Samaritans Message of the Week
Michael and All Angels
28th September 2008
The reading from Revelation 12 describes the battle in heaven led by Michael. Spiritual battles are waged constantly, perhaps by angels, always by us as we struggle with our humanity, our desire to control, our need for recognition and acknowledgement. The battle continues between the powers of darkness and the angels of light. Darkness enslaves us to addiction, poverty, domestic abuse, co-dependence, poor self esteem all of which demean us, making us less than our best selves. Angels of light bring good news, show signs of love, demonstrating forgiveness, using compassion integrity and justice as the weapons of grace against the mean-spirited, opinionated bearers of bad tidings.
20th Sunday after Pentecost
28th September 2008
From time to time we meet people who are always questioning authority or criticising rather than affirming or supporting the work of others. The Pharisees did this constantly. It is after all much easier to throw stones than do something constructive and affirming. It seems to me that one the things Jesus is pointing out in today’s gospel reading is that those who are hard-hearted and hard-headed are rarely on the money, they usually miss the point and because of that kind of lack of insight are unable to recognise good even when they in the presence of it. On the other hand people who see with the eyes of faith should have their eyes pealed for the good, the Godly things and they will see. And they will join the prostitutes and sinners, getting into heaven before those who refuse to see good in anything around. Sometimes the people that Samaritans works with don’t have a lot of great things happening in their lives, and part of our role then is to assist them in seeing the good, in discovering the opportunities, in finding the blessings.
Saint Matthew, Apostle Evangelist and Martyr
21st September 2008
The story of the call of Saint Matthew, recalls us to the ongoing theme of criticism for Jesus’ ministry and this is probably at least part of the response to your ministry too. They criticised Jesus for eating with tax collectors and sinners. But I find the lack of contact between the church and the tax collectors and sinners a cause for serious concern. How can we be about our Father’s business if all our friends are Christian – it just becomes a holy huddle. If we are to have a useful ministry we need to be engaged seriously in the life of the world, not to be like it, but to influence it for good. Cutting ourselves off from the world guarantees that we become unable to minister, a self-serving church, hypocritical and irrelevant. Jesus didn’t come for righteous but sinners. Samaritans can help you make those links, so that a renewing relationship between the church and community can occur, bringing blessing to both. Matthew is evidence that those links are essential.
19th Sunday after Pentecost
21st September 2008
The gospel today is not having a shot at trade unions, or those who are seeking a fair go. Rather it is providing us with a completely new basis for understanding the value of people and their needs. You should be able to identify that Jesus sets no store in the value of the dollar as a way of valuing human worth, human need or anything else. Clearly from our perspective the “least deserving”, those who arrived late are treated in the same way as those who put in a hard day’s work. This is not about equity or equality, but mercy and grace. We are all equally undeserving of God’s grace and blessing since none of us is perfect. That is in fact why some regard perfectionism as a sin. In the same way there is no such thing as the deserving poor, nor the undeserving poor. We simply don’t enter that debate, but instead respond to the need we see before us, seeing the need of the other as the only requirement for our response. So Emergency Relief makes no judgement but simply means to respond to the human need. A very Godly thing to do.
Holy Cross Day
14th September 2008
16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” It tells us that God is willing to make enormous sacrifice for our love, and secondly that his Son didn’t come to condemn us but that we should be saved. Part of that being saved is from the fear of his condemnation. Some churches still spend lots of time and effort on “fire and brimstone”, even if Jesus didn’t. This day celebrates that the glorification of Jesus as the sign of God’s love and desire to heal and love us is in his crucifixion. The moment of greatest shame (a criminal’s death) is the symbol of God’s love and our freedom. Lets not spend time condemning each other but building stronger communities of trust and faith. Our salvation is in knowing we are loved, valued and forgiven and what a wonderful fit that is with Compassion, Integrity and Justice, a new way to live.
18th Sunday after Pentecost
14th September 2008
“How many times should I forgive?” Jesus says 70 times 7, an enormous number. Many more times than most of normally apply. Yet forgiveness is such a powerful gift, which reflects true generosity of heart on the one hand; and a huge blessing on the other. We are prone, in these days of accountability to be much less forgiving, in a time of political correctness to be less generous and more picky. That is not to say that we should let things go, not at all! We should, in old fashioned terms, acknowledge the sin but free the sinner, and I am not sure that remorse is even a pre-requisite since truly setting the sin or offence aside, sets both parties free. We defend our rights much more than we need to and want control much more than is healthy, and constrain others often without applying the same disciplines to ourselves. Amongst our Friendship House residents and participants there is acceptance of people as people; after all none of us is perfect. These guys when leaving prison need to rebuild their lives, and get past the “eye for an eye” thinking that dominates our society. That can only occur when forgiveness and acceptance are generously applied, and lives are transformed.
