From the Rector’s Study

The starting point of any counseling session seems to be answering the question, what is the problem? This seems very obvious and a simple logical place to start. One side, usually the one initiating going for counseling is asked to express the problem. What is often the reaction of the other when the problem is expressed? Their immediate reaction is to defend themselves against the criticism or to launch into solutions.

Video of service only.

Several years ago, a fellow clergy said that he changed his view of the ordination of women from being against it to being for it because he liked and felt more at home with those in favour of the ordination of women than those against. Why am I telling you this? Because in today’s gospel reading Jesus asks two questions. Yes, he asks, who do others say that I am and who do you say that I am?

American author, Presbyterian minister, preacher, and theologian Frederick Buechner wrote an imaginative retelling of the Old Testament stories of Jacob and Joseph titled The Son of Laughter. Within the text, there is a conversation between Rachel and her son, Jacob. She tells him, “A word can never be unspoken once it has been spoken. Do you understand what I mean?

Jesus goes up on the mountain alone to pray when the disciples get into trouble in a boat on the water. Let’s put it in a bit of a cultural context. The Jews were not a seafaring people. To say they had a healthy respect for water would be a bit of an understatement.

There are various ways of approaching the theme of the transfiguration. All of them can offer interesting insights. Although God’s voice calls Jesus the chosen one and to listen to him, we are all chosen. And this is a 2-fold approach. I remember asking in a sermon once, I don’t remember whether it was for transfiguration or the baptism of Jesus as to whether anyone felt beloved or chosen by God.

Regional Ministry Service at 10:00am, at St. John the Evangelist, Havelock, followed by a question & answer period, then a luncheon.

Today the parable of the wheat and the weeds. This is the story of the householder and the slaves planting for him wheat and someone else plants weeds. There may be more, but I can think of three ways understanding this parable.

“We need some good dirt,” the boy’s green-thumbed grandmother declared as they prepared to plant spring flowers. She knew that bountiful blossoms depend upon planting seeds in “good dirt” – soil that is full of minerals and gets sufficient moisture, soil that is well-supported and compacted to survive wind and rain, and soil that is not infested by weeds and pests who choke away life.