Darker evenings – the autumn storms – All Saints’ Day – the season of Remembrance. All combine to make this a time of year when it’s easy to focus on the deep waters that are an inevitable part of the human condition. For, as Wray comments, Isaiah takes it for granted that we will meet … [Read more…]
During this month’s readings from Luke’s Gospel we reach the parable of the “persistent widow and the unjust judge” (Luke 18:1–8). The judge, who has no shame/respect, gradually relents because the widow is “wearing him out” (v5). This term, derived from boxing, literally meant to give someone a black eye, but figuratively meant to shame … [Read more…]
At a service in August in St Finnian’s, Lochgelly, that many of us attended, Rev Thomas Brauer gave a thought-provoking sermon that made use of three inputs: The readings – from Isaiah 58:6–11 (the need for radical action on behalf of the disadvantaged), 1 Corinthians 12:4–14 (the different gifts of the Holy Spirit), and John 15:1–17 (the need to … [Read more…]
In our Gospel readings this month we will be reading what is usually referred to as “The parable of the rich fool”. Matt Judkins sets its context: “Luke’s twelfth chapter is packed with Jesus’ teaching about wealth and possessions. Even though Jesus lived in a time with far fewer resources and considerably fewer choices of things … [Read more…]
Our Gospel readings this month cover most of the first half of Paul’s short letter to the church at Colossae. This includes a key passage (Ch 1:15–20) believed to be a quotation from a hymn used in worship. Certainly a poetic work in the broadest sense, it speaks of Christ in relation to creation, before focusing … [Read more…]