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.
The man with the jar of water
Humility and discipleship
Jesus “sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him’ “ (NRSV, Mark 13:13)
When Jesus went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover, he knew with absolute certainty that his enemies would bring about his judicial murder.
The mob and Pilate's wife
Influence and discipleship
While Pilate “was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him’. Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed” (NRSV, Matthew 27:19,20)
By arresting Jesus under the cover of darkness the chief priests not only avoided the risk of a public disturbance but also ensured that only a few people knew what had happened. In consequence, when the trial before Pilate began about six o’clock on Good Friday morning, Our Lord’s supporters who had so enthusiastically escorted him into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, were unaware of what was afoot.
The two robbers
The disciple’s choice
“And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right hand and one on his left” (RSV, Mark 15:27)
As the original Greek of the Gospels makes clear, whereas Judas was a thief, that is, he took by stealth, the two men who were crucified with Jesus were robbers, that is, they took by force.