Tag: Sermon

Is your least favourite time of the church year Maundy Thursday? And for no other reason than because it’s the ‘Washing of Feet Day’?

Did you notice something un-expected in our Gospel reading today from Mark? Frankly, Jesus acts like he’s a day-tripping tourist.

Jeremiah isn’t often known for hope and consolation. Indeed he has a reputation for being a miserable so-and-so, mournful and sorrowful.

Noah got out of the ark, gave thanks to God, had a barbecue, where he burnt everything and then he got drunk. Maybe it was on a Friday night?

Sometimes that’s all we are asked or called to do. To simply say to someone: ‘come and see’. I wonder how often we do it though.

In Matthew, John says to Jesus: “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus’ answer, spoken or not, is “I come to you”.

He takes time to talk about being ‘beloved’ – but there’s no loitering in fields with shepherds or journeying in search of a wandering star.

Perhaps we can imagine a huge star of wonder hanging over us right now, there for all to see and to respond to, guiding others to find Jesus.

John wanted to shout it out. He repeatedly uses the word ‘proclaim’, he wanted to get it out there, to tell everyone. And what was this news?

The first step onto the moon was a watershed in history. Our perspective could never be the same. Our Gospel is another ‘before’ and ‘after’.

Where are you from? What are the places, the people, the experiences that formed your path? How does it help you understand who you are?

Any fans of Strictly will be familiar with people going on a journey. Or trying not to say that they’re on a journey, but it slips out anyway.

Christ the King is not unapproachable – he is close to his people, he listens to his people and he gives himself for his people every day.

Blessed are all during this time who have pure hearts; all who still hunger and thirst for justice; all who work for peace and who model mercy. May you know comfort.

Jesus was ‘doing’ God. And we are called, challenged, purposed to do the same. We should be ‘doing’ God too. If Jesus wombled, then God wombles – and we should be wombling too.