Words from Ian J. Burgess
Christ the King Sunday Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14, Psalm 93, Revelation 1:4b-8, John 18:33-37 Confirmation is a rite in the Church which reflects what the first Apostles did in the book of Acts, when St. Peter went to visit the Samaritans who had received the Gospel and laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit,… Continue reading Christ the King
Twenty-third Sunday After Pentecost Jeremiah 31:7-9, Psalm 126, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 10:46-52 In the Gospel which was read to us today we meet Jesus on his way to Jerusalem. He tells his disciples three times that he will suffer and die, and be raised to life again, yet the Disciples each time misunderstand him, hearing… Continue reading The Miracle That Gets Us There
Sunday closest to September 21 Jeremiah 11:18-20, Psalm 54, James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a, Mark 9:30-37 Jeremiah was young when he was called by God to be a prophet to speak God's word to God's people. In fact he was called before he was even born, and God speaks to him saying: “Before I formed you in… Continue reading Living Gently in the Wisdom of the Cross
Sunday closest to August 3 Exodus 16:2-4,9-15, Psalm 78:23-29, Ephesians 4:1-16, John 6:24-35 I have learned recently that I am Not Very Nice. Now I know that many of the people in this room could have told me this, but you are all far too nice to ever say such a thing. The revelation of… Continue reading Following Our Stomachs
Sunday closest to June 29 Lamentations 3:21-33, Psalm 30, 2 Corinthians 8:7-15,Mark 5:21-43 In the year 587BC Jerusalem fell to King Nebuchadnezzar II. The palace, temple, and city were sacked and burned, and the rulers and leaders were captured and taken to Babylon. Assyria, who were eventually taken over by Babylon in Old Testament history,… Continue reading Our Turn For Tragedy
Trinity Sunday Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17 God is not lonely. I think sometimes we might feel that way. Or at least, we feel lonely and suppose to ourselves that God must be like us, and that means God must be lonely. Our loneliness has driven us to great and extraordinary achievements.… Continue reading God Is Not Lonely
Second Sunday of Easter Acts 4:32-35, Psalm 133, 1 John 1:1-2:2, John 20:19-31 Jesus said 'unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit' (John 12:24). What does he mean? Jesus went to his own death with the certainty that through his… Continue reading Peace. Receive. Go.
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Psalm 111, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28 One of the comforting things about the Bible is that it tells us a story about ourselves, a story we can actually believe. There's this garden. Adam and Eve hide from God. God of course was not satisfied that human beings… Continue reading I Like Being Right
First Sunday after Christmas Isaiah 61:10-62:3, Psalm 147 or 147:13-21, Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7, John 1:1-18 Our Advent readings were stirring and strange and frightening. God is coming to earth! What could that mean for a people so weak and sinful and defeated? How could we bear it? Yet God chose to come as a child.… Continue reading Worth Living
Sunday closest to November 9 Amos 5:18-24, Psalm 70, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13 It is a terrifying thing to be surrounded by enemies on every side. It is as though a gun is perpetually held to your head, threatening to go off with even the slightest misstep. The people of God at the time… Continue reading Overwhelming Justice
Finally Human 