Intro Trinity 24 and the Sunday before Advent form the conclusion of the 3 series of 7 Sunday’s that form the central part of Trinity Season. The subject of Trinity season has been the ascent of the church and of the soul to the heights of heaven. We have seen the soul in bondage to the earth and the passions that rage within us, we have seen it being enlightened by the gifts and graces…
Intro: the question of the gospel? In the Gospel of today we find Jesus looking at the city of Jerusalem. He weeps over the state of the chosen city and people. He knows that in rejecting His mission, they have set themselves up to be given over to their nationalist aspirations in revolting against the Roman Empire, leading to the complete destruction of the city and the Temple. He enters the Temple to clean it symbolizing…
Intro If you went on a holiday outside of the Netherlands, one of the things you notice coming from the Netherlands is the hills. On those hills you see castles and churches, chapels and other dignified buildings. Sometimes such places are especially used for pilgrimage, such as the Sacro Monte di Belmonte in Italy. Thirteen chapels dedicated to the stations of the Cross are spaced along a devotional route leading to a final chapel dedicated to…
This sermon will soon be available in English. “En toen acht dagen vervuld waren, en men het Kind besnijden moest, werd Hem de Naam Jezus gegeven, die genoemd was door de engel voordat Hij in de moederschoot ontvangen was. “ Je zou kunnen denken dat de besnijdenis niet zo belangrijk was. Als Joods gebruik moest het maar gebeuren. Waarom moeten we dat dan vieren, zou u kunnen vragen? Waarom ons niet richten op nieuwjaarsdag? Inderdaad nieuwjaarsdag…
This sermon will soon be available in English. Vandaag vieren wij de eerste van drie heilige dagen in de octaaf van kerstmis: de dag van Stephanus, de eerste martelaar van de kerk. In een octaaf gedenken we niet alleen het feit waar de feestdag naar terugverwijst, maar ook de huidige en toekomstige betekenis en vervulling ervan. Zo vierden wij gisteren het hoogfeest van Kerstmis, daar gedachten wij het grote mysterie van de menswording van Gods…
Many of you will know, I have been blessed on November 10 with the birth of a beautiful little girl. After three boys it was extra special to see Jael come into the world – at our home – and being so lovingly received by her older brothers. It is a wonderful time. At first the house is full of restlessness and questions. When will it be born? What will it be? Will everything go…
Who is Jesus? This question has fascinated people for already two thousand years. In his own time everybody in Israel felt the urge that they needed to get to grips with who this person is. And in our own day, it is not different. Everybody has an opinion. And theology of the last 50 years in particular has again focussed on what is called “the quest for the Historical Jesus”. This sermon will not explore…