Words from Ian J. Burgess
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
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
Sunday closest to September 28 Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32, Psalm 25:1-8, Philippians 2:1-13, Matthew 21:23-32 The Fathers have eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth are set on edge. Generations of corruption, beginning with kings who worshipped idols and seeping through the cracks of society to erode even the most intimate of relationships. Priests doing double duty,… Continue reading Who Ate Sour Grapes?
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Isaiah 51:1-6, Psalm 138, Romans 12:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20 What does it mean to be saved? Sometimes it is imagined that salvation is a ticket to escape our own physical deaths. Maybe the timeline is brought a little closer and salvation means being delivered from some very present distress or pain -… Continue reading To Bind and Loose
Second Sunday After Pentecost Exodus 19:2-8a, Psalm 100, Romans 5:1-8, Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23) When I was a teenager, which I promise you was actually quite some time ago, despite my apparently genetic inability to grow a beard, I went on youth camp. Now if you have never experienced this unique experience of Youth Ministry in the… Continue reading Unprecedented
Finally Human 