a sermon by Chris Holmes, for the 4th Sunday in Easter

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n 1899 the mayor of Vienna, Karl Lueger, spoke of “Jews exercising a ‘terrorism worse than which cannot be imagined,’” of the need for “‘liberating the Christian people from the domination of Jewry.’” And again he called Jews “‘these beasts of prey in human form,’” and so on. (Mind, 80) It will no doubt come as a surprise to some that Hitler himself was an Austrian. Virulent anti-Semitism was in the air he breathed as a young person growing up in the great city of Vienna. Anti-semitism, however, is hardly a new phenomenon. Some would point us to the pages of the NT itself. Most likely, some would point to John’s Gospel. John of all the gospels, certain scholars argue, is the most anti-semitic. A casual reading of our Gospel reading for today (John 10:22-30) suggests such. It is, after all, “the Jews” who gather around Jesus. “‘If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’” And it is Jesus who forthrightly says, “You do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.” Is Jesus himself an anti-Semite? By no means: Jesus was a Jew. What we must learn, then, is that John is “everywhere concerned to expose the tension between Jesus and the Jews because that same tension is repeated in the relation between the Church and the world.” (Hoskyns)

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Rudy Regehr reflects on Crazy Heart and its relevance to Theology in the Dark

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his is the second outing to take place under the Theology in the Dark moniker. It’s a little later in the year than some of us would have liked for this to take place, I’m sure, but it seems it was meaningful for many who were along for the viewing and discussion.  Crazy Heart is actually based on a book of the same name. This is something I didn’t know until it was mentioned in the ensuing discussion. I’m not sure I’ll ever read that book. I don’t know that I need to. Having seen this movie now, it’s very clear why Jeff Bridges won his first ever acting Oscar for the role. For 111 minutes, Bridges becomes Blake and embodies all the characteristics about Blake that are so heartbreaking and truly drive this story.

When the movie opens we are given very subtle clues about the character we are about to meet. A beat up Chevy Suburban wanders lonely down an American highway, traffic busy in the oncoming lanes but no other vehicles accompanying the truck. There are several very beautiful and inspirational shots as the truck gradually makes its way to the next destination. We see the beauty of a sunset, one backdrop for this truck’s journey. When the truck finally arrives where it was heading, out steps Blake…cursing his manager as he realizes he’s been booked at a bowling alley for his next gig.

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The Resurrection gives life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what the circumstances. Father, we come to you in prayer this beautiful April evening.  As your sweet and generous earth continues to transform into a mute gospel of beauty and sustenance, remind us of the great gift of hope that Easter brings.  As we are rooted by the strong arm of tradition while blessed with creative freedom, may the church continue to be recalled to its’ intended unity and integrity.

Keep us safe in Jesus and His Resurrection.

In Your Mercy, Lord, Hear Our Prayer. (more…)

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A friend of saint ben’s releases a new book

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e really wanted to give notice of the publication of The Wisdom of Stability, a new book by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, who as many of you will know spent several days with us at saint benedict’s table in November 2009.  He’s a fascinating guy, is Jonathan.  A former student of Tony Campolo and Stanley Hauerwas, he and his wife and two children make their home in the new monastic community of Rutba House in Durham North Carolina, where they seek to live out what they believe to be true.  He also happens to be an incredibly down-to-earth and very likable character…

Jonathan launches into The Wisdom of Stability by saying that it is “a book about staying put and paying attention. In a culture that is characterized by unprecedented mobility and speed, I am convinced that the most important thing most of us can do to grow spiritually is to stay in the place where we are.”  Good words, and probably more radically challenging than most of us know. (more…)

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a sermon  for the third Sunday in Eastertide

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he 21^st chapter of the Gospel according to John contains some of the most poignant material in the whole of the New Testament.  In an extraordinarily artful way, this chapter draws together everything John has told us about this Jesus, setting the stage for how this little community of disciples is now to carry forward what they have received.

The setting is the sea of Tiberias, or the Galilean Sea, where seven of the disciples have returned after their days in Jerusalem.  Simon Peter has suggested a night of fishing on the sea – they’re fishermen, after all, and they’re still very much trying to sort out what it means to live now after this experience they’ve had of the resurrected Jesus – something familiar, something they know, is in order.

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Arise. Let your light shine for all nations to see! For the glory of the LORD is shining upon you. Isaiah 60:1 People who never before inquired me are now asking about me. I am being found by people who were not looking for me. To them I have said, “I am here.” Isaiah 65:1. God, your call to your church is to “rise and shine.” LORD, you do not expect us to rise and shine with heaven’s glow on our faces without you first shining your radiance into our lives. LORD shine upon us. Remove the load of guilt from our shoulders. May the frown of worry begin to disappear. Lead us to embrace the promise of eternal life. Fill our eyes with your light of hope. Help us to apprehend the beauty of your grace. Lighten our countenance with a quiet smile of inner satisfaction. LORD, when you become a present reality in our lives, our heats glow with your passion. (more…)

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or the third summer in a row, saint benedict’s table is collaborating with the Plett family to offer a truly unique summer day camp.  For five days in August, fourteen kids between the ages of  8 and 15 will descend on what we have come to call “the Plett Ranch,” (a great property, just minutes from Bird’s Hill Park) to play hard, do a bit of learning together, build a sense of connection to each other, and generally discover some things about themselves.

Monday August 9 through Friday August 13

$109+GST

There are only three spaces still available!

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a sermon on John 20:19-31, offered on the second Sunday in Eastertide

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y family has deep roots at Elim Chapel, the church co-founded by my great-grandfather Sidney Smith, and located just a very few blocks from here.  The building was almost totally destroyed by a fire in the mid-‘70’s, and when it was rebuilt the main stained glass window – a rather imposing portrayal of the resurrection – was installed in memory of my great-grandfather.  When I was about 18, I arranged to go into the church to photograph that window.

To the left of the large resurrection scene is another window, this one of the apostle Thomas – “doubting Thomas” as he has often been called – and the text across the bottom contains that disciple’s gospel confession:  “My Lord and my God.”   The Thomas window didn’t have any connection to my family, but I decided to photograph it as well, and that picture became something of an icon for me over my years studying at the University of Winnipeg.  I often had it propped up on the window ledge by my desk, where hour after hour I’d toil away at papers or study for my exams.

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W e give you thanks, O God—Father, Son, and Spirit—for you are the life. Lord, our God, here we are gathered before you and with one another, to celebrate the 2^nd Sunday of Easter. We are indeed an Easter people, “for we celebrate the day on which you revealed your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, as the living Savior who took upon himself all of our sins and, with them, all of our human poverty and even death itself, paid the penance and suffered in our place, and once for all and forevermore conquered them all and set them all aside. (more…)

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Icall the community into a time of prayer. As this morning announces the most unimaginable gift of grace and love through the resurrection of your son, the first fruit of all of humanity. We can do nothing but thank and praise you. We cannot earn, we cannot buy, we cannot persuade, all we are capable of, is accepting. Our gratitude and songs of adoration are brought to you in broken vessels, we ask you to receive all that we bring. (more…)

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