Category: Sermon

In Luke, we’ve had Jesus the Son of Man, Jesus as King, Jesus the bringer of good news to the poor. Today he is the man who calmed the sea.

This is what Jesus often describes; so much so that the good news can be seen as an ongoing story of the reversal of fortune for many.

In the year that King Uzziah died. Or in the year that George VI died. Or JFK. Or Diana. Or in the year that someone you loved died. 

Jesus first miracle was performed at the wedding at Cana. And, on the face of it, it’s an odd choice. So, what we are to learn from this? 

In our reading from Matthew, the Magi, whether they were wise men or wise women, took great risks and made great effort to seek out Jesus.

No stars or shepherds, no angels, no baby in a manger; but it is the Christmas Story, and it brings enough blessings to last a lifetime.

Perhaps we all need to be more expressive in our greetings and relationships to reflect the good news and the blessings we have received.

Or maybe, she had the confidence and strength now to be the person who she needed to be. Strength to be a sanctuary for someone very special.

If our welcome is to work, if it’s to change things for people and yes, bring them back again, it has to be accepting and affirming of all.

Which local valleys would you fill and which hills would you make low? For this is a word of God for us here and now, in this time and place.

The young man eventually did gain nobility. Judi discovered that her family tree included someone who had lived in the real Elsinore Castle.

The Kingdom of God is around us and within us. It beckons us to live by its vision and values now, not some point in the future. Pius XI was right…

One of my favourite films is Whistle Down the Wind. A group of children led by Kathy find a man in a barn and believe that he is Jesus.

Jonah’s physical presence in Ninevah brings disruption and unhinges everything. The city stops. Everyone repents, animals too!

Our reading from Deuteronomy is known as the Shema. It gets to the very heart of worship. It tells us who God is and what our response should be.