Month: December 2020

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Steadfast Faith!

Steadfast Faith!

Readings:
Isaiah 61:10–62:3
Psalm 148 
Galatians 4:4-7 
Luke 2:22-40 

Sentence:
My eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Luke 2:30–32

Collect: 
Holy and eternal God, your Son Jesus Christ has taught us to learn from the simple trust of children; give us pure hearts and steadfast faith to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation,  which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’ There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.


Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o Te Wairua Tapu.

Today is the first Sunday after Christmas. As we move quickly towards the New Year, our gospel from Luke tells us about Jesus being presented at the temple to Simeon and Anna. If you ever needed a good story about, “Good things come to those who wait”? Then, the story of Simeon, Anna and the baby Jesus is a good example and it will also make you and I consider where we want to be as we enter the new year.

Simeon and Anna waited for years for the coming of the Messiah. The centre of Simeon’s joy was the privilege of being God’s servant, and in return, God let him see the salvation of the world as it dawned. Simeon saw the baby Jesus as the fulfillment of all the hopes and dreams of the Jewish people. In the Old Testament, God promised Moses that a prophet would come who would be unlike any other prophet. God promised David a son who would reign forever. God told Isaiah that a son would be born of a virgin and he would be called Emmanuel-God with us. The Prophet Micah predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem.

Anna was an eighty-year-old widow who stayed close to the temple and served God through fasting and praying. In return, God blessed her by allowing her to see the Saviour of the world as a newborn baby. God fulfilled the promise made to Simeon that he would not die before he saw the Messiah. When God fulfilled that promise, Simeon uttered the words that are part of the funeral liturgy in the Anglican Church: the ‘Song of Simeon’, also known as the Nunc Dimittis-“O Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which hath been since the world began”.

Simeon and Anna have always been symbolic but also excellent examples for us to follow. The world has never been without people like them, people with a future vision that burned with great hope, with freedom in their souls and the light of knowledge in their eyes. Living in hope and expectation that a great day was coming when everything would be corrected, when justice would be done, when God would bring salvation to humanity. I was fortunate enough to grow up among my elders who held the same faith as Simeon and Anna. There are examples, past and present, in our church who carry the same burning faith today! Two nights ago or one night over two thousand years ago, the Word became flesh in a baby born in Bethlehem. One day, it will become flesh again when Christ returns to set up his kingdom here on earth.

Simeon also told Mary of the suffering and death Jesus would have to endure for all of his people. Most people thought of the redemption of Jerusalem and God’s people in terms of freedom from Roman rule, but some had a vision of an even greater redemption. A vision of spiritual renewal. God’s salvation is for all of us, but not all of us will accept it, just like some people did not accept Christ and his teachings and salvation. God’s salvation doesn’t mean that we will never suffer troubles, illness, rejection or death. It happened to Jesus. It happened to Mary. It will happen to us, but if we endure hardships with faith, we will have an awesome future. It takes faith to know a blessing from God. It is the joy of celebrating God’s goodness in the midst of our chaotic lives and our suffering world.

As life passes us by, how do we grow old in such a way to end well and finish awaiting Christ’s message, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? You see, we are never too old, weak or sick to make a difference. Our attitude and behaviour will always make a difference. God will guide us to share the story of Jesus with everyone we meet. We have also been told of the coming Christ. Like Simeon and Anna, we are heirs of a promise. We are prompted by the same Spirit. In other words, we long to see the same face. To do so successfully, we must wait patiently and vigilantly. When we look at Jesus’ face, we will know that it is time for us to repent and come home to God, just like Simeon knew it was time for him to go to his heavenly home when he saw the face of the baby Jesus.

We have just come through the seasons of Advent and Christmas, and during those seasons we, like Simeon and Anna, had to wait and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. God works in a time zone where a day is as a thousand years. For those who have walked the long road of faith and felt all of it’s pain and suffering but also found it comforting and peaceful, for all those who have waited on the Lord while holding on for their lives, they have received the reward of joy.

When our dreams don’t come true in a day, we, like Simeon and Anna, need to keep in mind that God is still at work. God is still preparing the gift to fit our needs. We need to pray, not just for the gift, but also for patience to wait for God’s unveiling. As we practice our faith, hope, commitment and patience, we see the Christ child. We see the love of God.  Like Simeon, our eyes have seen God’s salvation. Having been saved, we glorify God and depart in peace to share Christ’s salvation throughout the world. Amen.

Archdeacon Kaio Karipa



The Venerable Kaio Karipa
Chaplain
Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu
www.tewairuatapu.com.au
Photo: 2019 First Sunday after Christmas Day
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God with Us

God with Us

Luke 2: 1-14
The Birth of Jesus
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  3All went to their own towns to be registered.  4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 

The Shepherds and the Angels
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’  13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o te Wairua Tapu

Merry Christmas whanau! I hope you are enjoying your time with your whanau. I have already received many calls to wish our whanau the best for Christmas and it’s great to catch up with different ones. At least I know they are okay and that they are not spending this time alone like many in this huge city. 

