The Place Where the Divine Meets Us
Poet, speaker and pastor Will Small reflects on the good news of Jesus’ birth for our common home.
Teresa Brierley reflects on giving ourselves to the work of renewing our common home.
TERESA BRIERLEY
For our twenty-second Advent 2023 devotional, Teresa Brierley reflects on giving ourselves to the work of renewing our common home.
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:12-17
I have a strong attachment to Paul’s words in the reading from his letter to the Colossians because it was one of the readings which my husband, Allen, and I chose for our wedding. This was a long time ago when most Catholics were not very familiar with the scriptures. In our choosing this we understood we were part of God’s chosen ones: holy and beloved, and that we would be clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
This reading also forms part of the readings we hear each year in the Catholic Lectionary, on the Sunday between Christmas Day and New Year's Day, when we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. So, as well as on our wedding anniversary, we are reminded each year through this reading of our commitment to God and to each other: a commitment to be clothed with love.
In our early years of married life, we would often be with Allen’s family on the Feast of the Holy Family, and this gave us time to ponder what sort of family we might grow to be. Would we be able to live up to Paul’s attributes for a solid relationship? Would our home be a loving one, and one filled with gratitude?
For many people, Christmas gives us time with family and community.
How wonderful that just one piece of scripture reminds us how we are to live in relationship with each other as couples, as families, as communities, and as part of all God’s beautiful common home.
We all long for our homes to be places of safety, belonging, and peace. Allen and I have been richly blessed to be able to provide a home for our five children where faith and love formed the basis of our lives. Not everything was perfect and when we were less than holy, we needed to seek forgiveness and sometimes we needed to teach each other in all wisdom. And in the brokenness we often witness when homes do not offer this space of welcome, safety, and love we hold onto the hope and example we have in Jesus.
Teresa Brierely has worked in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle since 2005. In her present role, as Director of Pastoral Ministries, Teresa supports the Bishop as a member of the Diocesan Leadership Group in pastoral matters across the diocese – parishes, chaplaincies, pastoral planning, and diocesan councils. Teresa has also served the Catholic Church as a Pastoral Associate, as a secondary school Religious Education Coordinator, maths and science teacher. She began her professional career as a Biomedical Scientist working in hospital pathology. She is married to Allen and they have five children and a number of grandchildren.
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Poet, speaker and pastor Will Small reflects on the good news of Jesus’ birth for our common home.
Rev Mitch Forbes reflects on the life-giving and life-changing hope of Christ coming into our common home.
Aunty Sue Hodges leads us in prayer as we reflect on keeping alert while waiting on God to renew our common home.
Artist Erin Kennedy shares the hope in waiting for God to renew our common home.
Dr Louise Gosbell explores the anticipation and expectation we have in this in-between space of waiting for the Lord.
Teacher and poet Joanna Hayes reflects on the waiting and preparing for the Messiah, God with us, in our common home.
Andrew Errington reflects on the making of our common home through the coming of God to Jerusalem in Messiah Jesus.
Pastor, academic, editor, writer, and poet Rev Dr Megan Powell du Toit explores the wrestle found in our waiting and preparing for the presence of God in our common home.
Poet and advocate Stevie Wills reflects on God’s choosing of unexpected people to participate in Jesus' work for our common home; a place where everyone has purpose.
Kanolu and Lardil man Joshua Lane leads us in prayer as we rejoice in the coming of Jesus into our common home.
Artist Mish Graham reflects on the good news of Jesus and the common home we find in Him.
Moses Kakaire reflects on Jesus coming into our common home, and how we can help realise this joy-filled good news for all today.
Rev Christine McPherson reflects on the beauty, wonder, and strength of the presence of Jesus in our common home.
Aunty Alison Overeem reflects on the birth of Jesus weaving together the promise of hope and renewal.
Becca De Souza reflects on the hope and blessing of Jesus' birth in bringing healing, freedom and rejoicing to our common home.
Musician Alanna Glover reflects on Mary’s song and the hope we share in Jesus' birth.
Dr Isabel O'Keeffe leads us in prayer as we welcome the coming of Jesus into our common home.
Dr Byron Smith explores how Jesus coming into our common home is good news for the poor.
Meredith Walker-Harding reflects on the abundant joy and peace brought to us, and our common home, through Jesus.
Rev Dr Melinda Cousins explores the humble and unexpected coming of God into our common home.
Rev Dr Steve Bevis reflects on the importance of community as we work and grow together, living out Jesus’ love for our common home today.
Teresa Brierley reflects on giving ourselves to the work of renewing our common home.
Bianca Manning and Franz Dowling share a song on the longing we have for the peace and hope Jesus brings to our common home.
Jasmine Wrangles leads us in prayer reflecting on the assurance and hope we have in Jesus.
Gershon Nimbalker reflects on the transcendent hope and joy of Jesus’ birth into our common home.