Posts

Living in the Resurrection

Image
You can listen to this sermon here .   Gate Pa – Easter 3 – Year B, 2024 Readings: Psalm -                  Psalm 4 First Reading:        Acts 3:12-21 Second Reading:   1 John 3:1-7 Gospel:                   Luke 24:36-48 What I want to say: Easter is a time to hear stories of the resurrection and how those first disciples responded. We hear them not to be convinced of the truth of the resurrection, but to be opened to our own experiences of the resurrection, and to take time to reflect on how we respond. This week we hear from Luke, with the disciples offering all kinds of responses. Where are we in this mix? As the parish faces an uncertain time with my going, how do we respond. Offer some thoughts around our response in terms of the time and financial support for the parish. What I want to happen: People to take time to reflect on how they might respond   The Sermon 1.      Introduction:  For those who are wondering – it is still Easter. -          More than one day -          O
Post a Comment
Read more

Easter is much more than Easter Sunday

Image
Easter is much more than Easter Sunday. It lasts for 50 days. All the way to Pentecost. And during this time, we hear stories of the resurrection and how those first disciples responded. We hear them not to be convinced of the truth of the resurrection, but to be opened to our own experiences of the resurrection, and to take time to reflect on how we respond. This Sunday we hear stories from Luke. From what some of you have told me there are a whole range of reactions and questions around the resurrection. We are not sure how to understand it. Did it happen? How did it happen? What does it mean? What should I do with it? We are not alone with our doubts and questions. The stories we have been reading over the last weeks present disciples who are filled with fear and trembling, who run, stay silent, doubt, disbelieve, hide, give up, leave town, disbelieve even in their joy and wonder, need proof, are confused, not even recognising Jesus when he is among them. I’m sure we can find ou
Post a Comment
Read more

Following Thomas!

Image
You can listen to this sermon here  Gate Pa – Year B  2 nd Sunday in Easter, 2024 Readings: Psalm                          Psalm 133 First Reading:             Acts 4:32-35  Second Reading :        1 John 1:1-2:2  Gospel:                        John 20:19-31 What I want to say: Explore what it was like for those male disciples – abandoned Jesus to his death, denied him, betrayed him. Did not die with him as Thomas promised not so long ago – now he is back!! -           How does that read about these two appearances Thomas teaches us that the Resurrection is not something to be convinced of, but s omething to be experienced. And when we do it changes everything! -           How might we live out our own resurrection appearances The Sermon      1.      What was it like? I wonder what it was like for these male disciples Not long before in story Thomas is saying… “Let us go too so that we may die with Jesus.” Instead of dying with Jesus -          Judas betrays Jesus -   
Post a Comment
Read more

Stop Calling Thomas Names

Image
The gospel reading for the second Sunday of Easter is always the great story of Thomas. We often call him Doubting Thomas and he gets a lot of negative press. But that might be a little unfair. Let’s look at the story again. A few days earlier (John 11) Jesus had said his friend Lazarus was asleep and that he was returning to Jerusalem. The disciples were shocked and afraid, but “…Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11: 16). Then Jesus is arrested, the male disciples scatter, and Jesus is crucified. Three days later Mary Magdalene meets the risen crucified Jesus in the garden and goes to tell the disciples that she has seen the Lord. They respond by hiding behind locked doors. We might call them doubting disciples. Thomas is not with them. Then the risen crucified Jesus joins then and gives them peace. They then find Thomas and tell him they too have seen the Lord. But he is not so easily convinced. He thought he w
Post a Comment
Read more

I Trust God for That

Image
You can listen to this sermon here   Gate Pa – Year B   Easter Sunday 2024 Readings: First Reading:             Isaiah 25:6-9                             Second Reading:         Acts 10:34-43                           Gospel:                        John 20:1-18    What I want to say: Our friend died this week. The resurrection affirms that she is with God now. Swallowed in God’s life. I don’t know what that means or what it looks life. That is ok. I trust God for all that. This story is bigger than Liz, or me, getting into heaven, if that is what being swallowed by God’s life is. Jesus death is more than Jesus dying on a cross for me and my sins. It is God dying on a cross, showing us where all our greed, selfishness, lust for power. The powers of death thought they had won, but God would not be held in death. When all seemed lost God’s life prevailed. When all seems lost, God’s love and life will prevail. I trust God for that. Mary watched her friend die, a humiliating
Post a Comment
Read more