Jon Cattapan, Sister, 1984 (oil on canvas), University of Melbourne Art Collection. Understanding two forms of human concern Rod Benson Human concern takes many forms, from the quiet acknowledgement of another person’s loss to the sustained effort to understand an unfamiliar experience. Sympathy and empathy name two important dimensions of this concern. Although frequently used …
The Jesus model of social cohesion
How many of us read books by Enid Blyton as a child? I’m thinking especially of her “Famous Five” series, and “Secret Seven” series, but there were hundreds more. Blyton also wrote adaptations of biblical stories for children. The Man Who Stopped to Help was first published in 1965, with illustrations by Elsie Walker, and reissued in …
Morning prayer for Wednesday 7 October 2026
Invocation + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Pause for reflection Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;his faithful love endures for ever (Psalm 106:1). Good morning, heavenly Father.We worship you, the creator and sustainer of the universe. Good morning, Lord Jesus.We …
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The Jesus model of power
Marco Basaiti (1470-1530), "Call of the Sons of Zebedee" (detail), 1510. Now and then in the Gospels, we stumble upon the most extraordinary and unexpected interactions with Jesus. One of the most unexpected and divisive is recorded in Mark 10:35-40. Presumably, the twelve disciples were together, until they weren't. James and John, the sons of …
Language, power and the possibility of theological renewal
By Rod Benson A society’s deepest convictions often reside in the connections it takes for granted. Who counts as a neighbour? What makes authority legitimate? When does suffering become sacrifice, or possession become entitlement? Such judgements depend on patterns of meaning that precede arguments. A counter-grammar challenges those patterns, exposing the rules by which an …
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