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 “Church and Civil Partnerships”

  1. Margaret of the Sea of Galilee Avatar
    Margaret of the Sea of Galilee

    Watching, watching – exclusive language in hymn and liturgy so far…not encouraging. Although the Moderator’s purple spectacles are a hopeful sign.

    Reply
  2. Robert Kirk Avatar
    Robert Kirk

    to give items of undergarments equal status – should one not also use ‘underpants’?

    Reply
  3. Scottish Bishops on Marriage and Civil Partnership | Law & Religion UK

    […] As observed in the Thinking Anglicans’ post, the substance of the Scottish guidance is very similar to that of the Church of England House of Bishops which was issued in February this year: it is more prescriptive than the CofE Declaration and appears to take a stronger line on blessings after marriage and civil partnerships, an area on which the CofE’s position has been less than clear; although some issues of detail are different[4], both take a very similar approach to clergy entering into same-sex marriage and to the position on ordinands.  Likewise, both have a relaxed approach to clergy within civil partnerships, although in May 2013 Kelvin Holdsworth noted: […]

    Reply

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