Category Archives: 2008

Happy Songs for Sad Times by Robert Hamerton-Kelly December 14, 2008 Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4; John 1:9-14 “He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home and his own people received him not.” — John 1:10-11 I returned from Paris yesterday […]

The Dangers of Premature Judgment by Robert Hamerton-Kelly November 30, 2008 Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Matthew 13: 24-34 “Let both grow together until the harvest….” — Matthew 13:30 Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the beginning again of the Christian year. In our liturgical imagination we place ourselves in the time just before the […]

“So I Was Afraid…” by Robert Hamerton-Kelly November 16, 2008 Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25: 14-30 “So I was afraid and I went and hid your talent in the ground….” — Matthew 25:25 Changing only the name of the currency from talent to dollar, and the hiding place from ground to wherever, our text […]

Humility by Robert Hamerton-Kelly November 2, 2008 Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13; Matthew 23 1-12 “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” — Matthew 23:11-12 Whoever wins on Tuesday will face a huge challenge and a daunting task. I do […]

The Greatest Gift by Robert Hamerton-Kelly October 19, 2008 Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10; Matthew 22:15-22 “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” — Matthew 22:40 This is the lectionary text for next not this Sunday but I shall preach on it in any case, since having misread the lectionary I composed […]

“They Feared the Crowd” by Robert Hamerton-Kelly October 5, 2008 Scripture: Philippians 3: 4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46 “But when they tried to arrest him, they feared the crowd, because they held him to be a prophet.” — Matthew 21:46 The crowd, or mob, as it is also called, is the most puissant power in the human […]

Renewing Your Mind by Robert Hamerton-Kelly August 24, 2008 Scripture: Romans 12: 1-8; Matthew 16: 13-20 “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” — Romans 12:2 Our lessons for […]

Little Faith by Robert Hamerton-Kelly August 10, 2008 Scripture: Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 “O man of little faith why did you doubt?” — Matthew 14:31 In this story Matthew continues his account of Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God by showing us another facet of faith. He has told us that faith can be […]

Things Old and New by Robert Hamerton-Kelly July 27, 2008 Scripture: Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-33; 44-52 “And he said to them: ‘For this reason every scribe that has been trained for the Kingdom of Heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things old and things new.’” — Matthew 13:52 This saying […]

He Who Has Ears by Robert Hamerton-Kelly July 13, 2008 Scripture:Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13 1-17 “He who has ears, let him hear!” — Matthew 13:9 The starting point of our reflection today is the well-known Parable of the Sower. On closer examination we find that it is better called the parable of the seeds – […]