Christ Church Mandurah Resources

Mark 1: 21-28  From our first reading this morning, we learn that the people of Israel are familiar with the role of prophets. Moses promises the people that God will raise up prophets for them in the future, and they will know if the prophet is really from God when they see what the prophet does. If someone prophesies contrary to God’s word or if the prophecy doesn’t happen, then they will know that this is a false prophet. They will recognise God’s prophets by their actions, and by the fruit they produce. The prophets led Israel for over two hundred years, until Saul was proclaimed king by Samuel at the insistence of the people. You see, the nation of Israel demanded a king so that they could be like other nations, forgetting that they were God’s people and God had set them apart. And even during the reign of their kings, there were still God’s prophets who shared God’s message with them. None of the many prophets of Israel could perform the ministry which Jesus performed. None o...

 Mark 1:14-20 I am not a very patient person at times, so I hate ringing businesses which don’t have a real person to answer the phone. You know the ones – you call a number and press 1 if you want this, press 2 if you want that, or you yell down the phone trying to make the stupid machine at the other end actually understand what you are saying. The other thing that gets me is when they put you on hold and play awful music, and then they tell you every so often “please stay on the line – your call is very important to us”. I always feel like yelling, “If I am that important, answer the phone then”. On one occasion, I rang the RAC to pay a bill, and after pressing this number, then that number, I was not impressed when they put me on hold. Suddenly a real person answered and said “how may I help you”. I explained what I wanted to do, and the voice asked for my name. I said Absalom, and began to spell it as usual. Suddenly this disembodied voice said “Is that you Cheryl”. I was stun...

 JOHN 1 43:51 17 JANUARY 2021 When I was ordained as a priest, a friend who is a member of the order of St Benedict, gave me a book called “The Glenstal Book of prayer”, published by the Benedictine monks at Glenstal Abbey in Ireland. In the book there are a number of readings from the rules of St Benedict, the founder of their order.  One rules states “Let us open our hearts to the divine light, and with startled ears let us listen to what the divine voice is calling out every day, urging us : today if you should hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”  I particularly like the phrase “listen with startled ears”, because I know like many people, I have listened to God with startled ears. And yet perhaps I should not be surprised, for our psalm today tells us that God knows every little thing about us. Our first reading told us something of the prophet Samuel, who had lived in the Temple since he was a young child, when he was left by his mother. Hannah in gratitude for h...

  Mark 1:4-11 I have been fortunate to visit Israel three times, and on two occasions,   we were taken to a place called Yardenit on the river Jordan, which is supposed to be the site of John’s ministry and the place where Jesus came to him to be baptized.   I should say that this is just one of the sites which claim to be the place of baptisms. But Yardenit is well-established and a great commercial enterprise.   To get close to the river, you pay an entrance fee.   Then you walk through a well-stocked gift shop.   You can also be baptized in the river there, for which you pay a fee and you must wear a long white robe for which you pay another fee.   A great number of people were walking into the river to be baptized, and we were amongst those looking on.    We chose not to be baptized, because I don’t believe we need more than one baptism, and because the river Jordan contains the biggest catfish and water rats I have ever seen. As you ca...