It was one of the most outrageous encounters in the New Testament. Between the woman who was an outcast and the Man who was God. Bold, intelligent, theologically astute, and quick witted, this woman lived on the edges of society. Until one day, in the scorching heat of the noon-day sun, beside a deserted well, her life was transformed by an unexpected encounter with Christ.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Sermons
Are you the one?
Are you the One who is to come, or are we to wait for another? This is the question that John the Baptist asks.
Is Christ the One – that is still the question we face today.
Continue readingWhich are you – a Pharisee or a Tax Collector?
This is a tricky parable for Christians – the Pharisee and the Tax Collector. I had to ask myself an uncomfortable question – which one was I like?
Continue readingFaith and the race
Run with perseverance the race that is set before us… Looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.
The Epistle reading is well timed – on the heels of the Commonwealth games in Birmingham. Even if you’re not a sports fan you would’ve caught a glimpse of persevering, persistent, passionate athletes.
I remember my first race as a 3-year-old. Despite teachers trying to shoo me on, I stopped to help my friend who stumbled through the obstacle race. I looked back all the time for her. I hadn’t realised that running a race meant focus, commitment, and looking ahead to the finish line.
Continue readingWhat should we do?
“What, then, should we do?” This question is asked three times in our gospel reading – by the crowd, the tax collectors and the soldiers. To put it another way… “how, then, should we live?”
Last week we heard John the Baptist’s voice crying in the wilderness, calling for repentance. Today he is a force of fury, threatening axes, fire and judgement, and questioning the genuineness of the people’s repentance.
Imagine John the Baptist standing here on the Cathedral steps. He has been in the wilderness, eating locusts and wild honey. He is strong and imposing, with wild hair. He wears a tunic of camel hair with a leather belt. His staff raised high, he points to people, loudly shouting, “You BROOD OF VIPERS!
Continue readingAll Hallows Eve
All Hallows Eve – Sunday 31st October
Here we are on All Hallows Eve, pausing to look toward a realm and life beyond Earth. Our readings speak of life beyond death and a New Eternal Heaven and Earth to come. And our hymns remind us that, as we raise our voices on Earth, we join the Heavenly realm in praising God.
Continue readingRighteousness
26th September
When preparing the sermon, I came to two conclusions. The first – we think that as Christians, we are righteous people. The second is the uncomfortable truth that we are more prone to self-righteousness than we might like to think.
Continue readingBread of Life
Sunday 8th August
Let me start with an anecdote. When Paul and I got married in Nottingham, we had a second small reception here for many who couldn’t travel. Paul managed the menu and as he knew what people here liked, I left him to it. When we sat down to the meal, the large roast potatoes came first. I expected that – Paul loves his roast potatoes. What I didn’t expect was for it to be followed by more potato – champ. I was just recovering from the shock of champ, when a third potato dish arrived. Creamy, garlicy Dauphinoise potatoes. I barely managed to wait until the servers left before leaning over to Paul and saying “three potato dishes…what were you thinking?” Paul beamed and said “we like potatoes here… everyone will be pleased.”
I realised that day, that potatoes were the staple diet here – the equivalent of rice in Sri Lanka. Potatoes were so basic to life here, that during the potato famine in Ireland, people died or migrated.
Continue readingGreatness
4th July 2021
In a recent BBC documentary on the UK’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, his sister revealed that as a child, whenever Boris was asked what he wanted to be, he replied “World King.” The documentary suggests this wasn’t a childish whim; with Churchill as model, Boris Johnson did seek greatness.
Shakespeare in his comedy “Twelfth Night” has this thought: “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Boris Johnson wasn’t born great; greatness wasn’t thrust upon him; but he wants to achieve greatness. Whether he does – history will tell.
Continue readingFamily of God
Jesus said “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
A strange statement? Maybe not. Because Jesus constantly talked of a new Kingdom, a new family, a new order on earth.
Our Old Testament reading is a sobering reminder of how transient Kingdoms of this world, and their rulers, can be. It reminds me of Percy B Shelley’s poem, Ozymandias.
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