mingled together over that rice paddy field in a moment of tranquility.
It reminded me of the good old psalm – “Be still and know that I am God (46:10)” I always thought if only I could be still for a moment I might receive that revelation, that epiphany. But staying those 4 nights on the Keralan backwaters I realized that God is the stillness – that the epiphany doesn’t come in the stillness but rather the stillness is the epiphany. By becoming aware of and grabbing hold of the stillness of God and entering it and trusting it we then can be renewed. Oswald Chambers wrote, “the stillness enables us to bring about spiritual initiative…we have to get ourselves up! Then God will give us the power of life.”
It’s interesting to ponder that when the disciples were travelling over to the other side Jesus didn’t prevent the storm but instead calmed it down when the boat was nearly swamped. The disciples had to seek out Jesus in the storm. Without the storm perhaps the disciples would not have experienced the stillness.
And so I grab hold of my rice paddy moment when things are getting a little our of hand and know that my peace comes from Jesus Christ…and then the chaos usually resumes with my little bit of calm amongst it. (Which is precisely why this day 13 Lenten reflection is a week or so late – sorry about that!)
I hope this Lent you are able to find Jesus amongst your chaos.
– Cathie S. Newmarket Baptist
#19 Sent to Travel Light (Heal and Exorcise)…#40ways40days2015
40 WAYS IN 40 DAYS LENT 2015
#19 Sent to Travel Light (Heal and Exorcise)
Mark 6:7-13
He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’ So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Reflection
When I’m in Cambodia I always look forward to staying in Phnom Penh. One of the highlights of my time there is to give alms to the monks. Early in the morning they circulate through the city, and approach homes and villages with their begging bowls. Though I’m a Christian I cannot but honour those who choose to pray and mediate, to live incredibly simply, giving up all except for two saffron robes. Usually I’m in a café reading the paper with my coffee. When they approach I come forward, head down, shoes removed and place my offering in the bowl. They then respond with a chanted blessing.
Jesus’ call to his disciples to take nothing is part of a long tradition where nomadic prophets and healers roamed the countryside, unencumbered by the trappings of a home or its possessions. Unlike our western culture, all encompassing hospitality was a central feature of Semitic culture. When people invited you into their homes, you become part of the family and can stay for as long as you wish.
Jesus desired his followers to live like he did. He started with the synagogues, but after finding rejection, he now went about the villages. Likewise he wished his followers to be free to go where the Spirit directed them, and to visit the people and families directly in their homes.
The monks in Cambodia live simply. They have one meal a day, live together in dormitory style accommodation and participate in regular prayer in the temple. I’ll never forget the day I had the opportunity to travel to visit a temple in the remote north-eastern part of the country. While I was there I offered English classes. Before the classes I was invited to share in the daily meal, composed of all the rice they had been offered together with the food purchased by the alms given that morning. It was a humbling and touching experience.
May we desire to live simply as people of God: attuned to the call of the Spirit; open to speak and authentically live out our faith; and prepared to minister to others. May we live lives where we are not obsessed with our possessions: our need to pay for them; maintain them; and protect them, but instead focussed on what is truly important.
This I pray.
– Tim H, Moreland Baptist
#15 Cross to the Dark Side (Re-location)…#40ways40days2015
40 WAYS IN 40 DAYS LENT 2015
#15 Cross to the Dark Side (Relocation)
Mark 5:35-41; 6:45,47-48
While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum’, which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.
When evening came, the boat was out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the lake. He intended to pass them by.
Reflection
As a child like many others Star Wars was a great Saturday ritual where we would play the videotapes at nausea to enjoy the battles and mystery of this struggle for good and evil. As I moved into to high school however I discovered there was something much greater that I loved about Star Wars…the music! The first time I played the main theme in a concert band was in 1996 at Rosetta High School in Hobart, an exciting time, particularly on tuba. But the best part was playing this Dark Side theme the imperial march, symbolising evil whenever it was heard.
Today’s readings are an interesting group, life and death, resurrection and relocation, mystery and clarity. This group is no accident and invites us to consider the many crossings we have in our lives as we march to our own song and rise each day. For Marks community water and particularly deep bodies of water are disturbing places and getting to the other side often meaning returning to gentile soil, is always depicted as difficult never free from calamity and more often than not a wrestle with the disciples faith…why?
Relocating ourselves is never easy and relocating ourselves spiritually is certainly a wrestle. We can laugh and mock and think about the waste of time it is, but there is always life that can emerge amidst this if we don’t let it pass us by.
I wonder where are the places we are finding hard to crossover at the moment? Is there some murky waters beneath our boats? The imperials in star wars where always a formidable force to be frightened of, what are we afraid of?
If Jesus is out walking as we wrestle in our crossing over I wonder can we see him beside our boats? Perhaps a storm is coming and we will need to think about how we will respond…how will you?
– Luke Bowen, Moreland Baptist
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