Sermons

Mark today has brought us with Jesus’s entourage to the last staging post before Jerusalem, the last moment before the climax begins in the city of David and in centre of Jewish life, the Temple. This last staging post is the very ancient town of Jericho, city of springs and palms. From there it will […]

Words for the weekend ‘let us sit on your right and your left’ It was only two days ago that I saw ‘Jesus calling James and John’ painted by the anonymous Master of Louringha. I still don’t know where it is housed though I guess that it is in a church in Portugal. It was […]

Gen. 2:18-24; Heb. 1:1-4; 2:5-12; Mark 10: 2-16 May I speak in the name of the Son, to the glory of the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit. AMEN “And they become one flesh.” If this is not a place where tears are understood, Where do I go to cry? If this is […]

Mark 7: 1ff – Pharisees Some years ago I was preaching Holy Week in a very Anglo-Catholic parish. The worship was magnificent – elaborate, colourful ritual combined with superb music. Every service seemed to take us somewhere near heaven; angels and archangels hovered just off stage. It was very easy to believe God was present; […]

ASSUMPTION OF THE BVM 2021 (HR) Song of Songs 2:1-7; Gal. 4: 4-7; Luke 1: 46-55. ‘Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my Spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; for he has looked with favour on his lowly servant.”’ May it be given to me to speak in the name of the Father, […]

At the beginning of the month Thomas and Adele and I were walking through Wakefield from Westgate on our way to Linda’s funeral at the Cathedral. One of the first places we passed proclaimed in bold, confident, shiny letters a single word: ‘Truth’. I think it is a rather expensive NightClub. The owners clearly believe […]

                  Sermon for VII Sunday after Trinity,  18th July 2021                                   Gospel:  S. Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 What can be said about the scene in the Gospel we’ve just heard? The disciples had been busy in their proclaiming the good news to the kingdom of God, their missionary witness to all the people they encountered.  Only […]

SERMON: HR July 4th 2021 Trinity 5 Amos 7: 1-7; Mark 6: 1-13; 2 Cor. 12: 2-10 “What do you see?” May I speak in the name of God: Father Son and Holy Spirit. AMEN “What do you see?” God asks the prophet Amos today. One of the finest priests I know had a struggle […]

The Fourth Sunday after Trinity        2 Samuel 1.1,17-end                              2 Cor 8.7-end                               Mark 5.21-end  Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue ‘Do not be afraid; only believe.’ In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen Pilgrims to the Holy Land usually visit Capernaum where they can see […]

MARK 4: 35-41 Some years ago I crossed the Channel in a really bad storm. It was fantastic! The ferry rolled from side to side; it swooped forwards down the waves and surged up the other side. People were being sick everywhere. Every toilet, every basin had someone standing over it. Passengers were lying on […]