Category Archives: sermon

Inhabiting Thomas

Posted on April 7, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

Because you came back for Thomas I hope you may come back for me. Because you breathed peace upon Thomas I wonder if there is a peace for me. Because you let Thomas touch you I believe I will hold … Continue reading →

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Adaiah, the Easter bat

Posted on April 1, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

The only people who do know what happened during those long hours between Friday night and Sunday morning are those who have been to the tomb with Jesus. Continue reading →

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Denial

Posted on March 30, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

Is there any place on this earth where that damned cock won’t crow? Once, and all at once pandemonium, panic sets in, the dogs of war cry havoc, unleash every sin of omission, commission, revision, recidivism While the civilized world, … Continue reading →

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Betrayal

Posted on March 29, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

Loose lips sink kisses drunk on Communion wine love’s drowned by desire ______________ Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man.” (Mark 14:44) ______________ Giotto di Bondone, Kiss of Judas [Public … Continue reading →

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Palm Sunday 2018: outsourcing peace

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

It is hard to keep up with the Prince of Peace, but I learned a valuable lesson years ago from a philosopher named Tony whose day job was selling burglar alarms. Continue reading →

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Show me Jesus

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

Imagine that they ask you, “Sir, sister, stranger, where can we find Jesus?” What would you tell them? What might you show them? Where would you take them? Who would you call for back-up? Continue reading →

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Idols made of metal

Posted on March 9, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

The bronze serpent was not an amulet, but an icon of futility; an emblem of the impotence of evil in the sight of a gracious God.
The modern casting would be an AR-15 made into a museum piece, rendered harmless, useless, toothless by its irrelevance, not empowered by false reverence. Continue reading →

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Sinners at the cross of angry Jesus

Posted on March 4, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

I’m not going to go through the Commandments one by one, because frankly, unless we can reconcile our fundamental issues with the first three and the prohibition on killing, not to mention loving our neighbour, I do not see a way for us to achieve any kind of passing grade. Continue reading →

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Cleansing the temple

Posted on March 3, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

Christ, cleanse our temple courts where money changes hands to purchase  sacrificial lambs offered on the high altar hymned with thoughts and prayers and the black sheep, tethered, set aside for the devotions of white-robed acolytes, while mourners shuffle ceaseless intercessions … Continue reading →

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Their cross, our cross

Posted on February 25, 2018 by Rosalind C Hughes

I have been trying to imagine how the words of Jesus to the pre-resurrection people would have sounded. We cannot hear of the cross without spiritualizing it, sublimating it post-resurrection. To have the same impact today as he had on that crowd in first-century Galilee, what might Jesus say? Continue reading →

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