When I'm preparing a sermon, the first thing I do is read through the scripture (very helpful, I hear you say). This is normally several days before I put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). I need time to think and pray about it. More often than not, I know straight away what my focus will be but something happens when I start writing and the finished product is normally nothing like I had in mind.
I love scripture! It is powerful and can speak to us in so many different ways. Before I was ordained, I was a Reader and was the diocesan Reader Administrator (for the historic Ripon Diocese). As such, I would help to arrange a training weekend for the Readers-in-training. One of the exercises was that the trainees would all give a short sermon based on the same piece of scripture. I would get to sit on the panel to offer feedback (a bit like X-Factor) and the variety and diversity never ceased to amaze me...everyone's sermons were all so different, made different points and delivered in different styles.
Before each PCC meeting, in order to give some focus, I have introduced a short time of Biblical reflection. I simply select a short sentence or two from one of the Bible readings set for the day. This is done in a similar style to Lectio Divina. So, for example, someone will read the reading. We have a few minutes to think about a word or sentence that has resonated with us. Then we share that word or sentence with the person sitting next to us. Then the scripture is read again and reflected upon. We then share the word or sentence (which may or may not be the same as before), execpt this time we explain why it means something.
Yesterday's scripture reading was from John's Gospel (John 20:19-end). It was the one about Jesus appearing to the disciples when they were locked away. The one where at the first visit Thomas was missing and the second time he appeared is where Jesus showed Thomas his hands and his side and he then believed. When I first read the scripture before writing my sermon, the things that struck me were 1) Jesus' greeting on both occasions were 'Peace be with you' and 2) Jesus said 'blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.' Now, if you joined the online service yesterday, you will realise that neither of them featured very much in my sermon. However, at this time of confinement, I would like to dwell on them a little bit.
I imagine that the disciples were huddled away...lost, confused, scared and trying to figure out what to do next. Their friend Jesus had been killed and because of their friendship with him, they could well be next. A couple of them had seen an empty tomb and Mary Magdaline had been with a garbled message about Jesus ascending to God. No wonder they were confused, they must have been in great turmoil. Jesus appeared even though the door was closed. Not just closed but locked for fear of the Jews. Then Jesus was there with them, he just apperared... no keys needed or entry to be gained. And his first words..."Peace be with you". Just imagine the relief and peace that having Jesus with them must have brought? We know that the second time that Jesus appeared was when poor Thomas earned the name 'Doubting Thomas' and Jesus said "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
Well, it's over 2,000 years since that event took place and ever since then millions of people have come to believe without seeing for themselves. They might not have been in that locked room with the disciples but the peace of Christ contines to reach people wherever they are. All over the world, people are in rooms with closed and locked doors and that same peace of Christ is available to each one of us...we just have to believe...how blessed are we?
I love scripture! It is powerful and can speak to us in so many different ways. Before I was ordained, I was a Reader and was the diocesan Reader Administrator (for the historic Ripon Diocese). As such, I would help to arrange a training weekend for the Readers-in-training. One of the exercises was that the trainees would all give a short sermon based on the same piece of scripture. I would get to sit on the panel to offer feedback (a bit like X-Factor) and the variety and diversity never ceased to amaze me...everyone's sermons were all so different, made different points and delivered in different styles.
Before each PCC meeting, in order to give some focus, I have introduced a short time of Biblical reflection. I simply select a short sentence or two from one of the Bible readings set for the day. This is done in a similar style to Lectio Divina. So, for example, someone will read the reading. We have a few minutes to think about a word or sentence that has resonated with us. Then we share that word or sentence with the person sitting next to us. Then the scripture is read again and reflected upon. We then share the word or sentence (which may or may not be the same as before), execpt this time we explain why it means something.
Yesterday's scripture reading was from John's Gospel (John 20:19-end). It was the one about Jesus appearing to the disciples when they were locked away. The one where at the first visit Thomas was missing and the second time he appeared is where Jesus showed Thomas his hands and his side and he then believed. When I first read the scripture before writing my sermon, the things that struck me were 1) Jesus' greeting on both occasions were 'Peace be with you' and 2) Jesus said 'blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.' Now, if you joined the online service yesterday, you will realise that neither of them featured very much in my sermon. However, at this time of confinement, I would like to dwell on them a little bit.
I imagine that the disciples were huddled away...lost, confused, scared and trying to figure out what to do next. Their friend Jesus had been killed and because of their friendship with him, they could well be next. A couple of them had seen an empty tomb and Mary Magdaline had been with a garbled message about Jesus ascending to God. No wonder they were confused, they must have been in great turmoil. Jesus appeared even though the door was closed. Not just closed but locked for fear of the Jews. Then Jesus was there with them, he just apperared... no keys needed or entry to be gained. And his first words..."Peace be with you". Just imagine the relief and peace that having Jesus with them must have brought? We know that the second time that Jesus appeared was when poor Thomas earned the name 'Doubting Thomas' and Jesus said "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."
Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
John 20:19,29
John 20:19,29
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