Divine Mercy Sunday : Homily / Sermon

Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe. John 20:29

Do you know what a “conspiracy theory” is?

Well according to one definition is “an explanation of an event or situation that invokes a conspiracy (in effect a plot) by sinister and powerful actors, when other explanations are more probable”. The conspiracy is usually claimed to be carried out for reasons which are self-interested, financial or political.

Often, these are so ridiculous as to be laughable, such as the claim that the Israeli government uses animals, such as vultures and sharks to attack or spy on their enemies, and the belief that Denver Airport stands over an underground city, which is the true headquarters of a world government. Area 51, in Roswell USA is said to be the centre for research into aliens, and others claim that Bob Hope, the Royal Family and Margaret Thatcher were actually shape shifting aliens.

Some of these might be funny, but others are more dangerous. There have been many anti-semitic (anti-Jewish theories) about world domination, several of which were taken up especially by the Nazis. There have been many anti-Catholic ones too - such as the “Popish plot” in Britain in the 17th century, which produced many martyrs, and suspicion in America about a Catholic takeover, especially after the election of John F Kennedy. Conspiracy theories are often used to build up power, and to channel the forces of hatred.

And then there is Kennedy’s assisination itself, which has been the focus of so very many of these kind theories - over 1,000 books have been written about supposed conspiracies involving these events.

And there are many others - Shergar, Lord Lucan, Madeleine McCann, Flat Earth theories, Global warming, whether Barack Obama was really born in America, whether the Sandy Hook school massacre, and the Moon landings actually took place or rather were faked.

All these kinds of accounts and theories take some thin threads of fact and weave them into a complex and fantastical web, which is then defended by a fervour which bears little relation to what evidence there might be. “Proof” that the theory is false is said to be forged, and if the theory, however odd, cannot be totally disproved, this is taken to be proof that it is true.

Well!

“When people cease to believe in something, they will believe in anything,” so the writer GK Chesterton is reputed to have said.

Indeed, we live in a world and a society where there is no lack of belief at all - for people will believe in almost anything provided is different or novel or unusual. It is good to have an open mind, provided it isn’t open at the bottom.

We do not live in an unbelieving world, at all, but we do live in a credulous one.

But Faith real faith is not the same as credulity. It is very different from the fashions and fancies so popular today.
Faith is not without foundation in fact, or in history. Far from being a fancy idea - it is a life giving power, that gives hope, and purpose and carried the message of love and forgiveness.

And when we consider the resurrection, the facts speak for themselves:

The tomb was really empty.
The disciples were really transformed from being fearful to being courageous.
They proclaimed their story, their faith, even to the point of giving their lives for it.

This is much more than an interesting idea.
Thomas and the Apostles see the risen Christ not so that we can believe blindly, but so that we can be witnesses to the truth - so that we can hear the message they preached, the truth which they taught, the vision they received.

Faith is about our the opening of eyes, and hearts and mouths, not about the closing of them.
And it is not a tale set in the past either, but a living power. Faith’s firm foundation is the Good News, the amazing message of what really happened, and the power of Life and Love which continues to dwell amongst us, full of grace and truth.
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Easter Day : Homily / Sermon

The Easter Day and Vigil homily was in the form of a presentation.

A version of this can be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/2L8hYB6

The text of the homily (more or less) is to be found in rthe “Presenter Notes” of the presentation. 

5th Sunday of Lent : Homily / Sermon

Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. (John 8:6)

Have you ever wondered what Jesus was writing?

Well you are not the first. From the very earliest days of the Church, preachers have asked this very question.

St. Jerome says he was writing down the sins of the accusers. St. Bede says he wrote down the 10 Commandments. St. Augustine said that he wrote on the ground indicating that the names of these men were to be written in earth, not in Heaven, where the names of the saints are written.
And in our own time, have a look round the internet and you will find preachers and commentators saying similar things.

But all of them seem to making a particular assumption - that what Jesus wrote down had some impact on the accusers. In writing their names, or the commandments, he was shaming and embarrassing them.
I’m not so sure. This is the only time in the Gospels we hear of Jesus writing. We know he could read, but perhaps he hardly ever wrote - there would be little need for him to. And why should he be writing names or words: perhaps he was doodling, reflecting, meditating - not sending a message which had been forgotten by the time the story was written.

There are other striking, conflicting elements in this story: between the gang of men who make their accusations, and the solitary woman whose sin was with some unnamed man; between the stones which these men were ready to hurl, and the dust in which Jesus wrote.

They are contrasts between the strong and the weak, the substantial and the insubstantial, the powerful and the powerless - and yet they are the same: stones become dust, man and woman sinned together, all fall short of the glory of God.

And Jesus - in calling the bluff of the hypocrites - by actions rather than words shames the accusers and saves the accused.