Words from Ian J. Burgess
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost -Proper 16 Isaiah 51:1-6 Psalm 138 Romand 11:25-36 Matthew 16:13-20 One comforting lie we like to tell ourselves is that in a time of adversity and great trial we will band together, set aside petty differences, and rise above those things which keep us divided and discordant. Amongst British people this… Continue reading Confess Jesus As The Christ And Be Saved
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost -Proper 11 Last Saturday morning a community of believers in Ocala, Florida were gathering to celebrate Holy Communion in their church, when a man drove his van directly through the front doors into the lobby. He got out of his vehicle and proceeded to pour gasoline on the floor and lit… Continue reading The Patience To Let The Weeds Grow
Trinity Sunday The confession of faith which we will recite today begins with frightening words: Whosoever will be saved, *before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith.Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled, *without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. Without doubt perish everlastingly Perhaps this strength of this language… Continue reading If You Do Not Believe This, You Cannot Be Saved
The Fourth Sunday of Easter -Good Shepherd Acts 6:1-9, 7:2, 51-60, Psalm 23, 1 Peter 2:13-25, John 10:1-10 I am of that age where many of my peers are forming their adult lives. Marrying, starting careers, having children, moving and establishing lives somewhere, getting involved in a nonprofit and serving their neighbors, gaining new qualifications… Continue reading The Good Shepherd Who Gets His Sheep Killed
Maundy Thursday Exodus 12:1-14, Psalm 78:14-25, 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, John 13:1-15 or Luke 22:14-30 This is the night Jesus of Nazareth was handed over to suffer and die. This is the night the armed men came to take him away who had only done good. This is the night the creator of all things was… Continue reading Maundy Thursday
Palm/Passion Sunday Liturgy of the Palms Matt 21:1-11, Ps 118:19-29, Palm Sunday Isa 52:13—53:12, Ps 22:1-11, Phil 2:5-11, Matt 27:1-54 I am, God willing, likely to witness the coronation of the next King of Great Britain. Not in person, obviously, because London is insane on the best of days and I'm not too interested in… Continue reading Palm and Passion Sunday
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?
