From earliest times Christians associated Easter Day with light. In fact, in the first century, Christians gathered on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, by lighting a new fire and by worshipping. The Church still keeps this Easter Vigil today. It reminds us that Jesus is the LIGHT of the world - which He told us (John 8:12) - divine light in the darkness of what is worse about humanity.
Easter is a time of great significance and importance for Christians all around the world. Easter represents the culmination of Jesus Christ's ministry, death, and resurrection, which holds deep meaning for our faith and our lives as believers.
Sisters and Brothers, Holy Week is a significant time in the Christian calendar, that commemorates the final week of Jesus Christ's life on earth. It begins with the Sunday of The Passion: Palm Sunday, which marks Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On this day, crowds of people welcomed Jesus by waving palm branches and laying down their cloaks for Him to ride on, as He entered the city.
The story of King David's repentance in Psalm 51, serves as a powerful example for us during the season of Lent, in several ways.
'For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life', is a powerful reminder of the incredible love and sacrifice God made for us.
In our Gospel for today, taken from John 2:13-22(click here), we witness a powerful and often perplexing event in Jesus’ ministry: the cleansing of the temple. This passage offers profound insights into Jesus’ character, His mission, and His relationship with both God and humanity.
The Gospel today, marks the end of Jesus’ Galilean Ministry, and the beginning of His journey to Jerusalem. It describes a transition period, a time of reflection, and a time of learning for His disciples. In this passage from Mark 8:31-38 (click here), Jesus predicts His death and resurrection, and then teaches about the cost of discipleship.
Today, I want to talk to you about the importance of the Ecological System, in our world and the significance of exercising good environmental stewardship in the 21st century. As children of God, it is our responsibility to care for the Earth and all of His creation.
The Bahamas is an archipelago of approximately 700 Islands and Cays. The rock structure of these islands is of coral limestone. However, the country is made up of over 250,00 square miles of oceans and seas; more water than land.
...Your role within this women's organization is of utmost importance, and your ministry holds a significant impact on the overall work of our cathedral. Your ‘Rule of Life’ calls you to serve God through, WORSHIP, STUDY, PRAYER, FELLOWSHIP, SERVICE and GIVING.
Dear Men Of Our Cathedral Family: I want to take a moment to specifically address you and remind you of the important role that you play in our church family. Your presence and contribution are invaluable, and your active participation is vital for the growth and strength of our Cathedral Church.
In our city church, we envision a community that is deeply rooted in biblical teachings and guided by the principles of love and service. Inspired by the words of Jesus, we strive to respond to the diverse needs of our fellow human beings with compassion, understanding, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact.
Today, I want to talk to our children about taking care and protecting our environment. Our planet is a beautiful place, filled with wonders and treasures. It's our home, and it's up to each and every one of us to be responsible in taking care of this precious gift. Just like we take care of our toys, our pets, and ourselves, we need to take care of our Earth as well.
Brothers and Sisters, today, there are some important words that are key to environmental sustainability and stewardship that you should know about.
Brothers and Sisters, today, we begin to focus on our Diocesan Theme for 2024 which is “For the Beauty of the Earth - Environmental Stewardship in the 21st Century.” As we look around us, we witness the beauty and wonder of God's creation, displayed in the earth and its diverse ecosystems. It is our responsibility as children of God, to protect and care for this precious gift entrusted to us.
A stable is a smelly place full of animals, straw, urine, dung and dampness. Animals, though cute and adorable, are not easy on the nostrils. But that is where Jesus was born.
As we bid farewell to the year that has passed, and step into the New Year, I want to take a moment to share a heartfelt message with each and every one of you. The past year has brought us trials and challenges, but it has also shown us the steadfast love and faithfulness of our Lord.
As we gather together during this joyous season of Christmas, I am filled with gratitude for each and every one of you. Thank you for your love and support. We continue to grow spiritually and we have done much in our outreach, providing “care packages” for many persons. Some members have lost loved ones during the year, and we shared their grief.
On the third Sunday of Advent, the penitential purple or blue of the season changes to rose and we celebrate “Gaudete” or “Rejoice!” Sunday. “Shout for joy, daughter of Sion” says Zephaniah. “Draw water joyfully from the font of salvation,” says Isaiah. “Rejoice in the Lord always,” says St. Paul.
In today’s gospel (==> Click Here <==), we hear from a great New Testament Prophet, John the Baptist. He appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
My Brothers and sisters, on this First Sunday of Advent; in Mark 13:24-37, Jesus speaks about the coming of the Son of Man and the importance of staying watchful and alert. He describes a time of great tribulation, with signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great power and glory.
The Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands will join the entire Province of the West Indies in taking a significant step on this Advent Sunday, 3rd December 2023. On that day Baptism will become the Gateway to Holy Communion...
The Feast of Christ the King, celebrated on the last Sunday of the liturgical year, holds great significance and importance within the Christian faith. It is a time to honour and acknowledge Jesus Christ as the supreme ruler and king of all creation.
Remembrance Sunday, is observed each year, to honour and remember the brave men and women, who sacrificed their lives in service, to the freedoms we enjoy today.
Today, we gather together in a spirit of celebration and gratitude, to honour the Saints and Martyrs of the Caribbean. These remarkable individuals, who dedicated their lives to the service of God and their fellow human beings, have left an indelible mark on the history and culture of this beautiful region.
Let us suppose that you are giving a party. When you have fixed the date, you draw up a list of the people you wish to invite. Then you send out the invitations with RSVP emblazoned on them, and wait for the responses to come back. Basically, you can expect three kinds of responses.
Some people think that Jesus’ story is an unfair and unjust one. (I’ve heard this many times.) This is a very serious accusation. Injustice is an ugly thing. All of us have some experience of it.
Jesus asks us to forgive ‘seventy times seven.’ Which means forgiveness must be unlimited. There is no point in being glib about forgiveness, or pretending that it is easy. Without the grace of God, it is sometimes impossible.
My Brothers and Sisters; Today, I would like to draw your attention to a powerful passage from the Gospel of Matthew, specifically Matthew 18:15-20 ==> CLICK HERE TO READ <==. This scripture holds valuable insights on resolving conflicts within the community of faith, the body of Christ.
As you approach the start of a new school year, I wanted to take a moment to reach out to each of you and offer my support, prayers, and encouragement.
If taken literally, the Gospel story has little or no relevance for us. But it seems that Matthew meant it to be taken symbolically. The boat represents the CHURCH; the winds and the waves stand for the PERSECUTIONS that had been let loose on the early Christians.
There have always been two views of the Church—one exclusive, the other, inclusive. The exclusive view holds that the Church is for good people, for the fully committed. In the inclusive view, the Church must be open to all; to the hot, the cold and the lukewarm, to saints and sinners.
A seed is a marvellous thing—it can make barren ground fruitful. But, a seed is an extremely weak and vulnerable thing. It depends entirely on the kind of soil in which it is sown. If the soil is lacking, the seed will come to nothing; if the soil is good, it will produce a rich harvest.
Today, as we gather to celebrate on the eve of the 50th year of independence for the Bahamas, let us reflect on a powerful message from the Scriptures. In Matthew 5:44, Jesus challenges us with these words: “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
How long, O Lord? Although the psalmist’s plea seems to be echoing across our nation and indeed across our world, Jesus is still calling us to Compassionate Welcome.
John the Baptist was a significant figure in the life of Jesus Christ. He was a prophet who lived in the wilderness and preached the coming of the Messiah.
My Brothers and Sisters, as we gather here today to celebrate Father’s Day, it is important to take a moment to reflect on the significance and importance of fathers in our lives. Fathers play a crucial role in shaping our lives and molding us into the individuals we are today.
The Pharisees despised sinners, but Jesus befriended sinners. It was not a question of a few kind words, or a gesture or two, on His part. He associated with sinners. He shared their food and drink. He didn’t just tolerate them. He welcomed them.
Beginning in Advent, which is the birth of a new church year, and continuing through to Pentecost, we are asked to follow Mary’s lead by treasuring and pondering everything that God has done for us: God’s plan for creation, His plan to rescue us through Jesus, and His plan to lead and guide the church, through the power of the holy Spirit, until Jesus comes again.
Prior to the coming of the Holy Spirit, the apostles were virtually living in hiding in the upper room. A great task had been entrusted to them, yet, they had neither the strength nor the will to begin it. But after the coming of the Holy Spirit, they were changed people. They left their hiding place, and set out courageously to preach the Gospel.
In a legal sense, a witness is a spectator, someone who actually sees a crime taking place. And what that witness sees, is considered evidence. This is the sense in which Peter and the other disciples were witnesses, to the risen Jesus.
When tourists visit an historical site or monument, they feel the need to take photos and buy cards souvenirs. They want to have some tangible memento to take home to show their friends, and which will help to keep alive their memory of the place.
