In the final episode of the TV series Inspector Morse, the actor John Thaw gives a fine portrayal of a man who is wrestling with age and declining health. At one point we Morse sitting in a hospital waiting room. This man who was so used to being in control and the prime mover in…
One of the interesting things about the readings we reflect on at this time of year is that they all have what we might call a bit of an edge to them. As the Church`s year draws to a close and a new year (beginning with Advent) is soon upon us, the subject matter of…
I wonder what comes to mind when you hear that word `Gospel`? We`re often exhorted, aren`t we, to preach the Gospel, share the Gospel. Time and time again, it seems, we`re being told that this `Gospel` is somehow fundamental to who and what we are as Christians… and yet, in my experience it`s a word…
This morning I`d like to ask you to think a little about what you mean when you use the word `God`. We sometimes hear this word used as an expletive; it`s what we say in response to a moment of shock or surprise! Even now we hear it invoked by the insurance company following an…
On the face of it, our New Testament reading this morning begins with a fairly innocuous phrase: St. Paul says: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings should be made for everyone…” (1 Timothy 2.1) And I`d like to think that we might consider this to be pretty obvious stuff…
I`ve learnt over many years to be very cautious about the all too casual comments that people make about what we call the Old Testament. It seems to me tragic that the rather negative assumptions many people have about these texts serve to prevent us from gleaning what I can only refer to as perhaps…
I think it`s fair to say that sometimes the disciples of Jesus are not portrayed as being especially bright. From time to time the Lord`s patience with them seems to wear a little thin, to say the least. But on that, particular occasion we heard about a moment ago, (Luke 11.1-13) the disciple who said,…
I`m not someone who is given to quoting poetry very often. But of all the poems I`ve come across in recent years, there is one by a man called R.S. Thomas, which contains an image which I`ve found helpful. In his poem called `Folk Tale`, Thomas describes his experience of praying. He imagines himself as…
In John`s Gospel the Lord tells the disciples, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete”. (John 16.24) I have to confess that every time I hear these words, I feel a certain nudge in my own ribs. I always…
The Prophet Elijah was riding the crest of a wave. He had taken on the false prophets of Baal and completely crushed them. The first Book of Kings tells us how he taunted them. They hadn`t been able to rouse their god into action. And we`re told, “At noon Elijah mocked them, saying, ‘Cry aloud!…
Many clergy know that the one thing you need to do, especially around Christmas time, is to get out the candles. Deploying a few candles around the Church seems almost designed to ensure that (some people, at any rate) people go home reasonably happy. At the door, people will say, “that was special”, “that was…
Those few verses from Luke`s Gospel are the ones we traditionally hear on Ascension Day, which was last Thursday. (Luke 24.44-53) I thought it would be good to hear them again essentially because Luke manages in a very few words, to say so much that is fundamental to why we`re here this morning; and why,…
