Short Talks
This section of the website comprises short stand-alone talks and articles on different aspects of the Christian Faith, including the teaching of Jesus, the seasons of the Church’s Year and Feasts and Festivals. More talks/sermons/homilies/articles will be added in due course.
The section of the website entitled The Christian Faith provides more extended teaching on larger content areas, such as the Creed and the Sacraments.
Accepted by God
“About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword” (NRSV, Acts 12: 1-2)
Throughout the Gospels James is closely associated with his brother, John. They were partners together in a prosperous fishing concern, being able to employ men to help them, which was unusual in those days. They were among the first whom Jesus called to be his disciples and an early indication of their character is given us by the nickname which he soon found for them: ‘Boanerges’ – Sons of Thunder (Mark 3:17) – an apt description of their hot-headed, but warm-hearted, dispositions.
John the Baptist
St John the Baptist was a prophet and the herald of Our Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus himself said: “This the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you’. I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John…“ (NRSV, Luke 7:26-28).
Little things
“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much…” (NRSV, Luke 16:10)
St John the Baptist caused an enormous sensation in the populated areas of Palestine although he himself never entered them. Evidence of the power both of his personality and of his fiery message is to be seen in the fact that the people went out to him – he did not have to go to them. For, of the two particular points on the River Jordan where he baptised, one was some 20 miles east of Jerusalem and the other was some 50 miles farther north on the route to Galilee.