Today, we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As one of our familiar choruses says, ‘My Jesus is alive; He is alive forever more.’
Today, and all week, as we recall the events of Jesus’ Passion and death, God is inviting us to do more than simply remember past events. He invites us to join Jesus on the road to Calvary, and peer into His heart, at each step along the way.
The Church of England is one of 46 separate and independent provinces in the worldwide Anglican Communion. At its recent General Synod (annual general meeting or national assembly) held in February 2023, it made a decision to have its Liturgical Commission, the body responsible for overseeing prayers and services, to look into the subject of gender neutrality over the next five years.
The Church of England is one of 46 separate and independent provinces in the worldwide Anglican Communion. At its recent General Synod (annual general meeting or national assembly) held in February 2023, it made a decision to have its Liturgical Commission, the body responsible for overseeing prayers and services, to look into the subject of gender neutrality over the next five years.
The story of the fall of Adam and Eve, and the story of the tempting of Jesus, are two very sophisticated stories. They are essentially about making choices.
The Story of the Book of Exodus is one of deliverance. That deliverance, is more than the drama of the Israelites being freed from bondage in Egypt. For God’s people, it is a liberation to creative life. Yet, life can be creative, only if it has focus.
All of us are subject to law. Jesus himself was subject to law, both human and divine. As he grew up, he obeyed Joseph and Mary. He obeyed the law of the land. And of course, he obeyed the law of God. Here it is Jesus’ attitude to the law of God that concerns us.
Jesus said to his disciples, ’You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world.’ In the ancient world, salt was one of the most important necessities of lift, especially for preserving and seasoning food. So too, was light for obvious reasons. Both are still vitally important today. What was Jesus saying when he used these two images?
‘The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light; on those who dwelt in darkness and the shadow of death, a light has dawned.’ These beautiful words come from the prophet Isaiah.
When a new prime minister takes up office, one of the first things he or she does is to appoint cabinet ministers. Then, in an official ceremony, the chosen ones get their seal of office. These are not slow in telling the world how pleased they are to have been chosen. You hear them say such things as, ‘I feel very privileged,’ ‘I feel very honoured .’
As we celebrate another Christmas, we ask the age-old question which many are tired of hearing: What is Christmas all about?
Brothers and Sisters, Christmas is all about the Incarnation. The Incarnation means that God’s Son, came down on earth, took on our human nature in order to confer on us the dignity of children of God. The mystery of the Incarnation is a mystery of love.
All three readings for the Sunday, December 11th, 2022 Liturgy, have comforting words. In the first reading, Isaiah says: ‘Courage, do not be afraid.’ In the second reading, St. James says: ‘Be patient! Do not lose heart.’
One of the images Isaiah uses to describe the messianic age is that of a lamb lying down with a wolf and having nothing to fear. It is a picture of a time of universal peace - the strong would no longer prey on the weak, or the cunning on the innocent.
Today, we celebrate Jesus as King, enthroned at the right hand of the Father. We also look forward to his ultimate glorification after the Last Judgment. At that time, people from every nation under heaven...
Today we observe Remembrance Day, the day on which The Bahamas and countries throughout the British colonies memorialize the veterans who served in the British Army in World Wars I and II, 1914-1918 and 1939-1945, respectively.
When we come to observe All Saints’ Day, we are not thinking primarily of Apostles and martyrs, the famous Christians of any generation. Rather, it is the occasion when we thank the Lord for all the godly women and men who gave themselves without thought of a memorial.
It is clear that Zacchaeus had heard a lot of good things about Jesus. But he wanted to see for himself. Firstly, he wanted to see what Jesus looked like. Secondly, and more importantly, he wanted to see what kind of person Jesus was.
The Pharisee was completely unaware of his own sinfulness. He didn’t think he had any sins at all. He wasn’t a sinner like the rest of humankind. No. He was different. Therefore, instead of examining his own conscience and confessing his own sins, he examined the conscience of others and confessed their sins—greed, injustice, adultery, and so on.
The story of the Ten Lepers has a very obvious lesson, namely, the importance of showing gratitude. But it has another lesson: finding God through pain. Pain can drive people away from God, or it can bring them close to God.
Today, we commemorate the archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. The catechism tells us, that angels are created spiritual beings, with intellects and wills and that each angel is a unique and immortal heavenly being.
