- Scotland will not vote for Independence in 2020
- No progress for those hoping for Equal Marriage in the Church of England.
- Narrow Democrat victory in American election – country as divided as ever – widespread belief that the election was rigged.
- Scottish government proposals on reforming the Gender Recognition Act go through largely as proposed in consultation document.
- Limited agreements at COP talks but derided as too little too late.
- UK leaves the EU and is subsequently unable to agree a substantial deal.
- No trade deal with the USA
- Yvette Cooper will become the leader of the Labour Party.
- Stock market lower at the end of the year than it is today. (FTSE 7,542.44)
- Increasing visible support for LGBT Roman Catholics from within the Roman Catholic Church.
3 responses to “Power needs to be baptised by love”
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A very good and thought-provoking sermon. I’ve always thought of the Ethiopian eunuch as a man of great power and authority, and of great learning and devotion too, which points me to your third interpretation. But what startles me about the story – partly because of my thinking of the eunuch as someone of great power and authority compared to Philip, and partly because of a tendency on my part to be dogma-bound – is the sheer simplicity of how Philip welcomes him into the Church.
There is no complicated initiation process. There are no doctrinal tests. The eunuch sees water, and asks Philip in a businesslike way if there’s any reason why he shouldn’t be baptised. Philip’s answer couldn’t be more direct and straightforward: “If you believe with all your heart, you may be baptised.” And the eunuch’s response couldn’t be more direct and straightforward either: no lengthy creed, no question and answer interrogation, but simply, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
No doubt the eunuch continued his studies after his baptism, being that sort of man. But in a complicated world and (sometimes) a complicated Church I often turn to this passage for reassurance that it needn’t always be so.
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Thank you, Father Kelvin. What a lovely and refreshing new insight into the identity and provenance of the ethiopian Eunuch! Philip’s acceptance and Baptism of the Eunuch reflects the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 19:122, where he speaks of 3 types of eunuch; made so by others (the Ethiopian, castrati); those who become so for the sake of the Kingdom (monks, nuns, celibate clergy);
and then, of course; those so ‘from their mother’s womb’ (intrinsic Gays).
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Really profound. You’ve given me a lot to think about.
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