Fr David Communication
FR DAVID’S HOMILIES
25th after Pentecost (Luke 9)
(On the picture “Gold” dy Andrey Shishkin) Today in the Gospel reading, we heard the, perhaps to some of you, familiar parable of a rich man whose land one year yielded a plentiful crop, perhaps better than ever before. This year, he found himself unable to decide how best to deal with this situation. He […]
24th after Pentecost (Luke 8)
(The Good Samaritan, depicted on arrival at the inn, by Rembrandt van Rijn, 1630 (Wallace Collection, London)) I wonder how many people asked Jesus, or have asked his followers since, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” On the face of it, this is a perfectly simple question. We may even wonder why this […]
20th after Pentecost (7th Ecumenical Council)
Today’s Apostle is for the Holy Fathers, in this case of the 7th Ecumenical Council which we celebrate today. As many will know it was the 7th Council which settled the dispute over the legitimacy of icons. I say ‘settled’ because it was actually about another century before the decisions of the Council were universally […]
19th after Pentecost (3rd of Luke) 2 Corinthians11:31-12:9
This morning’s Apostle is not easy to understand and, as the 18th century poet and writer Alexander Pope wrote, “fools rush in where angels fear to tread”. Nevertheless, maybe I am a fool but, as I read this morning’s Apostle, I felt drawn to speak about it this morning. Paul is conscious, as he writes […]
Pentecost 17 (1st Of Luke)
In today’s Gospel we find Jesus quite close to the start of his public ministry in Galilee. He has been baptised. He has spent the forty day fast and its related temptations in the wilderness, and on his return to Galilee he goes first to his home town of Nazareth. There, he was invited on […]
16th after Pentecost Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross
(On the photo is the largest known fragment of the True Cross in the world. It is treasured at the Holy Monastery of Xeropotamou, Mt. Athos. A hole from the nail that went through our Saviour’s right hand, can be seen surrounded by diamonds at the lower portion of the vertical cross-bar.) Last Friday was […]
14th after Pentecost Matt. 22:2-14 c.f. Luke 14: 15-24
The Gospel reading today is sometimes known as the “Parable of the Great Supper” or, as the heading in the Orthodox Study Bible has it, “Who enters into the Kingdom?” Perhaps that heading, above all, should make us sit up and take note. In this homily I shall be quoting from both the Matthew version […]
10th after Pentecost, (Forefeast of the Transfiguration)
In recent weeks, beginning on the first Sunday in June, we have been reading Gospels for the Sundays of Matthew. These continue for fourteen weeks until September Today we hear Matthew’s account of the Transfiguration of Jesus as today is the Forefeast, and tomorrow the Feast. Jesus, with Peter, James, and John climb a high […]
9th after Pentecost (Matt. 14:22-34)
I have made a number of pilgrimages to the Holy Land, although my last visit was now more than twenty years ago. On each occasion I experienced what can only be described as a “home coming”. I suppose that this may have been because for most of my life the Bible and its study have been […]
8th after Pentecost
The passage which comes before today’s Gospel tells of the death of John the Baptist. At the end of that passage we are told that “John’s disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.” The response of Jesus was to withdraw privately by boat to a lonely […]
Recent Posts
- 25th after Pentecost (Luke 9)
18th November 2018 - 24th after Pentecost (Luke 8)
11th November 2018 - 20th after Pentecost (7th Ecumenical Council)
15th October 2018 - 19th after Pentecost (3rd of Luke) 2 Corinthians11:31-12:9
7th October 2018 - Pentecost 17 (1st Of Luke)
23rd September 2018