The instructions in today’s Epistle reading, in 1 Timothy 6:6-19, call upon the Christian leader, to take heed of reality, and to call on followers to do likewise. God gives life to all. Those who have wealth are to take no pride in their possessions or their success. They are to shun the temptations of the world (v.11a).
The steward in Jesus’ story was unreliable and dishonest. It’s obvious that he had been so for quite some time. It probably started off in little ways, but eventually became a way of life.
The experience of sin is universal. Jesus alone has turned aside all temptations.
All sin is rebellion against the infinite goodness of God, but some forms of wrongdoing seem to separate us from God, more completely than others.
What does Christianity have to offer that's worth giving up everything else for, including one's own life? More than we can fathom! Jesus offered his disciples a priceless treasure--true happi-ness, peace, and joy unending, with the everlasting Father in his heavenly kingdom.
While sleeping late can be nice, have you considered the benefits of Sunday School attendance for your child? Here are 10 reasons to make it a priority in your family.
The story of Jeremiah’s call to preach, which appears immediately after the superscription, is the first of many stories about his life. This is a job that Jeremiah neither seeks nor welcomes. Citing his young age, he objects.
‘I came to cast fire on the earth...I came, not to bring peace, but rather division.’ Strange words to hear coming from Jesus! We wouldn’t expect him to use fire and the sword (division). Nor did he. When James and John wanted him to call down fire and brimstone on a Samaritan village, he told them they didn’t know what they were talking about. And when Peter drew his sword in the garden, Jesus told him to put it away.
George A. F. Knight writes of Psalm 49, that it “is less likely to have been sung by the temple congregation than to have been taught in the temple-school next door...The psalm forms a good background to Jesus’ parable of the rich farmer that we meet with at Luke 12:13-21” in today’s Gospel.
The Our Father is the first and greatest of all Christian prayers (I’m thinking of Matthew’s version). Its short and simple phrases, embrace every relation between us and God. It not only tells us what to pray for, but also how to pray for it.
Often times, when we read this story, our sympathy is with Martha. It might seem then, that Jesus was unfair to her. After all, the Gospel places great emphasis on deeds. Yet, here he praises, not the doer, but the one who sits and listens. It wasn’t that Jesus didn’t appreciate what Martha was doing. Nor was he scolding her. What comes across is his concern for her.
In all of his letters, Paul declares to his converts that their salva-tion is a gift to them from God. They can't earn it; but, on the other hand, they didn't inherit it either. Nowhere is he more insistent on the point than in Galatians.
Good morning church family. I have been asked to speak about, “What Fatherhood Means To Me”. On this topic, I can talk for a long time but I know crab and rice has to be cooked, so I won’t talk for that long. I know what my views on fatherhood are, but I got curious as to whether my views and the general view on fatherhood, are one and the same. I went to the all knowing and the source of all information, Google.
Our Gospel today ==>Click Here<==, deals with the question: Who is Jesus Christ for Paul, a generation after the Lord’s earthly life?
He is both the source and the object of that faith or trust that renders all prior ways of relating to God outmoded.
There is no end to the topics and things that we can now ‘Google’ on the Internet. However, the Trinity is not one of them! No matter how hard we try, we will never fully understand this deep mystery. And although we can’t even begin to get hold of or grasp the fullness of the Trinity, our faith helps us in some small way to experience its power and presence in our lives.
It is impossible to live the life of a Christian without the help of the Holy Spirit. But to appreciate the role of the Spirit in the life of a Christian we have to start with Jesus himself. Even Jesus needed the Spirit.
In the final verses of what has been called Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer,” we find a summation of what the Redeemer offers to disciples. The prayer of Jesus in John chapter 17, began as petition: prayer for himself to glorify the Father, as he faces the Cross (vv. 1-5).
During the Last Supper, Jesus said to the apostles, ‘Peace I leave with you, my own peace I give you. A peace which the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. So do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.’ These are some of the loveliest words in the Gospel.
It is easy to make the mistake that believing was easier for those, who saw Jesus than it is for us. The Gospels show, that there were many people who saw Jesus and yet didn’t come to have faith in him. Seeing is not necessarily believing. The act of faith involves a decision to believe.
The message of Easter, every Easter, is the meaning of the event for our lives.
Today's Epistle is one that is read every year in the three-year cycle for the principal service of Easter Day. Here Paul writes to the church at Colossae, a town of Phrygia in Asia Minor, not far from Ephesus.
