St. Mary's Regina

(Modified 2021-09-05: Added recording of this sermon.)

St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Trinity 14, September 5, 2021 Canon Claude Schroeder

There is a think I certain timeliness to our Scripture readings on this 14^th Sunday in the season of Trinitytide in our church calendar, where in our cultural calendar on this Labour Day week-end we are also marking the 85th Sunday in the season of Corona-tide, and the 4^th Sunday in the season of  federal election-tide. 

In our Old Testament reading this morning, God instructed Isaiah to “say to those with a fearful heart,” Be strong, do not fear! “(Isaiah 35.4)

I need to ask you this morning, on a scale of 1 to 10, just how fearful are you with respect to the future? God knows we have reason enough to be afraid. On top of the usual stresses and struggles around health, marriage, family life and work, we now have advent of the 4^th wave, with delta variants, our government printing money as if there was no tomorrow, and climate change prophets announcing the end of the world. 

(Modified 2021-08-29: Added audio recording of this sermon.)

Sometimes when we hear the Bible translated into our own language, it’s helpful to also translate into our time and place.

In listening to the conversation we heard about in the Gospel that was just read, with its references to ritual hand washing and dish washing and washing of groceries you brought home from the market, I found myself getting distracted by the obvious parallels to life under a pandemic, when those aren’t really the connections we need to be making.  But then I came across a retelling of the story from a Rev. Charles Hoffacker from Greenbelt Maryland.  He’s reimagined what a version of this conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees might sound like in 21st century North America. 

(Modified 2021-08-22: Added audio recording of this sermon.)

(Modified 2021-08-15: Added audio recording)

FEAST OF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN

AUGUST 15, 2021 – 10.30 A.M. Holy Communion

THE HYMN: 320 Ye Watchers and ye Holy Ones