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Category Archives: sermon
Holy ground
God said, “This is holy ground.” In the middle of the wilderness, to the side of the path, from the heart of a desert shrub, God spoke, and God said, “This, too, is holy ground.” Because there is no place on earth that God has abandoned. Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Balaam, Exodus 3:1-15, God's mercy, Incarnation, Lent, Moses, Numbers 22, Ukraine, war, year c lent 3
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“God shall give the angels charge over thee”
What if when we do these things, taking up spiritual arms against the onslaught of sin, the temptations of selfishness, fasting and praying and strengthening our spirits and training up our hearts to look to God in faith, and in trust; what if it is when we do these things that St Michael and her angels surround us and support us and sustain us, as the angels attended to Jesus in the wilderness after he resisted the wiles of the devil, according to Matthew (Matthew 4:11) Continue reading
Ash Wednesday: ice to ashes
Last Saturday, I spent far too much time and energy chipping away at the layer of ice that was left behind after I shovelled the snow. I did it because the sun was out and I knew that if I … Continue reading
From the cloud
We want the revelation of the Christ, the epiphany of the Messiah, to be the brightness of the cloth, but it includes the cloud of the continuing conflict between Herod and the Magi, the worldly and the wise, the kingdom of heaven and the pursuits of a lesser form of majesty. And it is the promise that in all of these things, wherever we find them still active in the world, Christ is at work transforming them through the power of the Cross and the Resurrection that it engendered. Continue reading
Love your enemies
The burden of love outweighs all other duties, and not only toward those who love us. Even our secular treaties and rules of engagement declare it to be true. And still, Jesus goes further. Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged love your enemies, sermon on the plain
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The level place
We stand on ground that is spinning at astronomical speed, hurtling through the immensity of space, at an enormous distance from the sun. No wonder we feel unstable! But Jesus is our level ground. He is here with us still, in the level place, steady and steadfast in a world full of trouble, rising ab Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Jeremiah 17:5-10, Jesus, level ground, Luke 6:17-26, selfishness, sermon on the plain
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God has warm legs?
Conditions change, the world turns, people grow, some get sick, some get better, some flee to Egypt, some return. We cannot expect, nor should we try, to recreate the past; but there is sunlight in the future, too, and flashes of inspiration. And there is warmth still in the relationships that endure. The cat, when she has given up on the flash of light, curls up in the patient knowledge that sooner or later, someone with warm legs will feed her; that she is beloved. Continue reading
Posted in homily, lectionary reflection, sermon
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On the sabbath, he went to the synagogue
It was the sabbath, so she went to the synagogue. I wonder how many people’s stories began that way last weekend, before the worship of the Jewish people was interrupted yet again by violence. It should be as safe as we feel coming to church. It should be as easy and as natural as the scripture makes it sound: it was Saturday, so he went to synagogue. Continue reading
Posted in current events, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged antisemitism, conspiracy theories, Jesus, Luke 4:14-21, synagogue
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Working on a miracle
Some say that the next wars will be fought not over oil but over water; but it doesn’t have to be that way. When one runs short, it is all of our business. There is no, “What is that to me?” Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged Amos 5:24, John 2:1-11, Psalm 36:7-8, the work is not yet done, wedding at Cana
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The gifts of the wise ones
The Feast of the Epiphany is a new year of sorts for us, the people of Epiphany. Who knows what this one will bring. But if we are able to keep our hearts and minds and expectations open; if we deploy the gifts of humility, creativity, faith that the magi, the wise ones have taught us, then we may find unexpected grace, unlooked-for epiphanies, the glory of God waiting for us to stumble upon it as the year takes shape, growing like a child, full of curiosity, wonder, and delight. Continue reading
Posted in holy days, lectionary reflection, sermon
Tagged creativity, Epiphany, faith, gifts, humility, magi, three kings, wise men
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over the water 