Words from Ian J. Burgess
Last Sunday of Epiphany Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 99, Philippians 3:7-14, Matthew 17:1-9 The concluding scene of Star Wars Episode 4, A New Hope, is the glorious reward ceremony for the unlikely war heroes; Luke Skywalker the farmer from nowhere, and Han Solo the smuggler who's been everywhere. After destroying the Death Star and saving the… Continue reading On The Transfiguration
Second Sunday of Epiphany Exodus 12:21-28, Psalm 40:1-11, 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, John 1:29-42 "Sacrifice and offering you do not desire" says the Psalm we read this morning. "Burnt offerings and sin offerings you have not required;" Which is quite an odd thing to read in the Old Testament, especially when our other Old Testament reading… Continue reading The Sacrifice That Is (Not) Required
Christmas Day Isaiah 9:1-7 Psalm 96, Titus 2:11-14, Luke 2:1-14(15-20) I don't know about you, but without looking at a map or asking Google, I have serious doubts about my ability to locate the land of Zebulun or Naphtali. I do not know where Midian is either. Yet we heard this morning of these places… Continue reading The Fear that Leads To Faith
Third Sunday in Advent Isaiah 35, Psalm 146, James 5:7-20, Matthew 11:2-19 Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? said the disciples of John the Baptist. John the Baptist is the cousin of Jesus. His father was a Priest of the Temple and when John was born, he… Continue reading Should We Look For Another?
First Sunday in Advent Isaiah 2:1-5, Psalm 122, Romans 13:8-14, Matthew 24:29-44 This year of 2019 is drawing to a close.This is the year that China landed on the far side of the moon;Francis became the first Pope to visit the Arabian Peninsula;A breakthrough in stem cell treatment appeared to cure a man of HIV;Algeria… Continue reading A Vain Hope?
Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost Jeremiah 14:1-10, 19-22, Psalm 84, 2 Timothy 4:6-18, Luke 18:9-14 This week, the husband of Kim Kardashian, the rapper Kanye West released an album titled JESUS IS KING, which I think is a sentence no one ever thought would be said out loud. It is very good, I would thoroughly commend… Continue reading Sorry Is Enough
St Michael's Day Genesis 28:10-17, Psalm 103, Revelation 12:7-12, John 1:47-51 Today is September 29th, the Feast of Holy Michael and and All Angels, traditionally called Michaelmas. Our Prayer book gives us a number of feasts which we are asked to celebrate each year, which have to do with the events leading up to Christ's… Continue reading Holy Michael and All Angels
Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost Proverbs 16:18-20, Psalm 112, Hebrews 13:1-8, Luke 14:1, 7-14 In the fall of 2013, Clarence died. I had met him in 2011 on a bench in front of the office the church I was serving. He was an alcoholic, and was often laid out on the bench somewhere between awake and… Continue reading Making God Known in Our Mundane Lives
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost Genesis 15:1-6, Psalm 33, Hebrews 11:1-16, Luke 12:32-40 I do not often throw my cell phone in a burst of frustration. I suppose this is one of the ways owning a smartphone might actually be sanctifying, because unless there is a large and welcoming couch nearby few few of us would… Continue reading Incurably Foreign
Second Sunday After Pentecost Zechariah 12:8-13:1, Psalm 63, Galatians 3:23-29, Luke 9:18-24 When we hear someone say "God bless America", do we know what they mean? Do they mean "may God's blessing be upon my neighbors"? Or do they mean "May God keep out anyone without proper paperwork"? Perhaps they mean to say "May God… Continue reading Pick it up and Follow
