FATHER STEPHEN'S HOMILIES
I was reading morning prayer this week and the line in Psalm 42 really jumped out at me. The psalmist
I was reading morning prayer this week and the line in Psalm 42 really jumped out at me.I was reading morning prayer this week and the line in Psalm 42 really jumped out at me. The Psalmist is saying to his soul;
I was reading morning prayer this week and the line in Psalm 42 really jumped out at me. The psalmist
scriptures are all
I was reading morning prayer this week and the line in Psalm 42 really jumped out at me. The Psalmist is saying to his soul;
Why (are you) cast down my soul? Why (do you) groan within me?
When I read that sentence I came to a realisation that a lot of the time being a priest is not something that I enjoy, it doesn’t make me happy, it doesn’t lift me. Sometimes I wake in the morning with a knot in the pit of my stomach dreading what this day is going to bring, who is going to be ringing on the doorbell or what situations I may be thrust into, it can be very stressful So why on earth do I do it? Why put myself through it? todays scripture speaks directly to me in this situation. In the Gospel two of the disciples are fleeing from Jerusalem, they are scared, their souls are cast down, they are worried, and their mood is low, how on earth did they manage to get themselves into this mess and what are they going to do now?
Then suddenly there is someone walking besides them, this stranger says “Hey guys, what’s up. why are you looking so miserable?” They turn to their new companion and offload all their worries and their anxieties, all their troubles they give to this man who seems so willing to listen to them and take on their burdens. This stranger then starts to talk to them about the things of God, the hope of heaven and the glory of the Father. We are told that while he is speaking their hearts burn within them, they are filled with passion and zeal, this stranger is speaking directly into their souls, he is speaking truth, giving them hope, courage and love.
Here is my answer, this is what keeps me going as a priest, the ongoing encounter with Jesus and his good news.
This is why the disciples in the Gospel followed Jesus to the trouble of Jerusalem, and this is why after their encounter they return to the place they were running away from, even though there is more than likely going to be more trouble. when they return.
It is the same for me, love of Jesus and his way is what gets me out of bed in the morning. Knowing that whatever the day brings, whatever troubles or stress, I will do it for love of the Lord, and I won’t be in it alone. Jesus will be walking by my side, helping me carry the burden and offering me encouragement, and that is enough to keep me going. We all have struggles in this life things that trouble us, bring us down, but whenever we feel despondent let’s remember this Gospel, let’s remember Jesus, who travels with us in the mess of this life. He is the only one who can give us hope, he is the only one who can lift us out of despair. Whenever I look at Psalm 42 now it is like Jesus is speaking to me, he asks;
Why is your soul cast down?
Why are you despondent?
Then he gives encouragement and lifts me from despair in the next verse, he tells me;
Hope in God and praise him still
because he is your saviour and he is your God.
I will send you my light and my truth,
let these guide you to my holy mountain,
Whenever we feel despondent, whenever our souls are cast down and things are getting on top of us, all we need to do is turn to Jesus who is always there to lift us, to offer us hope and comfort and to be our companion on our journey.
I was reading morning prayer this week and the line in Psalm 42 really jumped out at me. The Psalmist is saying to his soul;
Why (are you) cast down my soul? Why (do you) groan within me?
When I read that sentence I came to a realisation that a lot of the time being a priest is not something that I enjoy, it doesn’t make me happy, it doesn’t lift me. Sometimes I wake in the morning with a knot in the pit of my stomach dreading what this day is going to bring, who is going to be ringing on the doorbell or what situations I may be thrust into, it can be very stressful So why on earth do I do it? Why put myself through it? todays scripture speaks directly to me in this situation. In the Gospel two of the disciples are fleeing from Jerusalem, they are scared, their souls are cast down, they are worried, and their mood is low, how on earth did they manage to get themselves into this mess and what are they going to do now?
Then suddenly there is someone walking besides them, this stranger says “Hey guys, what’s up. why are you looking so miserable?” They turn to their new companion and offload all their worries and their anxieties, all their troubles they give to this man who seems so willing to listen to them and take on their burdens. This stranger then starts to talk to them about the things of God, the hope of heaven and the glory of the Father. We are told that while he is speaking their hearts burn within them, they are filled with passion and zeal, this stranger is speaking directly into their souls, he is speaking truth, giving them hope, courage and love.
Here is my answer, this is what keeps me going as a priest, the ongoing encounter with Jesus and his good news.
This is why the disciples in the Gospel followed Jesus to the trouble of Jerusalem, and this is why after their encounter they return to the place they were running away from, even though there is more than likely going to be more trouble. when they return.
It is the same for me, love of Jesus and his way is what gets me out of bed in the morning. Knowing that whatever the day brings, whatever troubles or stress, I will do it for love of the Lord, and I won’t be in it alone. Jesus will be walking by my side, helping me carry the burden and offering me encouragement, and that is enough to keep me going. We all have struggles in this life things that trouble us, bring us down, but whenever we feel despondent let’s remember this Gospel, let’s remember Jesus, who travels with us in the mess of this life. He is the only one who can give us hope, he is the only one who can lift us out of despair. Whenever I look at Psalm 42 now it is like Jesus is speaking to me, he asks;
Why is your soul cast down?
Why are you despondent?
Then he gives encouragement and lifts me from despair in the next verse, he tells me;
Hope in God and praise him still
because he is your saviour and he is your God.
I will send you my light and my truth,
let these guide you to my holy mountain,
Whenever we feel despondent, whenever our souls are cast down and things are getting on top of us, all we need to do is turn to Jesus who is always there to lift us, to offer us hope and comfort and to be our companion on our journey.
Amen