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A Homily for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Holy Cross, Calgary

Almighty God, you sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church. Open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

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Sing we of the Blessèd Mother

Sing we of the blessèd Mother (St Lk 1. 42, 48b)
who received the angel’s word, (St Lk 1. 30-33)
And obedient to his summons (St Lk 1. 38)
Bore in love the infant Lord; (St L1 1. 46b-48a)
Sing we of the joys of Mary
At whose breast that child was fed (St Lk 11. 27)
Who is Son of God eternal (St Lk 1. 33; St Jn 1. 1, 2)
And the everlasting Bread. (St Jn 6. 35)

Sing we, too, of Mary’s sorrows,
Of the sword that pierced her through, (St Lk 2. 34, 35)
When beneath the cross of Jesus
She his weight of suffering knew,
Looked upon her Son and Saviour (St Jn 19. 25b)
Reigning high on Calvary’s tree,
Saw the price of man’s redemption
Paid to set the sinner free. (Eph 1. 7; I St Pt 1. 18, 19; 2. 24)

Sing again the joys of Mary
When she saw the risen Lord,
And in prayer with Christ’s apostles,
Waited on his promised word; (Acts 1. 14)
From on high the blazing glory
Of the Spirit’s presence came,
Heavenly breath of God’s own being,
Manifest through wind and flame. (Acts 2. 2-4)

Sing the chiefest joy of Mary
When on earth her work was done,
And the Lord of all creation
Brought her to his heavenly home; (Rev 11. 19)
Virgin Mother, Mary blessèd,
Raised on high and crowned with grace, (Rev 12. 1)
May your Son, the world’s redeemer,
Grant us all to see his face.

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A Homily for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Holy Cross, Calgary

Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ has taught us that what we do for the least of your  children we do also for him. Give us the will to serve others as he was the servant of all, who gave up his life and died for us, but lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

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“The love of husband and wife is the force that welds society together. Men will take up arms and even sacrifice their lives for the sake of this love. St. Paul would not speak so earnestly about this subject without serious reason; why else would he say, “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as to the Lord?” Because when harmony prevails, the children are raised well, the household is kept in order, and neighbors, friends, and relatives praise the result. Great benefits, both of families and states, are thus produced. When it is otherwise, however, everything is thrown into confusion and turned upside-down.”
St. John Chrysostom, Homily 20 on Ephesians

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A Homily for the Third Sunday after Pentecost

Holy Cross, Calgary

O God, you have assured the human family of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Deliver us from the death of sin and raise us to new life in him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

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Toward a Common Spiritual Life: Morning Prayer

Reverend Kyle Norman

The English poet and Anglican priest, John Donne, once penned that ‘No man [sic] is an island, entire unto itself; every man [sic] is piece of the continent.’  In this phrase, Donne is highlight an important reality for our lives; we exist amid a myriad of relationships.  In fact, if we look at scripture, we see this even more profoundly.  We are created to be a people, and our Christian lives are to be lived amid the tapestry of relationships and structures of the Body of Christ.  Yes, I can point to myself and say, “I am a Christian”, or” I am an Anglican”. These statements may be true in some respects, but it would be more appropriate to say, “I belong to the body of Christ”, or “I belong to the Anglican community”.  My faith is not an isolated island in which I reside…

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Disabled in the Image of God

An Ontological and Teleological Response to the Imago Dei in Disability Theology

Disability theology has challenged traditional theological interpretations of the image of God, having found them insufficient for the task of including persons with disabilities. The way in which disability theology shapes these theological interpretations has also placed limits on our understanding of God and humanity. This paper criticizes the application of disability theory to disability theology and seeks to establish a universal access approach to identity and dignity through the image of God using an ontological and teleological understanding of the image of God applicable to all people, disabled or not and Christian or not. Read more

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A Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

St Aldhelm’s, Vulcan

Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you riches beyond imagination. Pour into our hearts such love toward you, that we, loving you above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

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The Possibility and Necessity of Infant Baptism

A Discussion from Scripture, Tradition and Reason

While the majority of Christians continue to accept the Baptism of infants as valid an efficacious, the majority of protestants throughout the world have rejected the practice. This paper explores from the lens of Holy Scripture, Holy Tradition and human reason the questions of whether or not it is possible for an infant to receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism, and whether or not it is necessary for an infant to receive Holy Baptism. Read more

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A Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

All Saints, Cochrane

Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Give us grace to love one another and walk in the way of his commandments, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

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