The Russian artist Ivan Kramskoi captured the human Jesus, with a tired body and a ‘mind in struggle’. This Jesus may look unattractive to anyone ever tempted to take an easy path of avoidance in challenging times. But those who have embraced struggle and come through stronger may recognise this Jesus as a familiar figure and a source of strength. For he encourages us that in every small being there is true majesty to be found. Under the rags of our broken existence, a vital life-affirming force awaits.

A Lenten reflection based on a study of Ivan Kramskoi's Christ in the Desert, which can be viewed here: https://johndavies.typepad.com/blog/kramskois-christ-in-the-desert-under-the-rags-of-our-broken-existence-a-life-affirming-force-awaits.html.

A talk for The First Sunday of Lent, 6 March 2022.

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We call it The Transfiguration - and whether it was a cleverly devised myth or an extraordinary event with three disciples as eyewitnesses, The Transfiguration said so much about what the glory of God actually means. Moses and Elijah were great leaders of the people, but they were trapped in the same myth which still directs the decisions and strategies of generals and freedom-fighters and presidents and conspiracists today, and even ourselves: the deadly myth that sacrificial violence redeems. Jesus stands out from all of these in offering a different way, a non-violent way of love. His death and resurrection make it possible for us to know that we are held - and can thus hold others - in love.

A talk for The  Sunday Next before Lent, 27 February 2022.

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Although we live in a time and place of comfort and wealth, nevertheless somehow life seems to have got harder for so many, the troubles of life more exacting for both old and young. Whilst Covid may have hastened some of this, it was happening already.

How we long to be travelling through calm waters, how we yearn for a place of peace in our life and in our world.

What unites today’s two bible passages is a sense that the Creator of all things is the source of all calm.

A talk for The Second Sunday before Lent, 20 February 2022.

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To what shall we compare the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is like a party in full swing, the dance floor full of people moving in tandem in time with the music, and a passer-by outside the window, looking in but unable to hear a sound, so lacking all understanding and appreciation of what is going on. Or as old Fred Nietzsche is alleged to have said, "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who couldn't hear the music.” But if we believe that Christ is raised from the dead, then the dance of life which is the kingdom of God we understand, appreciate, and enjoy as we move in tandem in time with its music.

A talk for The Third Sunday before Lent, 13 February 2022.

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Whilst it was shepherds who took a starring role in the story of his birth, and other aspects of Galilean village life worked their way into his ministry, there’s no doubt that ‘the aphorisms, parables and metaphors, anecdotes, and social network of Jesus are all heavily influenced by the Sea of Galilee and its fish, fishing, fishermen, and fishing-villages.’ (K. C. Hanson). On listening to and learning with fishermen; and replacing the  devitalising model of one person being paid to do the church's ministry on behalf of the whole community may with the vigorous gospel approach modelled by Jesus and his Capernaum fishing friends in which ‘teams of gifted people, ordained and lay, together carry out God's work.’ (Total Ministry)

A talk for The Fourth Sunday before Lent, 6 February 2022.

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What is the experience of people in exile - and how may they find restoration as their exile comes to an end? This is a vital question for today, for we live in a world of exiles, and I suggest, our own recent experiences through this pandemic have made exiles of us all. 

Reflecting on the restoration of the exiles of Judah on the return from Babylon, and the life's work of exiled spiritual leaders the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu, and how their experiences may speak encouragingly to ours, a talk and prayers for The Third Sunday of Epiphany, 23 January 2022.

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The miracle at the wedding at Cana in Galilee demonstrates that when God sees people suffering scarcity his response is to renew, restore, replenish, with extraordinary generosity, loving us with just the same intensity of love that a newly-wed couple have for each other. God invites us to respond to this great love by using our resources to live generously towards others. This can sound scary, the prospect of helping other people suffering scarcity by giving bits of ourselves away. But let’s think about it in terms of how newly-weds enter the experience of marriage prepared to give something of themselves away for the sake of the other in the partnership. Let’s think of how that bit of self-sacrifice brings so many greater benefits to them and those around them in growing love and mutual flourishing.

A talk and prayers for The Second Sunday of Epiphany, 16 January 2022. 

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Like those visitors who followed the star from the East which stopped over the place where the child was, can we make this our prayer today - that we follow the light, the light who moves the heavens, the light who shines into the darkest corners of our hostile world, the light who guides our path in changing and challenging times....

A talk and prayers for The Epiphany, (transferred to) 9 January 2022. With the lighting of a candle accompanied by Bernadette Farrell, Christ Be Our Light. 

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“The Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth”. If you truly believe the word that all people are equal under God, then how do you flesh out that belief? Is it possible to apply that truth with grace? In tribute to the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who demonstrated throughout his life how this could be done, this talk asks the question how the Church of England can reconcile its tensions between being ‘a bastion of the status quo in English society’ whilst upholding the teachings of Jesus which encourage us 'to constantly question arbitrary authority, to prioritise mutual care over competition, and to hold up both nature and human life as sacred against a society that treats it as disposable.’

A talk for The Second Sunday of Christmas, 2 January 2022.

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'You might consider Joseph and Mary’s trip to Bethlehem on that first Christmas as a homecoming, a family reunion. For whilst the couple lived 90 miles away in Nazareth, Joseph’s family came from Bethlehem. When the Roman governor called a census it was time to make plans to visit the folks back home.' This insight from Bob Hartman prompting a reflection on our own homecomings, at this fixed point in a turbulent year; a time for reviewing and renewing that which we most value in our lives.

A talk for Christmas Eve, 24 December 2021.

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