A Beautiful Interruption
Dr Kate Harrison Brennan launches our Advent series with a reflection on Christ interrupting our world in a beautiful, political and dramatic way.
For Brooke Prentis the unexpected beauty of the Grasstree symbolises the versatility, strength, and longevity of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders.
Brooke Prentis is the Aboriginal spokesperson for Common Grace. She is a descendant of the Waka Waka people, an activist for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, a Christian pastor, and an accountant.
Today's reading is Isaiah 61:3-4
I love trees. I probably have more photos of trees than people (and I have a lot of photos!). Some of my favourites are the snow encrusted trees in Washington DC, the tree Aloe in Kirstenbosch, South Africa, or the trees filled with Cherry Blossoms in Japan. Whilst these trees from around the world have been spectacular, nothing beats our trees here in Australia. Give me a Gum Tree, a Sheoak, or Moreton Bay Fig any day. Oh, and I cannot leave out my countryman the Bunya Pine, native to Waka Waka country (and Gubbi Gubbi country), and home of the ancient Bunya Nut Festival.
But there is one tree that will always be my true love. The Grasstree. There are over 30 species of Grasstree in Australia – I’ve seen many of them! If you are driving with me around Australia you will suddenly hear me call, “Grasstree”, when I spot one.
If you look at any of the drawings from colonisation you will usually see a Grasstree, such was once their dominance of the landscape.
As an Aboriginal person I always knew the Grasstree was special, but I didn’t fully come to know why until our first Grasstree Gathering in 2012. The Grasstree Gathering was the vision of Aunty Jean Phillips to bring together the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders from all denominations and from all over Australia – a gathering not seen on this scale for some 30 years. The Grasstree Gathering has played an important role in creating a network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders who meet every few years, and our next year gathering is in Sydney from March 16-20 next year.
So why had the Grasstree been chosen to describe this network? Herein lies the unexpected beauty of the Grasstree and the unexpected beauty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leadership. Uncle Joe Kirk has taught us that the Grasstree has many uses – the “grass” can be used for bedding, the white tips of the “grass” when pulled from the trunk can be boiled and becomes like a natural spaghetti, the flowers provide a sweet cordial, the seeds can be ground to make a flour, the spike is used for making houses or spears, and the resin is used as a glue. The Grasstree can be resistant to fire, is slow growing, and long lasting (some are over 450 years old!). The unexpected beauty of the Grasstree comes from its versatility, its strength, and its longevity. The same could be said about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders, or our “Trees of Justice” from today’s reading. The same could be said about Jesus, as we await his coming during this Advent season.
My hope and my prayer is that many of you, non-Aboriginal Christian brothers and sisters, will get to know my fellow “Trees of Justice”, and together we can create an Australia, in our lifetime, that is built on truth, justice, love and hope – an Australia that “has been in ruins for many generations”.
I love trees. Trees have played an important role in my life – markers of place and time. Trees have also played an important role in the life of Jesus. Jesus birth was marked on trees in the shape of a manger. Jesus death was marked on trees in the shape of a cross. The unexpected beauty of Jesus in these moments with trees marking place and time. May we recognise the unexpected beauty of our humanity within all of God’s wondrous creation – the trees, rivers, mountains, oceans, plants, birds, animals – as we walk this earth together, in friendship, as “Trees of Justice”.
The Lord has sent me
to comfort those who mourn,
3 especially in Jerusalem.
He sent me to give them flowers
in place of their sorrow,
olive oil in place of tears,
and joyous praise
in place of broken hearts.
They will be called
“Trees of Justice,”
planted by the Lord
to honor his name.
4 Then they will rebuild cities
that have been in ruins
for many generations.
Dr Kate Harrison Brennan launches our Advent series with a reflection on Christ interrupting our world in a beautiful, political and dramatic way.
Andy Abey remembers her time in Bethlehem visiting the Church of the Nativity, and reflects on the humility of Jesus' arrival.
Jessica Smith resonates with Isaiah's longing for an answer when God seems so far away, so absent – and finds a beautiful answer in Christ.
Greg Clarke, CEO of Bible Society, is re-learning to anticipate this season from an unexpected teacher – his a four year-old child.
Eliza Spencer rediscovers through Ezekiel the road to a new spirit, a new heart – replacing a heart of stone for one of justice and hope.
Dave Hack leaves behind the city lights of Perth for a week on the rough ocean, where he finds hope and peace in unexpected places.
Rev Philemon Akao from Solomon Islands shares about how fire across Melanesia draws us together, and sends us out.
Leonie Quayle discovers an unexpectedly beautiful deeper meaning behind one of her favourite Christmas carols.
For Brooke Prentis the unexpected beauty of the Grasstree symbolises the versatility, strength, and longevity of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders.
Steve Bevis reflects on what he's learnt from the young Aboriginal people in Alice Springs who gather together at 'The Meeting Place'.
Melinda Dwight remembers her trip to Israel with leaders from many denominations, and invites us to lower our walls and set longer tables to share with many.
Three years ago Louisa Hope survived the Sydney Siege. Today she shares her story of faith, hope, reconciliation to help heal the divides in our country.
Tim Middlemiss reflects on the joy of becoming a new dad, and invites us to set our hearts on the future hope promised in Malachi.
Dr Robyn Wrigley-Carr reimagines Zechariah's silence as an unexpected gift, creating space hold the wonder of what God was doing through their family.
Dr Ross Clifford invites us to open our eyes this season to God's supernatural movements, and to the angelic encounters around us that herald God's goodness.
Wiradjuri man Adam Gowen finds beauty in the unexpected everyday moments where we can be surprised and delighted by God's goodness.
God’s Squad member Steve Barrington invites us to sing with Mary's song of revolution and justice this Advent.
Sister Susan Connelly hears the voice of John the Baptist through a friend, and calls us to the uncomfortable Christianity of the stable and the cross.
Jan Amelink reflects on journeying through a difficult year, yet finding unexpected meaning and hope through it, through the voices of close and faithful friends.
Jon Owen remembers an unexpected Christmas when a pregnant Mary and Joseph showed up at his front door. Literally.
Richard Quadrio went from decades ministering in a church, to serving in the Royal Australian Navy as a Chaplain where he found God in unexpected places.
Gershon Nimbalker finds in the birth of Jesus an unexpected revolution of solidarity, sacrifice and vulnerability, and challenges us to go and do likewise.
Bree Mills finds hope this Advent in the expectation and perseverance of Simeon and Anna as they prophesy over the life of Jesus mending the brokenness of this world.
Nicholas Alexander anticipates the unexpected joy of letting go and letting God being in control.
Scott Sanders closes our Advent series by celebrating the beauty of diversity, and the opportunity for us to draw near to those God's calls us together with in beauty, generosity and justice.