Text: Matthew 17:1-9 (The Transfiguration) I was pleased when Bryan told me that he had chosen “And the Glory of the Lord” as the anthem for Transfiguration Sunday. It is the opening chorus of a well-loved piece of baroque music: “The Messiah” by George Frederick Handel. While it is from the Advent and Christmas section … [Read more…]
Context: a “Minister’s Reflection” submitted to the late February issue of “Connections,” the newsletter of Mill Woods United Church Love is our most sacred value. We worship the God who is Love. Our ministry is centrally about love. And one of the tasks of a minister is to allow themselves to be loved by a … [Read more…]
Text: Matthew 5:38-48 (love your enemies) Do you get the impression that the number of people seeing each other as enemies has grown lately? There seems to be a lot of fighting going on these days between opposing viewpoints — in the media, in the church, and on the streets. One of the news stories … [Read more…]
Texts: Micah 6:6-8 (justice, kindness, and humility); Matthew 5:1-20 (the Sermon on the Mount) What does the Lord require of us? In the first of today’s two readings from the Bible, Micah gives an answer: to seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. Many of us value his answer for its clarity and … [Read more…]
Text: Matthew 4:12-23 (Jesus begins his ministry) Call and response is a practice in which a leader interacts with a crowd using familiar phrases. Most Sundays when I come to the pulpit I say, “May the peace of Christ be with you,” and you respond “and also with you.” That’s call and response. When I … [Read more…]
Text: Matthew 3:13-17 (John baptizes Jesus) “Remember your baptism!” preachers often exclaim. And having just heard about the baptism of Jesus, this might seem like an appropriate day to do so. But what if you were baptized as infant? I have precious few memories from before the age of five and none from before the … [Read more…]
Text: Matthew 2:1-12 (the Magi follow a Star to Bethlehem) In the dark months of winter, the church directs us to focus on light — first in the season of Christmas and now in the season of Epiphany. I appreciate this, and never more than this winter when recent political events have darkened my vision … [Read more…]
Text: Matthew 2:13-23 (the Slaughter of the Innocents) Today’s reading from Matthew is not one that leads easily to “Merry Christmas!” Paula Simons, writing on December 23 in the Edmonton Journal about the dangers faced by children today, began by recounting Matthew’s story of what happened after the First Christmas. In her column, she noted … [Read more…]
Text: Luke 2:21-40 (Jesus is named at the Temple) — this is a short reflection presented on Christmas morning, December 25, 2016 In today’s reading from Luke, an old man named Simeon is prompted by the Spirit to go to the Temple in Jerusalem right after the first Christmas. When he gets there, he meets … [Read more…]
Text: Luke 2:1-20 (the birth of Jesus) Friends, with joy we have returned to Christmas Eve. Three hundred and sixty-six days after we last celebrated the occasion, we have gathered again to drink in the mystery of what is a favourite evening for many of us. Christmas is dear to my heart; and this was … [Read more…]