29 December, Christmas I 2024 Readings: 1 Sam. 2.18-20,26; Col. 3.12-17; Lk. 2.41-end Theme: The Holy Family The scene that we are presented with in St Luke’s gospel today, of the finding of Jesus in the temple after three days, is clearly not without echoes of what the life and death of Jesus will entail....
Sermon Category: 2024
And the Word Became Flesh
25 December, Christmas Day 2024 Readings: Is. 52. 7-10; Heb. 1. 1-4; Jn. 1. 1-14 Theme: And the Word became Flesh A very happy Christmas to you, to all your families and your friends. I very much hope that this time is full of grace for you as you take time to contemplate the birth...
Promise and Fulfilment
22 December, Advent 4 Readings: Micah 5.2-5a; Hebrews 10.5-10; Luke 1.39-55 Theme: Promise and Fulfilment In this new liturgical year, which we begin each year on the first Sunday in Advent, the gospel of St Luke will accompany us throughout, with some exceptions. We will have the whole year, with occasional breaks, studying the gospel...
Rejoice Jerusalem!
3rd Sunday of Advent 15 December Readings: Zephaniah 3. 14-20; Phil. 4. 4-7; Lk. 3. 7-18 Theme: Rejoice Jerusalem! On this third Sunday of Advent, traditionally known as ‘Gaudete Sunday’, from the Latin ‘rejoice ye’, the focus of our liturgy is on the joy of the coming of the Lord. In the medieval church, Advent...
Prepare the Way
8 December, Second Sunday of Advent Readings: Malachi 3. 1-4; Phil. 1. 3-11; Lk. 3. 1-6 Theme: Prepare the Way Today on this second Sunday of Advent our readings present us with the theme of preparing the way of the Lord. A new Israel will be reconstituted now that the exiles have returned from their...
Kings and Kingdoms
24th November, Sunday Next Before Advent, Christ the King Readings: Dan 7. 9-10, 13-14; Rev. 1. 4b-8; Jn. 18. 33b-37 Theme: Kings and Kingdoms What does the language of ‘kings’ and ‘kingdoms’ mean in the bible? Living in the modern world, especially since the French Revolution of 1789, it can seem as if we enter...
Things to come
Second Sunday Before Advent 17 November Readings: Dan. 12.1-3; Heb. 10.11-14 (15-18), 19-25; Mk. 13. 1-8 Theme: Things to Come Today we see Jesus prophesying that the Temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed. We know that this actually happened in the year 70, during the First Roman-Jewish War, and so what the disciples elicit from...
Remembrance Sunday
Remembrance Sunday 10 November Readings: Jonah 3: 1-5, 10; Heb. 9. 24-28; Mk. 1. 14-20 Theme: Remembrance One of the characteristics of civilizations is that they are respectful of their dead, especially of those who have fallen in battle defending their country. Remembrance of our war dead is a way in which their struggles and...
The Faith of a Disciple
The Last Sunday After Trinity, 27 October Readings: Jer. 31.7-9; Heb. 7.23-28; Mk. 10.46b-52 Theme: The Faith of a Disciple One thing that we continually notice when we study the scriptures is that their meaning is inexhaustible. Each time we come back to a passage, we notice something new that we had not seen before....
Status Anxiety
21st Sunday after Trinity, 20 October Readings: Is. 53.4-12; Heb. 5.1-10; Mk. 10. 35-45 Theme: Status Anxiety The scene in today’s gospel is very human, all too human in fact. It is clear that there is an inner circle developing in the disciples around Jesus with Peter, James and John appearing as the preferred one’s....