Sermons

Sermons preached at various occasions by Brothers of St Benedict’s Priory

Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost by Br Mpumelelo

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 by Br Josias for the Second Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture Readings

In the name of God, the Creator, the Redeemer and Sanctifier. Amen!

“The greatest disease in the World today is not TB or leprosy or HIV; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love.”[1]

This is one of my favourite quotes from Saint Teresa of Calcutta. The only cure for despair and hopelessness is love. I think those words resonate well with what Jesus is doing in the gospel passage this morning. We are told that when he got out of the boat at the country of the Gerasenes, opposite Galilee, he was met by a man of the city who had demons.[2]

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Sermon by Br Josias for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

Scripture Readings

In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Jesus spent most of his time on earth modelling a way of maintaining good relationship with God, a way of seeking justice for those in the margins of society and a way of living in harmony with God’s creation. With many teachings and his active ministry, he tried to form a moral community. The Bible tells us that he chose 12 ordinary men whom he later called friends, because he shared with them all that God revealed to him.[1] He was not interested in creating a social group just to hang-out with, he was building a group that will effect change and thus change the world view of their time.  

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Easter 4C – 11 May 2025 – Sermon by Br Daniel

Scripture Readings

Many years ago, when I had more hair than I do now, I did a few months of theological studies at the College of the Transfiguration in Makhanda, as part of my novitiate. I think the thing that I remember most vividly is that one of the lecturers said something like: Good theology is not about good answers, but about good questions.

And so, with that in mind, we move, in what feels like one fell swoop, from “Hallelujah, Christ is Risen,” to “Tell us plainly, are you the Messiah?” – and do not keep us in suspense!

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Sermon for the Third Sunday of Easter

Scripture Readings

Among the Scripture readings assigned for today, we find two stories that I think resonate strongly with each other. They are stories of two men who had each been very sure of who they were and what their lives were about, until they encountered Jesus after his resurrection. They are each conversion stories that include descriptions of wonderful intimacy with Jesus. They each contain a significant pause that invites deep introspection on the part of each man.

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Sermon by Br Josias for the Second Sunday of Easter

Scripture Readings

In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

During the course of this week, I came across a quote by one of the American revolutionaries, Malcom X, which said: You cannot separate peace from freedom, because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.[1] In other words, we cannot receive peace without freedom. And I believe this could be the case with the gospel passage this morning.

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Thursdays at Volmoed – 24 April 2025 – Reflection by Br Aelred

Scripture Readings
Acts 3:11-26
Psalm 8
Luke 24:36b-48

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

During Cardinal Stephen Brislin’s interview on the SABC news, regarding the death of Pope Francis, he said that, after hearing the news, he felt sad, but he also felt a sense of serenity and peace, knowing that the Holy Father lived his whole life for that moment.

If we are to die, can the same be said about us?

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Palm Sunday – 13 April 2025 – Sermon by Br Daniel

Scripture Readings:
Psalm 118:1-2,19-29
Luke 19:28-40

Liturgically it makes sense, I suppose, to have the Gospel reading as appointed for today; however, as the preacher for today, I have decided to add verses 41 and 42, to help my sermon.

So, Luke 19:41-42 reads as follows:

“As he came near and saw Jerusalem, he wept over it, saying, ‘If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”

The Oxford Dictionary gives the definition of betrayal as the act of betraying somebody or the fact of being betrayed, or a sense or a feeling or an act of betrayal, by somebody, or ourselves. We will come back to this.

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Sermon for the Fifth Sunday in Lent

Scripture Readings

In the few days that remain before the suffering and death that await him in Jerusalem, Jesus spends time with those he loves, visiting with his close friends in Bethany. Of all the people around him, Mary alone seems to recognize something of the significance of Jesus’ approaching death, and to want to honour it in whatever way she can. She alone wants to do something for Jesus, rather than expecting anything more from him, this man who had been so moved by her tears and who had returned her brother to life. She does something beautiful for Jesus while she has him with her, preparing his body for its inevitable death, a death that ultimately will gather into one all the scattered children of God, a death that will bring everlasting life to all who turn to him in faith.

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Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Lent by Br Mpumelelo

Scripture Readings

Let us pray: Make us to know Your Ways, O LORD JESUS CHRIST; teach us Your Paths. Lead us in Your Truth, and teach us, for You are the LORD of our Salvation; for You we wait all day long. Amen.

EVERY SOUL IS PRECIOUS TO GOD, EVEN YOURS! That is what the Gospel is trying to tell us this morning. The Pharisees and the Scribes are criticizing JESUS, because He received sinners. They are astounded that someone like JESUS would spend His time with “publicans and sinners.” They are stunned that He would receive such wicked and evil people. In response, JESUS tells them three parables. Each of these parables is designed to teach the same great truth: “Every soul is precious to GOD, even yours!”

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