Let’s start by acknowledging how hard this is. Matthew Chapters 5-7. The Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes. It all sounds so harmless, so poetic. Lovely titles for impossible demands. This long series of Jesus’ teachings, from which our Gospel readings have come for the last four weeks, starts with paradox – blessed are the … READ MORE…
Let’s talk about power. Let me give you two images: the beheading of John the Baptist is the first. The second is the feeding of the thousands in Jesus’ ministry. Somehow, this world does not doubt the former. Sometimes it is wielded by Herod, sometimes by Pharaoh, others by Caesar- the rulers of this world … READ MORE…
This week I celebrated the 19th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. I posted something on Facebook, as one does, and received lots of loving and positive messages. It reminded me, not that I needed reminding, of what a joy and a privilege it is to serve as a priest, and especially to serve … READ MORE…
My brother, who lives on the west coast of Scotland, has a boat. He has sailed for years and even taught sailing for a while. Whenever I go to visit him I love going out for a sail with him. Sometimes we sail over to the Isle of Cumbrae, a small island whose distinguishing feature … READ MORE…
Today we will bless the bees, so I thought it only fitting to start by telling the story from a movie about bees. The Bee Movie was a kids movie from 2007, an animated movie about a bee named Barry. Bee life, according to this movie, was monotonous. Most of the bees loved it. It … READ MORE…
Matthew’s story of the baptism of Jesus has some unique quirks. For example it’s the only version that has John and Jesus having a conversation. Even though Matthew has said nothing about them being cousins – that’s Luke’s story – John clearly recognizes Jesus as someone sent from God, someone who is better equipped than … READ MORE…
Christmas Eve, 2014 St. Paul’s Cathedral San Diego, California Isaiah 9: 2-7 Luke 2: 1-14 Come Holy Spirit: Touch our minds and think with them, touch our lips and speak with them and touch our hearts and set them on fire with love for you. AMEN. I. I had another sermon written for tonight. I … READ MORE…
Alleluia, unto us a child is born. Come, let us adore him. “In the beginning was the Word”.This morning’s reading from John’s Gospel transports us to the realm of the transcendent, the mystical. It stands in contrast to the vivid, real-world story-telling of Luke, that we heard last night, with the manger and the shepherds. … READ MORE…
I had a friend once who worked very hard to make sure that all of his plans went the right way. He followed all the rules. He worked hard. He found a spouse. He had children. He saved money. He did everything he was supposed to. But one day, his world came crashing in, and … READ MORE…
Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all. New Englander poet Emily Dickinson knew the power and necessity of hope, in a land where winter seems to go on for ever. Today we face a mess of contradictions. It’s the … READ MORE…