FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY 2016 LUKE 4:21-30

If you were attending Mt Calvary four years ago you may remember that I had a bike accident, which involved me rolling over the hood of a car and banging my head on the less than flexible surface of Carlisle Pike. It was no big deal, and after 24 hours in the hospital they sent me home with a diagnosis of ‘post-concussion syndrome’. Now, you might think that this was a bad thing, but not at all. No. Because, now I had … a syndrome. It opened up limitless potential for getting my own way. I had the perfect excuse for being lazy, forgetful, and thoughtless. I could protest that I wasn’t really like that, but I had a syndrome. I remember a week or two later I went bowling with the youth group. Every time I sent a ball into the gutter I could say, “Sorry kids, I’m usually way better than this, but I have this syndrome.” Anyone who asked me to do something I didn’t want to, I could reply, “sorry, I’d really love to help, but you know, syndrome.” Now, I know what you’re thinking. You can only use this excuse for a few weeks. But, no. Apparently in about 15% of people, symptoms may be permanent. So, don’t think that this will be the last time you hear about my syndrome.

There are other kinds of syndromes, of course, and some of them are rather odd to say the least. Take, Florence Syndrome, for example. This condition affects people who visit Florence, and they are so moved by the beauty of the city, and the artistic treasures it houses, that they..... (Read the full Sermon here: I have a syndrome)