Tag: Sermon

Happy Mothering Sunday. Take a look around. Each of us gathered here by Jesus to see and discover others who are, or will be, family with us.

He dazzles in his white T-shirt with two mortals who are now residents of heaven. And a voice from heaven says: “This is my Son, the Beloved”

The encounter of Jesus with Simeon and Anna is one such moment. Our author is Luke, the master storyteller, and he’s setting his stall out.

Our readings are about being called and known. Our Gospel has Jesus telling Nathaniel to ‘come and see’. Our Psalm tells us that we are known from the womb. In the OT, Samuel is repeatedly called.

The wise men also teach us that being a seeker is active not passive. It doesn’t just happen while we twiddle our thumbs doing nothing.

This Christmas may you unwrap hope and discover the presence of God. Look in the ordinary places. You’ll be surprised.

We’re all meant to be mothers of God. What good’s it to me if this eternal birth of the Son takes place unceasingly but doesn’t within myself

What sort of witness must I have been for Jesus? Not a very good one. Let’s pray, especially at Christmas time, that we are not afraid to speak and act in ways that show we believe that, in that birth in Bethlehem, the Saviour of the World was born.

Along with our friends from Strictly, what journey are you taking? What do you find along the way that helps you create the road as you go?

Let’s think too of our own lost loved ones. Some old and full of years. Others whose time was cut-short. Because we will remember them.

On this Bible Sunday, all these ancient and modern thoughts of remembering and reverence, of re-building, repair and restoration…

For those of a certain vintage, our parable is like a Roald Dahl ‘Tales of the Unexpected’. Or one of those Zombie horror movies on Netflix.

The chief priests were not the landowners at all but the tenants, tenants who’d be replaced. Then they remember the vineyard represents Israel.

I almost said that it broke in despite Jonah, not because of him. But, on reflection, it still needed Jonah to turn up, despite his misgivings.

Not seven times or seventy seven or even seventy times seven but countless times during our lifetimes. We are continually being set free.