Services

Do you ever think what is said in the Bible you disagree with or have problems with, in some way? Or am I the only one? I’m thinking today of Paul himself disagreeing with the Athenian inscription “to an unknown God”. The reality is, there is a mystery and shyness to God therefore God is in a sense unknown. This is part of the reality in which we cannot put God in a box. We are not equal with God and therefore by definition cannot fully know God.

Today’s gospel has many themes, and ways of understanding the passage. I often use it for funerals. But there’s other ways of looking at it. I was struck by what Angela N. Parker said about this gospel passage on the Working Preacher website. She begins by commenting on the phrase: “Let not your hearts be troubled.”

Why is Psalm 23 such a favorite? Maybe because there are so many images we can relate to. One of my favourites, an image of the Kingdom of God is the banquet table. You prepare a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me.

I have talked about the Road to Emmaus previously, and about Jesus’ actions and understanding the passage from that point of view. That it is a model for how we talk to people outside of the church.

If I were to mention the names of certain disciples to you and ask you to write down the first word that comes into your mind, it is unlikely you would come up with the same words. If I were to mention the name of Judas many of you would write down the word “betray” but not all of you. If I were to mention Peter, some of you would write down the word [“deny”] or “faith”, but not all of you.

I seem to remember saying on the last Sunday before Lent, Transfiguration, that it was a foretaste of Easter. Jesus telling them not to tell until the son of man has been raised from the dead.

Good Friday Service at Christ Church Anglican at 2PM.

This is the day that Christ the Lamb of God gave himself into the hands of those who would slay him. This is the day that Christ gathered with his disciples in the upper room. This is the day that Christ took a towel and washed the disciples’ feet, giving us an example that we should do to others as he has done to us.

Jesus says in the gospel today; do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. And yet we read in Isaiah; look you fast only to quarrel and to fight but is not this the fast that I choose to loose the bonds of injustice to undo the thongs of the yolk. Is it not to share your food with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house and so forth then your light shall break from like the dawn.