Here I have put together a selection of homilies. The Word of God is ‘alive and active’ says the Letter to the Hebrews. That is not to say that it lives a hidden organic life we can trace through a microscope, as if it were a virus; but that it is inspired, a bearer of God’s eternal Spirit. Therefore it resounds to this day with quite as much force as when it was first spoken. It ever has something new to say. The preacher’s first task is to listen intently to this Word at once ancient and new, then to make his own, necessarily limited words its vehicles. I have not been able to provide translations of texts in other languages; but if you rummage around a little you will find a fair amount of material in English.

13. Sunday B

1 July 2012 Tautra
For oss som vet hvorledes historien går videre, er opptrinnet i Jairus’ forgård som en profetisk kaldgufs. Det får oss til å tenke på en annen folkemasse som, ikke så veldig mye senere, på et blunk vil stemme sine hosannarop om til “Korsfest ham! Continue reading

27. Sunday A

2 November 2011 St Olav, Oslo
Noah trådte ut i en ny verden, hvor alt måtte tilskikkes på nytt. Og i møte med denne tvingende nødvendighet, var det ikke primærnæring han dyrket, ikke kål, men vin. Continue reading

Wedding of Amanda and Carlos

1 November 2011 Queens' College Chapel, Cambridge
I have followed the unfolding of your respective lives in two brilliant mosaics of very different character, though they share certain key features. In either case, the immense integrity that marks you both has ensured a rigorously defined, pure outline. Continue reading

Beheading of St John the Baptist

29 August 2011 Ware Carmel
A lecherous king, a jealous queen, a fickle child: should these bring the Old Testament to a close? Continue reading