Turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God but of men.” St. Mark 8:31-38 In the Name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Amen. Last Sunday, the first Sunday in Lent, the Gospel contained […]
Sermon Topic: Self-sacrifice
Service Above Self
In the Name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. Amen. A wealthy man[1] last Sunday asked Jesus, “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10.17) Jesus brings the focus towards God’s call to discipleship and to love others: “Go thy way, sell whatsoever […]
The Total Self-Offering of Jesus
After the tears of Jesus, weeping over his friend Lazarus who had died, weeping over the city of Jerusalem, the human city that has turned away from peace; after the tears, and after also his tenderness, his gentle washing of the disciples’ feet, his tender mercy shown to all who come to him, after his […]
The Tenderness of Jesus
Let’s be honest: feet are tender. They endure a lot of abuse down there, shoe-horned into footwear, holding us up through the day, ignored, taken for granted, yet capable of much weariness. Feet are tender, and it is tender of Jesus to care for them. In the arid climate of his time, where sandals were […]
A Pattern of Holiness, Simplicity and Self-Denial
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Mt 16.24 Once, I attended a service of ordination for a priest, where I heard a sermon that likened those sitting in the congregation witnessing the ordination to a crowd […]
The Church is...Holy
Good evening. I am delighted to be here with you this evening for Choral Evensong and to reflect upon the word of God with you. Thank you Fr. Turner for your invitation and hospitality and to the staff for their welcome and preparation. I have been asked to give a Lenten reflection on what it […]
Thy Will Be Done, on Earth as it is in Heaven
With this line, “thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven,” the Lord’s Prayer wraps up its first section by repeating the word that appeared at the end of the first line, “heaven.” We can feel the point, I think, by comparing the Prayer as we pray it, which is largely the […]
After the Disclosure
I have something to say to you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. There comes a moment in every relationship when something must be said. “Before we go any further,” you might say, “you need to know this about me.” It is a moment of self-disclosure, […]
Self Discovery
Turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God but of men.” St. Mark 8:31-38 In the Name of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Amen. Last Sunday, the first Sunday in Lent, the Gospel contained […]
