July 2025

Pentecost V – 13 July 2025 – Sermon by Br Daniel

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Scripture Readings

Those of you who have been around the monks since Thursday would have heard a lot about St Benedict, since Benedictines worldwide celebrated his Feast Day on Friday, the 11th of July. I won’t repeat all that was said, except that he lived in very turbulent times in 6th century Italy and was fairly disgusted by the way society had collapsed around him. Sounds familiar? Except, unlike us, he withdrew to a cave to find himself and, fortunately for us, he found so much more than just himself.

So, as a Benedictine monk, with the above in mind, I pondered what St Benedict would have to say to us in today’s world about today’s Gospel reading. My guess is, as in all things, he would have admonished the example of Jesus, and of course, prayer.

Let us then look at this familiar story of the Good Samaritan and see how it challenges us to live out our faith with love and compassion, and how St Benedict might lead us in a way of life grounded in humility, community, and attentive listening to God and neighbour.

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Sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

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Scripture Readings

Today’s Gospel reading continues from last week’s, with Jesus having set out resolutely towards Jerusalem and all that awaits him there, now wanting to spread the good news of the kingdom of God on earth to as many places and people as possible. He sends out seventy people in pairs to prepare the way for him, giving them authority to represent him in advance of his arrival, and they later return to him, overjoyed with the experience of having put that authority to good use.

The seventy have been privileged to bring the kingdom of God close to those whom they have encountered, whether these have welcomed them or not. They have brought gifts of peace and healing to those who were willing and able to receive them, and they have received hospitality in return. There has been a sharing of life in the kingdom, and God’s will has been done on earth as it is in heaven.

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June 2025 News

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Before our Order’s annual Chapter meeting formally began at our Holy Cross Monastery near West Park, in upstate New York in the USA, the entire group of six junior monks (including the three from South Africa) were taken by Br Ephrem for a day of hiking and sightseeing in the Catskills. This was a good time of being together for all of them.

The actual Chapter meeting included the passing of resolutions on various aspects of our life, presentations on such matters as the Order’s financial situation, our Holy Cross School near Makhanda in the Eastern Cape, and the journey towards a new home for the community currently at St Benedict’s Priory in South Africa. There were also elections to positions on the Order’s Council. Br Roger continues to serve on the Council for another year, as does Br Scott. The Council met several times while we were all over there.

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June 2025 News Read More »

Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost by Br Mpumelelo

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Scripture Readings

Let us pray: Show us Your ways, O Lord; teach us Your paths. Lead us in Your truth and teach us, for You are the GOD of our salvation; on You we wait all the day. Amen.

Today’s Gospel is about JESUS’ journey to Jerusalem to accomplish His work of salvation there. That is where JESUS would give up His life to save people from sin. Then He would rule as King from Heaven. A village in Samaria refused to let JESUS stay there while He travelled to Jerusalem, as we know that Jews had no dealings with Samaritans, but JESUS didn’t punish them. Even though His two disciples James and John in their zeal wanted to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them. No wonder JESUS gave them the nickname “Sons of Thunder”. It is because of their passionate and sometimes fiery personalities. So at this point they were indignant at this rejection. They viewed it as a grave insult to JESUS, without knowing that JESUS was ready to face any challenges or adversity for the salvation of the world. That’s why He rebuked them for their suggestion, demonstrating that His way is not one of vengeance or destruction, but of love and redemption. He shows them that they do not understand the true nature of His Kingdom and that the Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s lives but to save them. As John the Evangelist would say, “For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

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Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost by Br Mpumelelo Read More »

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