Words from Ian J. Burgess
Advent III Isaiah 35:1-6,10, Psalm 145(146):6-10, James 5:7-10, Matthew 11:2-11 "Happy is the man who does not lose faith in me" In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Saint John the Baptist is a hard man. Severe as the sun-cracked earth, coarse as camel hair. His… Continue reading Happy are those who do not lose faith in me
Holy Wednesday (Spy Wednesday) Isaiah 50:4-9, Psalm 68(69):8-10,21-22,31,33-34, Matthew 26:14-25 To think that Judas would betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver is absolutely unbelievable, because I do it every day for free. If only temptation were such a clear exchange, with the goods delivered up-front. We could negotiate the wages of sin to get… Continue reading Learn from Judas
Holy Tuesday Isaiah 49:1-6, Psalm 70(71):1-6,15,17 John 13:21-33,36-38 Some wrongs are so wrong there is nothing you can do to make it right. The parent who neglects their child.The business partner who steals from their colleague.The spouse who cheats. Some wrongs are so wrong there is nothing you can do to make it right. Persecuting… Continue reading When you can’t make it right
Holy Monday Isaiah 42:1-7, Psalm 26(27):1-3,13-14, John 12:1-11 There is nothing she could possibly give that would pay him back for what he had done for her. Mary's brother Lazarus was dead. Four days in the tomb dead. Stinking corpse dead. The funeral has already happened dead. Lazarus was dead. But Jesus raised him to… Continue reading She cannot pay him back
Pentecost Acts 2:1-11, Psalm 104:24-35, 1 Corinthians 12:1-13, John 14:8-17 Before Abraham was called away from his father's house and the gods of his ancestors, to go to the land that God would show him, all the people on the earth had gathered together in one place, speaking one language. And all the people said… Continue reading Pentecost
Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 66:1-11, 1 John 3:18-24, John 14:15-21 When Our Lord sent the Holy Spirit to fill his disciples and make them into his bride and body, the Church, they held all things in common and preached earnestly the Word of God to the people in Jerusalem, seeing thousands join… Continue reading I can come in, too?
Maundy Thursday Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 78:15-26, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15 In many of the liturgies for celebrating Holy Communion used in the worldwide church, including the form typically used in this congregation, at the conclusion of the prayer of Consecration, the Celebrant proclaims "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" with the people responding… Continue reading The Sacrifice which Saves and Sanctifies
Fourth Sunday in Lent 2 Chronicles 36:14-23, Psalm 122, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 6:1-15 Where I grew up, and this may be true here as well, two events loom large in our collective unconscious: The First and Second world wars. Each year on the 11th of November we stop everything we are doing at 11am and… Continue reading You Can Go Home
Last Sunday of Epiphany 1 Kings 19:9-18, Psalm 27, 2 Peter 1:13-21, Mark 9:2-9 If I were to make up a religion designed to make people be better than they are otherwise disposed to be, a religion that extolled selflessness, patience, courage, holiness, peaceableness, rule-following, cooperation, and all the other virtues necessary to a good, flourishing,… Continue reading This isn’t made up
Fourth Sunday of Epiphany Deuteronomy 18:15-22, Psalm 111, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 I have to confess this morning something which has plagued my mind of late. I think I might be an Atheist. Or functionally one at least. Atheist These habits of prayer and devotion that clearly come naturally to him are not unfamiliar… Continue reading Not A Problem We Can Solve
Finally Human 