Evenings With Bede are taken from the Sunday solemn Plainsong Evensong services in my parish. The format is simple: first is a Scripture passage, second is a passage from S. Bede in which he comments on the Scripture passage, and third is my short homily expounding upon both. The audio for all three is found above. The text of the two passages is found below.

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A Lesson from the Gospel according to S. John 8.7

Jesus raised Himself up and said to the Scribes and Pharisees, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

A Lesson from a Homily by the Venerable S. Bede (Homily 1.25)

After Jesus had fended off the villainy of His tempters and removed the sinful woman’s guilt, He again spoke to them saying, “I am the light of the world. One who follows Me does not walk in darkness, but he will have the light of life.” Here he clearly taught, not only by what authority He had forgiven the woman’s sins, but also what He Himself had expressed figuratively by making His way to the Mount of Olives, by coming again at daybreak to the temple, and by writing with His finger on the ground: that He Himself is the summit of mercies and the God of all consolation, the herald as well as the bestower of unfaltering light, the source of the law as well as grace. “I am the light of the world,” He said, and it is as if He were to say clearly: “I am the true light which enlightens every human being coming into the world; I am the Sun of justice Who rises for those who fear God, even though for a time I seem to be covered over by the cloud of my flesh. I am covered by a cloud of flesh that I may be less bright for the sake of the weak. Let them heal the eyes of their minds, let them purify their ears, with faith, so that they may be worthy to look upon me. For blessed are the pure of heart since they will see God.

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