John Davies - Notes From a Small Vicar

The resurrection - It's all about Mary

... We love the story of Crazy Mary, Mary crazy with God's good news. Mary who recognised Jesus when he called her by her name. We understand that because he chose her, means he chooses us too. He chooses us to tell others that he is risen and alive today. Jesus calls you and me by name. Everyday people like you and me get caught up in God's crazy vision. ...

- from my Easter Sunday talk, The Resurrection - it's all about Mary. With a very loud shout out to Walter Wangerin for his brilliant resurrection account in The Book of God.

The donkey-king is coming! Jesus’ crowd is a Flash Mob

 

 

#TheWelshAreComing, a flash mob singing out 'Land of My Fathers' in the middle of Victoria Station prompted me to sing a line or two - in Welsh of course - during today's talk, a Palm Sunday favourite revisited, The donkey-king is coming! Jesus’ crowd is a Flash Mob. 

Poor Mary - Jesus' prophet, not a pawn in Judas’s game

... I found new depths of discovery in this story when I realised that Mary herself was one of the poor, the poor who Judas was so bothered about when he protested at her action. When you realise that Mary was poor the story is transformed from being a commentary on how the poor should be treated, to become a celebration of the powerful contributions the poor can make. Mary was poor, but Jesus ensured she would not be a pawn in Judas’s game: she would always be celebrated for her wondrous act of outlandish generosity...

- from my talk today, Poor Mary - Jesus' prophet, not a pawn in Judas’s game. With help from a rendition of Sydney Carter's Judas and Mary.