Sermon at St Paul's Cathedral - Passion Sunday

A sermon given during Choral Evensong at St Paul’s Cathedral on Sunday 17th March 2024, ‘Passion Sunday’ - Lent 5 (Year B) based on the text of Romans 5.12-end

How am I transformed by the Eucharist?

Jacques Iselin - The Elements of Holy Communion (Methodist Modern Art Collection)

This was the central question posed by Canon James Milne, Precentor of St Paul’s Cathedral, at a study day organised by the St Paul’s Learning team on Saturday 21st September. In “The Eucharist in Six Objects” we were taken on a sensory tour using objects from the Cathedral collection, during which we were challenged to consider how we respond to the sacrament of the Eucharist - which is where, Canon James explained, the past, present and future collide.

Week of Prayer in Daily Life - Day 6 - Review of the Week

For our final piece of work on the retreat, Miriam asked me to review the week using two questions, in the form of The Examen. 

Week of Prayer in Daily Life - Day 5 - Seeing as Zacchaeus

This morning after talking with Miriam and reading out my imagined conversation between Jesus and Zacchaeus, I decided to go back to imaginative drawing as an aid to prayer. I wanted to try to draw from the point of view of Zacchaeus - to put myself in his place as I had done in writing. I also wanted to create an image that addressed some of the points I was not so happy with after my sketch on the second day of the retreat. 

Week of Prayer in Daily Life - Day 4 - Zacchaeus answers Jesus

Speaking with Miriam this morning I realised that my natural instinct is to draw or write about imagined scenes as an observer, looking in from the outside. I wonder if that’s the case for most people? Miriam encouraged me to try something different - to go back to the story of Zacchaeus and put myself in his shoes; to see the world from his point of view. In our conversation this morning I also realised I tend to trust my feelings or gut instincts. Miriam encouraged me to reflect on what Zacchaeus felt. 

Week of Prayer in Daily Life - Day 3 - The woman who touched Jesus

After spending some time yesterday reflecting on the story of Zacchaeus - and drawing an imagined scene (rather than drawing from life) for the first time since school (!) Miriam suggested that today I look at another story and see what links, if any, I could make with the story of Zacchaeus. As my picture had prompted me to think of a great deal of images, Miriam suggested that I try to use a time of prayer to distil or refine my reflections on the two stories.

Week of Prayer in Daily Life - Day 2 - Drawing Jesus and Zacchaeus

After reflecting on Isaiah Chapter 43 yesterday, and particularly on the phrase which stood out first (“I have called you by name, you are mine”), Miriam suggested that I look at the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus from the Gospel of Luke Chapter 19; Zacchaeus also felt called by Jesus. 

Week of Prayer in Daily Life - Day 1 - Reflecting on Isaiah 43.1-4

I have signed up to be part of the first Week of Prayer in Daily Life, organised by the Adult Learning Team at St Paul’s Cathedral. On Sunday we gathered at the London Centre for Spirituality and met our Spiritual Director for the week. We each have a set time to see them every day, for a thirty minute session. I have chosen a time before work, but after work slots were also available. One of the purposes of the week is to introduce people to different types of prayer and to give the opportunity to speak to a Spiritual Director to help explore our prayer life more fully.