New Kid on the Blog

Now I am not saying anything I have not said before, in fact I have even used some of the illustrations before - eg the Ray Harryhausen reference - but why this sermon for The Presentation of Christ has felt so difficult to write is a surprise to me.  Perhaps it is the way I've felt the need to put lots of things I have discussed over years into one place.  Also, I seem to be 'outing' myself as an uber liberal - but I am not too concerned about that... The Presentation of Christ Presentation (20 14 ) Year A RCL Principal Malachi 3.1-5 Hebrews 2.14-18 Luke 2.22-40 A Sword Will Pierce your Own Heart also God is here! You’ve already heard that phrase a few times this morning.   That bold proclamation which is the foundation of today’s Gospel reading – when Anna and Simeon encounter the baby Jesus and proclaim ‘God is here’ – both in word and in action.   Simeon through the words we have come to know as the Nunc Dimitus, Anna with words of p...

There are some days I really wish I had all the answers. Or just a few more. There have been a number of people who have responded to my blog post last week on Sin, and to my sermon on lost and found on Sunday a week back, and just in general discussions, and a few conversations people have requested.  Most get stuck at the question - how does God allow suffering?  If God is as gracious as I would (boldly and wholeheartedly) proclaim then how can God allow people to suffer? It's not a new question. It's something Theologians and Philosophers have been struggling with for centuries.  Our Hebrew/Christian Scriptures also wrestle with it - as is entirely appropriate for books which contain God's revelation of Godself to humanity.  But there are no easy answers, no pat response.  At least not from where I am sitting. Some traditions will say 'It's all God's will, so it's a mystery'.  I get the second part of that, but I (like so many) don't get t...