Each year, on this Sunday, the Church reads an account of the Passion of Jesus. As we listen to it, we are reminded of the cowardice of the followers, who abandoned him in his hour of greatest need, of the wickedness of the religious leaders who plotted his death, and of the cruelty of the soldiers...
“Whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (vv. 7-8).
All of our readings point us to a newness of life. In Paul’s words, anyone who is truly in Christ—anyone who belongs to the believing community, is a new creation.
“Everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (v. 17). A radical change takes place through the lived acceptance of the person of Christ.
The Pharisees had no time for sinners. They believed they should just be written off. Jesus didn’t agree, and told them so in a story.
A vineyard is a very special place, normally reserved for vines only. Yet in his parable Jesus talks about a fig tree which was planted in a vineyard. At that time this was not unusual.
“You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust” (v.1).
Jesus warned, that one must strive to enter the narrow door to find salvation. This Gospel warning, is reflected in Paul’s letter to the Church at Philippi.
As most of the Covenant people during Jesus’ ministry, would not give up the things they could not bring through the narrow door, so there were those, who believed they had responded to the Gospel preaching—but really had not done so..
The Transfiguration recalls for us, an incident when Moses descended from his own “holy hill”, bearing the stone tablets that summarized God’s will for the people.
In Exodus 34, we read that Moses came down from Mount Sinai, carrying with him, the tablets of the Covenant that God had given him. And he did not realize that the very skin on his face, shone after his time with the Lord (v. 29).
The story of Joseph-who had become practical ruler of Egypt-welcoming his brothers, can prepare us for the demands of today’s Gospel.
There is reference in Genesis 45 back to Joseph’s youth, when his brothers, jealous of the favourtism his father had shown him, sold him to a band of slave traders (vv.4.5).
The Prophet Jeremiah speaks in this passage of trust in God, and his imagery is modeled on the language of Psalm 1, which is our Psalm for today. “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green” (vv. 7-8a).
This text (Luke 5:1-11) offers rich possibilities for reflecting on how God calls ordinary people to discipleship and mission. After all, there is nothing the slightest bit extraordinary about Simon Peter and his fishing partners. They are simple fishermen, and they are simply doing what they did every day.
Jesus reads a well known passage from Isaiah: The spirit of the Lord had been given to me...he has sent me to proclaim the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives… to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour. Jesus does a strange thing, he stops right there in the middle of a verse and misses out the next half of a line of poetry which says: And a day of vengeance for our God.
The Apostle Paul, depicts the community as the Body of Christ, His presence in the world. The Body requires a variety of members. “All the members of the body, though many, are one body” (v. 12).
Individually, the believers are part of that Body. The picture is one of unity in diversity. A physical body has many functions: to move, to handle, to see, to hear. So has the Body of Christ.
Isn’t that interesting? When it seemed that Jesus had rebuffed her request to help a young couple at their wedding reception, Mary didn’t insist that Jesus obey her. As His mother, she probably felt that she had enough influence to make such a request of Him. But instead of pressing her case, she humbly stepped back and trusted that Jesus would make the right decision for everyone involved.
When we think about the baptism of Jesus, three different baptisms come to mind: H.is baptism in the Jordan River, His “baptism” on the cross, and His desire to baptize each of us in His Holy Spirit.
We cannot deny that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has put us in a new place. The virus is more virulent and many times more contagious than the Delta or other variants. The numbers are increasing rapidly and expected to explode even more. This is extremely dangerous and very alarming.
My Brothers and Sisters, as we enter a new year we naturally look back over the way we have come. We also naturally look ahead to the new year and where we are going. As we celebrate this new year, may we by the grace of God (a) Look back on the past year in appreciation and (b) Look ahead to the new year with anticipation.
One of the most well-known sayings in the Christmas story, as recorded in the Bible, are the words of the angels to the shepherds in the field at night. They foretold that Jesus would bring PEACE ON EARTH and GOODWILL TO ALL PEOPLE. This startled and confused the shepherds. However, Je-sus’ life, teaching and actions eventually showed everyone how this could be possible. Jesus is still in the business of making peace and goodwill.
Our Diocesan theme for 2022 is, “The Peace of God.” How timely this theme is as we are faced with so many things around us, that disturbs us mentally, socially and spiritually. We yearn for that peace which the world cannot give. That peace comes only from God. As we celebrate the coming of the Christ child, I ask this important question of you.
