Talks, Sermons and Reflections

Mark 9.2-9 As we prepare ourselves to celebrate the season of Lent, today we look at a pretty dramatic encounter with God. Peter, James and John – three of the first followers of Jesus – go on a mountain with Jesus, and they got far more than they have bargained for. And while I would be surprised if any of us have a similar encounter, at least this side of death, I am going to draw out three things from this incident. 1. There is great value in separating ourselves from our everyday world in order to spend time with Jesus “Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves.” Mark 9:2 Peter, James and John have been led by Jesus up a mountain. In some icons of the transfiguration you can see them going up the mountain, and coming down the mountain.  There is nobody else with them. It is just them and Jesus. It is good to have time when it is just you and Jesus or just us and Jesus. I know that we can pray at any time,...

James 5.13-19 People say that James is all about doing good works and not about faith. Well certainly, James is immensely practical He challenges us To control the tongue, what we say : · not to speak evil of each other (4.11) · not to grumble against each other (5.9) · not to boast (claiming that I am going to do this or that and forgetting God) (4.13f) · not to swear or take oaths, as if our word needs enforcing (ch 5.12).  Because of that verse Tolstoy refused to swear on the bible. He asked how could he swear on a book which itself forbade him from swearing? I’m not sure that I completely agree with him. When I made my oath of allegiance to my bishop and to the crown, I placed my hand on the bible. But I wasn’t swearing on the bible. I wasn’t saying, ‘If I don’t do this, may all the curses that are written here fall on me!’ Instead I was placing my hand on the bible, which I believe is the ultimate source of truth, and I am s...

What is the Jesus Prayer? A very simple repetitive prayer, which helps us to focus, to centre the mind on Jesus Christ in routine things of life. Nothing magic about the words. At its heart is nothing less than the invocation of Jesus’ name. Several versions Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me/us Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, mercy on us and all the world Lord Jesus have mercy The Jesus prayer in the Bible Matthew 9:27 (two blind men) “Have mercy on us, Son of David” Matthew 15:22  “ Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession” – note how she asks for mercy on her and then prays for her daughter. Why? Because she loves her daughter Matthew 20:30 Two blind men:  “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us” Mark 10:47 Bartimaeus: “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (cf L...

John 15.5-11 Harry Potter discovers a mirror in the room of enchantment! It is not a normal mirror. When he looks into it, he sees himself with his parents. He was orphaned as a baby. He spends hours gazing at the image in the mirror. And it is only when Dumbledore explains that he realises what is going on. The mirror shows you what your deepest desire, your deepest wish is. It is the mirror or Erised, which is desire backwards. Jesus speaks here of desire, when he says (v7), 'Ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you'. He doesn't just say it here. In Matthew 7.7 he says, 'Ask, and it will be given you' (Luke 11.9) In Matthew 21.22 he says, 'Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive' (Mark 11.24) In John 14.13 he says, 'I will do whatever you ask in my name'. In v14 he says, 'If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it'. In 16.24, he says, 'Ask and you will receive, so that y...

I invite you to take up your palm cross, and as we pray to look at it We look at its base, and imagine the cross of Christ plunged deep into the earth Father God, we thank you for sending your Son to come and live among us, for his being one of us, his suffering with us and his death for us. We thank you that in the face of lies, injustice and unspeakable brutality, our Lord Jesus, out of love for us, kept silence and bore in his own body the weight of our sin We pray today for all who suffer: for those who suffer pain and grief, who see no hope or who are lost inside their own mind. But particularly today we pray for those who suffer because of injustice or the violence of others. We pray for our Coptic brothers and sisters in Egypt. We pray for safety for the many acts of witness that will be held throughout the world today. And we pray for those who would commit acts of terror. We ask that you frustrate them, and that you would touch their hearts and minds so that t...

Heavenly King O heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who is in all places and dwells in all things, the Treasury of blessing and the Giver of life. Come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save, O gracious One, our souls. Amen Trisagion Holy God, Holy Strong, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. The Jesus Prayer “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner” ----- Lenten Prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian O Lord and Master of my life, Do not give to me the spirit of laziness, faintheartedness, lust for power, and idle talk. But give to me, Your servant, the spirit of purity, humility, patience and love. O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brother or sister, for blessed are You unto ages of ages. Amen. The great Canon of St Andrew the Great (read on Wednesday before Easter) http://www.spc.rs/files/u5/2016/03/greatcanon_sts-8a99f61.pdf Easter Canon Christ is risen from the d...

Acts12.1-19 This is one of the great stories that the early Christians loved telling. (Tell the story with helpers) James, the brother of John, one of Jesus’ inner three, has been arrested and executed. Now Peter, the second of the inner three, is arrested and put in prison. It is a maximum security prison. It has an iron gate Outer guard Inner guard Lock him not to a wall, not to 1 soldier, but to 2 soldiers Herod is taking no risks.  He has decided, in order to please the people (Christians were not popular at the time) that Peter is also going to be executed. Acts 12.5: 'So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him' I wonder what they were praying? Peace (certainly Peter has that. He is sleeping!), strength to be courageous (for Peter and for themselves), courage to stand firm. So what happens next? Peter is asleep in prison. An angel turns up. He jabs Peter awake, and says, ‘Get up quickly’. ...

Luke 11.1-13 The disciples come to Jesus and say, 'Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples'. It is interesting to see how Jesus does not answer that question He does not give them practical instructions. He doesn’t tell them to put their hands together and close their eyes. He gives the practical stuff, elsewhere, in Matthew 6.6-7: go to a room, shut the door, pray in secret, don’t use many words and trust that your Father in heaven will hear you. But here he doesn't. And he does not begin by telling them to silence or still themselves Again, meditation (or mindfulness), the discipline of seeking to silence all the thoughts that are coming in, often linked with sitting correctly and making sure that our breathing is correct, is an extremely helpful way of stilling ourselves and becoming aware of that something or someone who is so much bigger than ourselves. It is very precious and it is something that I do – when I stop, focus on my ...