That is why Christmas is so important as it constantly reminds us that it’s the time when we celebrate God’s unconditional gift of love to the world.  The birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! God born into a world full of hate, rejection and evil.  Yet, with this divine birth, God brings hope, peace, joy and love. 

As I reflect on the past year, I want to acknowledge the willingness of our church, with some apprehension of course, to change our values and attitudes to further strengthen our faith, be more generous to others and more open to God’s love so it enables us to share that love with our people in Sydney.

How time passes so quickly! 311 baptisms, 72 confirmations, 30 marriages, And almost 500 tangihanga later. It’s been a privilege to serve Christ as your priest for 20 years in this amazing city of Sydney. It’s been challenging with many ups and downs but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

Luke states in our gospel, “To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” God is with Us! That says it all. That’s the Christmas truth. It’s the only thing that needs to be said and it’s the only thing I have to tell you. Nothing more, nothing less.

They are the angel’s words to the shepherds. “To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” They are words of “good news of great joy for all people.” Today Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 9:2-7) is fulfilled. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them light has shined.”

Every year I look forward to being reminded of the angel’s words. I want to be told that this story is true and can be trusted. I want to know the reality of this birth is in my life, in your lives and in our world. I think that’s what we all want. We want to hear the angel’s words again like the very first time.

Why do I say that? Because I have walked and lived in the land of darkness. I’ve known when my life was full of darkness. But I’ve also walked alongside many that have been surrounded by darkness. And, I look at our world and see so much suffering that I want to hear some good news of great joy, not just for me but for all people. I think you know what I’m talking about. 

There are whanau, friends and loved ones who are walking in the darkness of serious illnesses – waiting, wondering and weeping. We have lived in the darkness of grief, loss, and sorrow. The names and faces of whanau and friends still run through our minds like it was yesterday. The darkness of self-doubt, confusion and not knowing, have caused each of us to stumble and fall. Sometimes our words and actions, our choices and priorities, things we have done and left undone, have darkened our Wairua and our minds, leaving us blind to new possibilities. 

There are so many issues that face humanity at this time that you and I don’t know what to do with or actually do anything about them. We all desperately want to hear good news of great joy for all people, for all indigenous people, blacks and whites, Muslims and Christians, Jews and Palestinians, citizens and immigrants; and we want to see that good news overcome all that divides us.

That’s why Christmas is so important. We have all experienced some darkness over the past year and we have longed to be told good news of great joy. And for some of us that wasn’t just about the past year. It describes our life right up to now. Christmas reminds us that this story is real and true. “To you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” You will never be disappointed because the manger of Christ never disappoints. Every year, the “child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” reminds us like the first time, that we know this story is true. Knowing the reality of its truth for each of our lives. The manger in Bethlehem holds the creator of us all and because of that manger, you and I, and every aspect of our lives, and all of creation are cradled in him. Today the Creator is born and by his birth, we, the created, are made anew, reborn, and recreated to face 2021.

I can’t tell you how this happens. I don’t know. I only know that it does happen. Year after year it happens. I’ve experienced it in my life and I’ve seen it happen in the lives of others. The only thing I can tell you is this: “To you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” And that is good news of great joy for all people.

What an exciting time ahead for our church. And, you are all apart of bringing others to Christ through your words and actions. May God with us, through Jesus Christ, continue to strengthen your hope, your faith and your love for humanity and may peace be with you and your families this Christmas. Amen.


The Venerable Kaio Karipa
Chaplain
Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu
www.tewairuatapu.com.au
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Let it Be!

Let it Be!

Readings:
2 Samuel 7:1-11,16 
Psalm 89:1-4,19-26 
Romans 16:25-27 
Luke 1:26-38 

Sentence:
This child will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.  He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. Luke 1:32-33

Collect: 
God of all hope and joy, open our hearts in welcome, that your Son Jesus Christ at his coming may find in us a dwelling prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ 29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ 34Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ 35The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.’ 38Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.


Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o Te Wairua Tapu.

Today is the fourth Sunday in Advent. Usually we would be celebrating the season of Advent at our church in Redfern. But this year has been different to all of our 35 year history. We have had to shut down the church in March, re-open in October and close again in November. It will be the first time we will not have a Christmas Eve karakia. Very confronting for me but even more confronting for you and everyone that attends our Christmas service. For years, we have always had someone drive from Taree for karakia, have a kai with us at 1am and then drive back to Taree. Not this year. It’s wet and cold in Sydney and there is an outbreak of Covid19 re-emerging in different parts of our city. So be careful where you go whanau, wear your masks, make sure you keep your distance from others and don’t get caught up in big crowds. Hence, the importance of being able to re-adjust our lives, and do it quickly. Don’t procrastinate or wait for something to happen, get moving. Like I’ve stated, Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord. A time for us to let go of our old stories and re-discover a new way forward and a new way of being. So are you ready? 

