“The cracked plate” Archbishop Venables’ Sermon to Commissioning service of ANiC

Posted by Kendall Harmon

Now to the future and what needs to be done.

I grew up by the sea. As we landed at Vancouver airport., looked as though we would land where my house was, by the sea.

I read the life of a great sea captain. This man never set off on a voyage without going into his cabin without removing a book from a black box in a big chest. He would read, close his eyes and put the book back. No one asked what this was about. On his death at sea, after his burial, his 2 i/c looked at the book. It had a single entry, "starboard is on the right, port is on the left."

Let us remember in these days of clever people that there are truths which we must observe. These are not secrets for certain people. They are clear directions for all people. "Starboard is on the right, port is on the left."

The words Jesus is giving to us. As Jesus faced the multitude, hungry and seeking and in great need. He turned to his disciples and said, you give them something to eat. Jesus and his disciples faced a great multitude with a great need. There are many people in need physically and spiritually. There were very few resources. There was a handful of disciples. None of them would have been approved by the diocesan board of ordination. There were very few resources and a handful of loaves and fishes. But Jesus was there.

But God. That is the point at which everything changes. We all have to get to the end of ourselves. You re right you have no where else to go but God.

Read it all.


Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Anglican Provinces • Anglican Church of Canada • Cono Sur [formerly Southern Cone]

4 Comments
Posted April 27, 2008 at 3:09 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. DonGander wrote:

It is dangerous to be a bishop because you think you might have got somewhere.  When I went to my first primates meeting:  I got on my knees and said I do not know what to do.  “Greg,” ( that’s what he calls you) “when I called you and you said, ‘yes, Lord’, did you know what it would involve. Nothing has changed.  So get on with it.”

I have often said that the best sermons are those the speaker preaches to himself. I believe this another example of that.

Don

April 27, 4:42 pm | [comment link]
2. Br_er Rabbit wrote:

Right, Don, my favorite kind.
Either listening to one or giving it.
The Rabbit.

April 27, 5:30 pm | [comment link]
3. Now Orthodox wrote:

Christ is the Unifier of all for it is in His creation that we dwell.  Dogma and doctrine can be divisive if we are not focused on the “core” as taught by Holy Scriptures in the Word of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, the Prophets, Apostles, Chruch Fathers and the Tradition of the Chruch.

This past week was the celebration of the Great Pascha in the Orthodox church.  My wife and I attended the Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning and the Canon of Holy Saturday at 11PM followed by the Divine Liturgy of Pascha which ended about 3:30AM.  The service was moving and spiritually fulfilling as we were surrounded by humble and godly people throughout the night. 

In reading the article, Archbishop Venables seems to be a humble man recognizing his own frailty and shortcomings.  This article struck home with me because when our own Metropolitian Herman,  bishop of the New York and Washington area,  entered the cathedral on Saturday, he went before the cross of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ and prostrated himself upon the floor symbolizing his subservience to the Pancreator of all things.  Archibishop Venables seems to be such a man who serves Christ with a pure and obedient heart.
Peace to all,
Barry

April 27, 9:53 pm | [comment link]
4. Harvey wrote:

And the bread and fishes were provided by God in the hands of a lad.  And gave rise to twelve baskets of leftovers.

April 30, 8:40 pm | [comment link]
Registered members must log in to comment.



Next entry (above): Religion and Ethics Weekly: Wrap-Up Analysis of Pope’s Visit

Previous entry (below): A Statement from the Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin to Clergy and Parishioners

Return to blog homepage

Return to Mobile view (headlines)