What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Not drowning but thriving – sermon from 10 August 2014

     

    Turn your eyes upon Jesus
    Look full in his wonderful face
    And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
    In the light of his glory and grace

     

    When I was growing up – that’s exactly the kind of thing that I would have been singing on a Sunday morning.

    And it came to mind when I was starting to think about what to say about the gospel this morning.

    You see, the gospel reading that we have today tends to lead to sermons which represent that kind of mawkish sentimentality that suggests that Jesus will solve everything.

    I’ve found in life that Jesus doesn’t solve everything. If he did, the world would already be a very different place.

    I’ve learned that if Jesus does anything he calls us to build that better place not simply with him but with people of goodwill wherever we find them.

    Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

    That’s the thing about this passage – the evangelist lays on that sentiment with a trowel. Peter leaps out of the boat and starts to sink – only when he looks at Jesus is he safe. And thus, so many sermons will say – we need to fix our eyes on the saviour and all will be well.

    Well, I certainly think that Jesus can be a brilliant inspiration and I look on him as Saviour and Lord.

    But when I look at Jesus I find that he is looking at the world and asking me to gaze with compassion upon it with him. (more…)

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3 responses to “Our own little Anglican Communion”

  1. Seph Avatar
    Seph

    Not to mention Aotearoa/New Zealand Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends.

    Reply
  2. Bro David Avatar
    Bro David

    When I went to seminary in Seattle, WA, USA in the mid 1980s I took a summer term class at Vancouver School of Theology in the Diocese of New Westminster, Canada. While there I met Dean Peter’s current bishop, +Michael, who was himself dean of Christ Church Cathedral at that time. I still have his small book that he gave me, Rites For A New Age: Understanding the Book of Alternative Services. Vancouver is such a beautiful city.

    Reply
  3. Allan Ronald Avatar
    Allan Ronald

    That +Michael would be the Mike Ingham with whom I was at theological college in Edinburgh 40 years ago, then. A breath of fresh air in the place back then, if memory serves.

    Reply

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