You see, when I reflect on my life and where I have come from to where I am today. I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that I would be here. So it’s a good time to ask the following question, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ It’s a question that most of us were probably asked in our younger years. We ask it of our children and grandchildren. But it’s not a question limited to a particular age. Nor is it necessarily that simple. Some of us are still trying to answer that question today. Who would’ve thought, least of all me, that I would grow up to be a priest! When we were kids, we would lie in the paddock at night, looking up at the stars and dream about being astronauts and pilots. Then on holidays with our uncle, I would think I’m gonna be a truck driver just like him. Then as you get older, you start thinking, I’m gonna be a famous muso like Bob Marley. Even though I couldn’t sing or play any instrument. At one level these were nothing but silly fantasies. At another level, they point to the assumption that we are responsible for creating the life we want.

So have a look at all your relationships: your whanau, your friendships, your marriage and partnerships, your jobs and careers, your education and your homes. All of those are attempts to create your life. That’s not necessarily wrong. We have decisions to make and opportunities before us. The difficulty comes when we start to believe and carry the burden that we are the ultimate creator of our life. Seems that’s what happened to King David when he decided that God needed a big cedar house like his. David was convinced that he was the one to build a house for God. Until God said, “No.” God reminded David that God is the builder and creator of life. It’s been that way from the beginning. For in the beginning, God said and it happened. God said let there be light and there was, let there be sky, dry land, earth that brings forth vegetation, fish that fill the waters, a sun and a moon. Let us create humankind in our image and likeness. God said let there be all these things and there was all those things. Creation is the larger context for today’s gospel, the Annunciation to Mary.

God speaks the creative word. And, today we remember Mary’s words, “Let it be.” “Let it be with me according to your word.” Mary’s words, “Let it be,” echo God’s words, “Let there be.” It’s like an ongoing call and response between God and humanity. God speaks creation into existence and Mary says, “Amen. Let it be.” This is not an ending to the creation story but the continuation of creation and the beginning of our salvation. Think about this. God says, “Let there be” and his words bring forth creatures into the world. Mary says, “Let it be” and her words will bring forth the Creator into the world, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Jesus is able to take flesh because Mary’s humanity gives him that possibility. This could only happen with Mary’s “Let it be.” Her gift to God is her humanity and through her it’s our humanity. The incarnation of God in Jesus is not, however, limited to Mary. It’s an affirmation of God’s creation and the goodness of humanity. God chooses human flesh, not a big huge cedar house, as the place of God’s dwelling. Each one of us can stand as the “favoured one,” the one with whom God is. Each of us is called to grow up to be God-bearers, to carry the life of God, the life of Christ within our own humanity. Let it be and accept it!

Tradition says that Mary was one of the virgins chosen to weave a new veil for the temple. The veil was the curtain that separated humanity from the holy of holies, the place that God lived. Neither the temple veil nor Mary’s virginity, however, can separate God from humanity. As the Archangel Gabriel declares, “Nothing will be impossible with God.” We all live with veils that we think separate us from God and allows us to remain hidden. There are veils of fear, shame, and guilt. Independence and individualism become veils of isolation. Sometimes we are veiled in logic and reason, unable or unwilling to abandon ourselves to the mystery of God. Often our veils are the life we have created for ourselves. God looks through all our veils to see the “favoured one” even when we can’t see ourselves that way. God’s words of possibility speak across our veils announcing that God is with us and that we will conceive within us God’s own life. God is always stepping through our veils to choose us as God’s dwelling place and create a new story and a new beginning for each one of us.

“How can this be?” With those words Mary acknowledges that the life Gabriel announces is not the life she was creating for herself. “Let it be.” With those words Mary receives the life God is creating in her. Between “How can this be?” and “Let it be” the impossible becomes a reality, the never before heard of will forever be spoken of, and the veil between divinity and humanity has fallen. Offer whatever excuses, reasons, and veils you have why this cannot be true for you. Gabriel will tell you differently. Because “Nothing will be impossible with God.” Amen.