17th Sunday after Pentecost
7th September 2008
The beginning of the gospel reading speaks of our special responsibility for the “little Ones”; the children the innocent, and the vulnerable. This is an area of ministry in which Samaritans has particular care as well, through the Brighter Futures programme, but also Creative Times and Reconnect, and more recently through Headspace. All these are focussed on young, vulnerable people who we encourage and support in the challenges of life. The key to these ministries is hearing what is happening in their lives. It reminds us of the latter parts of the reading where in all our relationships and especially in conflict, we must listen carefully and apply forgiveness. We are re-assured that God is with us when 2 or 3 are gathered. This is a comforting thought, but not to be used to bully or manipulate others into accepting our view of the world. In our dealings with each other, the process is as important as the result – that is the character of grace and blessing that should mark all our behaviour. For more information about the programmes above; visit our website: www.samaritans.org.au and pray for us.
16th Sunday after Pentecost
31st August 2008
Jesus challenges his disciples by telling them his future. Very uncomfortable. It challenged their expectations, hopes, dreams. In our communities across Australia, many dreams are lost, hopes dashed by exclusion, something Jesus knew well. He also knew what it was to have nowhere to lay his head. This week the national Anglicare Conference will pay attention to these issues; Social Inclusion and Homelessness, how we might respond to them, how to show care for our neighbours. They are not less deserving, it isn’t their fault, they’re not from bad stock – they are just like you and me. We are only more blessed if we share with them, engage with them, but not if we shun our neighbour, or forget our brother or sister. When you pray, think about the Lord’s Prayer, and a world that brings joy to the heart of God. Pray for us, and the work we do together.
15th Sunday after Pentecost
24th August 2008
Today Jesus asks his disciples who they think he is. The assorted responses that follow show a level of ignorance of Jesus, but Peter who is a little intuitive sees past the superficial and signals his belief that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus’ next comment affirms Peter and the disciples, and he made a promise upon which we build even 2000 years later. He charges them with responsibility and authority to bind and loose, to forgive or withhold forgiveness. They are to tell no-one that he is the Messiah. If everyone knew they would come seeking for themselves rather than having the transforming experience of engagement with Him. We are called to forgive, to allow grace in personal engagement to transform lives and communities. We learn grace in service with others; the true nature of Incarnation, of Jesus, God made flesh. Grace is shared in Samaritans services, transforming lives so we may be more fully human.
14th Sunday after Pentecost
17th August 2008
Jesus points out that the Pharisee’s thinking is misguided, concluding that it is what comes out, and not what goes in to a person that defiles. So what a person does reflects what is in their heart. Then when addressed by the Canaanite woman, he refuses to shun her instead; "She challenged him, and by answering, Jesus made her his equal in the eyes of the crowd. But then, after acknowledging that she is not an Israelite, Jesus engages her in more argument. When he got involved in this engagement, she proved herself equal to his argument, and by his act of compassion demonstrates His true nature and that He was above the petty power politics of the time. Compassion and Integrity, followed from his Just action and refusal to discriminate. What is in our hearts will out, and often betrays the brokenness of our humanity, something Jesus wouldn’t shrink from either. Through service with others and reflection we often learn who we are, and then can change.
13th Sunday after Pentecost
10th August 2008
The Gospel describes Jesus and then momentarily Peter walking on water, but something more important is present in this story. Christians have access to God, to power, through Jesus. It is power that overcomes fear. The most destructive part of human experience is fear. So our faith empowers us to address our fears and we can empower others to address or face their fears. The sea was a symbol of fear for the Jews, just as the desert often is to Australians. Whatever the cause of our fear, the underlying destructive dimensions of our own lives, we are able to face them when empowered to do so. For many it is intimacy, sharing our feelings or actually expressing what is important to us. When Samaritans staff work with people they apply an approach that builds on a person’s strengths, that enters into an engagement to empower, to enable a better quality life, with greater potential.
The Reverend Peter Tinney: Chaplain
Fr Peter has been with Samaritans since June 2006.
Having grown up in North Queensland and begun his training for ordained ministry at St John’s College Morpeth, he feels some sense of having returned home. His background includes parish ministries in diverse communities in Western Australia and North Queensland, as well as 13 years as a Chaplain in the Royal Australian Navy.
Father Peter sees the Chaplains task as "looking after the people, who look after the people!" So being available to staff, employees and volunteers is a high priority.
The Chaplain is concerned with enabling relationships between Parishes and local Samaritans activities to ground a sense of connectedness between the agency and the Church. These relationships are strengthened by regular contact with the Parish Links, and through participation in Samaritans and Diocesan events and activities.
Having had a longstanding commitment in addressing community and justice issues, Fr Peter takes the opportunity to work “hands-on” alongside staff whenever possible. Fr Peter and Mother Deborah Tinney jointly established Anglicare Whitsunday Region based in Mackay in the Diocese of North Queensland during 2004. As a member of the Diocesan Social Responsibilities Committee he shares a role in reflecting theologically on justice and social issues.
Fr Peter is available for coffee, a chat, prayer and comfort; at his Warabrook office or elsewhere.
The Chaplain can be contacted on
P 02 4960 7103
M 0447 401 771
E chaplain@samaritans.org.au
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