The scriptures today (19-12-2021) present us with songs that tumble forth from people to whom God pledged deliverance from oppression, unimaginable fruitfulness, God’s own faithfulness, and God’s participation in our individual and collective lives. Micah extols the vision of a people—forgotten, downtrodden, and wayward—to be restored in triumph through a kingship of righteousness, justice and peace.
The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Philippians, could tell the believers to, “Rejoice… the Lord is near. Do not worry about anything…” (vv.4-6a). Yet, in fact, the Lord’s coming was not yet in view.
If John the Baptist saw God leading the people to the fulfillment of their hope, through filled valleys, leveled hills, and a straight road to salvation—the Apostle Paul depicted such fulfillment, in terms of an imminent manifestation of that salvation. He called it, “the day of Jesus Christ” (v.6b).
Today is the First Sunday of Advent, which is also the first Sunday of the new liturgical year. The Advent season includes the four Sundays that precede Christmas. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord. In this season, we recall two central elements of our faith: the final coming of the Lord in glory and the incarnation of the Lord in the birth of Jesus. The key themes of the Advent season are, watchful waiting, preparation, and justice.
The Feast of Christ The King Many of the feasts and festivals of the Church are venerable, stretching back into antiquity. The feast of Christ the King, which falls on the final Sunday before Advent, does not fit this profile. Indeed, for many within the Church of England, the final Sunday before Advent remains, ‘Stir-Up Sunday’, which takes its name from the opening line of the prayer for the day ("Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people). ‘Stir-Up Sunday’ is traditionally the day one makes one’s Christmas Pudding.
Manton writes: “The necessity of being much and often in thanksgiving will appear by these two considerations: Because God is continually beneficial to us, blessing and delivering His people every day and by new mercies giveth us new matter of praise and thanksgiving: ‘Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation’ (Ps 68:19).
Imagine the souls who have lived a life filled with complete abandonment to God. They achieved the heights of holiness and were not deterred by earthly distractions. Through-out their lives they sought to serve our Lord and to be a continual instrument of Mercy for others. Many people were saved on account of their sanctity and their total devotion to the Will of God. Now imagine those holy souls entering into the glories of Heaven.
Imagine the souls who have lived a life filled with complete abandonment to God. They achieved the heights of holiness and were not deterred by earthly distractions. Through-out their lives they sought to serve our Lord and to be a continual instrument of Mercy for others. Many people were saved on account of their sanctity and their total devotion to the Will of God. Now imagine those holy souls entering into the glories of Heaven.
The previous encounters with Jesus, in His temple teaching, have left the religious leaders, Pharisees and Saducees, and political sympathizers, Herodians, at a loss to entrap Jesus by their stealth. Jesus has silenced them and no one dares to put forth further questions.
As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.”
The writer, Frances Havergal, directly connects with this morning’s account of the Gospel, from Mark chapter 10, in his 4th verse of the CPWI hymn, 539, when he says, “Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold…”.
For many, this morning’s account and the words of the hymn writer, pose a difficult and for others, impossible challenge. Within the gospel, the would be disciple, questions Jesus as to what are the requirements to inherit eternal life.
Confirmands, on this day, you continue what began at your baptism, as we celebrate the presence and work of the Holy Spirit within your lives. While growing up, we adopted the beliefs, opinions, practices and ideas of our parents and guardians. However, adolescence brings with it a level of independence, manifested in distinct personalities, individual tastes, beliefs and values.
Within the Psalm appointed for Sunday, September 19th, 2021, the writer sends a powerful and pointed message to his reader, about deliverance given through God. The Psalmist recognizes and believes, that it is God who saves, God who defends and God who helps and sustains.
Dear Christ Church Cathedral Family:
We have come to the end of the chapter of our story together, a story that began September 15th, 2019. Our first six months were moving along well, until the Covid-19 virus appeared and changed everything. The past two years have been short and chaotic, but also exciting and sweet.
We thank God for the gift of family life and the many strong families among us. However, we are in a time of unprecedented crisis in terms of family life. We need God's grace to strengthen and to sustain us. Newspaper headlines almost on a daily basis reflect this crisis.
In Paul's teaching on prayer in 1 Timothy 2:1–4, one of the major thrusts is praying for those in authority. According to Paul's reasoning, we want good government that allows us to live "peaceful and quiet lives"—ultimately freeing us to evangelize those who are lost.
Dear Christ Church Cathedral Family:
We have come to the end of the chapter of our story together, a story that began September 15th, 2019. Our first six months were moving along well, until the Covid-19 virus appeared and changed everything. The past two years have been short and chaotic, but also exciting and sweet.