Archdeacon Kaio Karipa



The Venerable Kaio Karipa
Chaplain
Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu
www.tewairuatapu.com.au
Photo: 2019 4th Sunday in Advent
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Thank you to Chrisco

A HUGE thank you to the Management and staff of Chrisco for their generosity to our community. Also thanks to Irma, Miriam, Charlene and Mouna for distributing to our community, truly blessed in this Season of Advent
Thank you to Kauri (Sydney Maori Wardens Inc) for distributing the last of our Chrisco blessings amongst our community.
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Congratulations

Archdeacon Karipa celebrated his 20th year as priest in charge of the Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Maori based at Te Wairua Tapu on the 17th of December. Due to restrictions on gatherings, thank you to the ministry team for organising this lunch. We shared a marvellous meal and heard stories of shared experiences. Thank you to Archdeacon for his honest and humorous sharing, as he quoted “It’s been my privilege to be your priest these last 20 years”.

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Who are You!

Who are You!

Readings:
Isaiah 61:1, 14, 8-11 
Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sentence:
Bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, the day of vengeance of our God. Isaiah 61:1-2

Collect: 
Almighty God, you sent your servant John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of your Son; grant that those who proclaim your word may so guide our feet into the way of peace, that we may stand with confidence before him when he comes in his glorious kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Judge and our Redeemer. Amen.

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28
The Testimony of John the Baptist
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ 20He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ 21And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ 22Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ 23He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord”, as the prophet Isaiah said. Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptising if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ 26John answered them, ‘I baptise with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ 28This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptising.

Tena koutou katoa e te whanau o Te Wairua Tapu.

Today is the third Sunday in Advent. As I’ve pointed out, Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord. A time for us to let go of old stories and re-discover a new way forward and a new way of being.

And so, John says, “Among you stands one whom you do not know.” Those are John’s words to the religious authorities who went to see him. They are also his words to us today. So who is the one? Who do you think John is referring to? Ot course, most of you would probably say “JESUS.” That’s the usual and most likely answer. That’s the answer I’ve always given. But today I want us to rethink the usual answer. Is Jesus the one and only or could there be others? Have there been others before Jesus? Will there be others after Jesus? I want us to hear John’s words in a bigger context. I want us to consider that maybe we sometimes focus so much on Jesus that we actually lose the gospel, and the messenger overshadows the message.

Could the one who stands among us be you? Or me? A a visitor that shows up to church on a Sunday? Or a stranger on the street? I’m not suggesting that Jesus is the wrong answer. But for us to consider there might be more than one right answer. What if John is not referring to the one as an exclusion of all others but as the ultimate example? And, what if John is saying to us that this one has always been among us and still is? In other words, this line of inquiry suggests that we didn’t recognise the one then and we still don’t now. And that raises a good question. Why don’t we recognise the one who stands among us?

Maybe the greatest barrier to seeing the divine presence among us is that we already have an idea or image of who that one is or should be and what that one should look like and do. In other words, we think we know and we stick with what we think we know. We can’t see the one because he or she doesn’t meet our expectations or fit our categories of who he or she can be. Sometimes, we don’t see the one among us because he or she stands outside the box of our beliefs. And more often than not we see and hear in such a way that it only confirms what we already believe.

That’s what the priests and Levites are doing with John. They come to him with the usual answers of who he should be; the Messiah, Elijah or the prophet. But he won’t allow them to do that to him. John doesn’t fit their expectations or categories because they don’t know the one who already stands among them. Sometimes we don’t even see the one who stands among us. A good example is our church building. We’ve been hoping and praying for our building to be fixed up for 35 years and it finally looks like it’s going to happen. But it’s taken a multitude of divine presences. Or as we like to put it, ‘Drops from God.’ This kind of thing is happening all the time. John is not announcing something new. He says so. “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said” (John 1:23). Before John there was Isaiah. And don’t think John was the first to see the spirit descend upon the one. It also came upon Isaiah. He says,

“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1).

Whenever or wherever these spiritual drops happen they point to one who stands among us. And more often than not we only recognise the one on reflection of our lives. And by the way, who of you have helped fix the church? Maybe you were the one of many or it was none of you but It could have been you. You might have done it if you were there. You’ve done that kind of thing before, right? Helped. And, you’ve had others do it for you, right? So tell me. Who has been one that stood among you and made the divine present? When have you looked back and seen that one doing some kind of spiritual healing in your life? And when have you been that one for another?

“Among you stands one whom you do not know.” So who is this one? What do you think? Who is John referring to? Yes, it’s Jesus. And yes, it was John and Isaiah. And yes, it can be you and me. That’s not a diminishment of who Jesus is or what he has done. It’s rather, a fulfillment of who he is and what he has done. I am not saying anything Jesus himself did not first say. “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these” (John 14:12). “Among you stands one whom you do not know.” They are words of hope, words of promise and words of God’s faithfulness. Amen.

Archdeacon Kaio Karipa

The Venerable Kaio Karipa
Chaplain
Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu
www.tewairuatapu.com.au

Photo: Te Wairua Tapu 2019. 3rd Sunday in Advent