Audio Sermon for the 3rd Sunday of Epiphany, conversion of St Paul, – 24th January 2021

Fr Leonard Doolan – St Paul’s Athens

Sermon for Epiphany 3, Conversion of St Paul, – 24th January 2021:Acts 9, 1-22; Matthew 19, 27-30

Fr Leonard Doolan – St Paul’s Athens

January 25^th is the date on which the church universally celebrates the famous ‘conversion’ of St. Paul. Today is close enough to that for us to bring that celebration forward by 24 hours.

This date is one of two in the year when churches dedicated to St. Paul can celebrate their Patronal Festival, or a ‘name day’. The other is when the Blessed Apostle is linked with his fellow Roman martyr, the Apostle St. Peter. That is June 29^th.

Is it too much to hope that on the Sunday nearest to 29^th June, St. Paul’s Athens might celebrate our Patron, gathered together in church for worship, followed by a party outside in the church garden? Who would have thought that something we have taken for granted for so long, would be so much longed for? Let’s wait and see.

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Sermon Preached in Athens for the 2nd Sunday of the Epiphany, 17th January 2020: Revelation 5, 1-10; John 1, 43-end.

Fr Leonard W Doolan

His name is Oliver. His wife was born in Thessaloniki, but they live in Jerusalem, because Oliver is an Israeli citizen.

Oliver took our group, as our tour guide, to Capernaum beside the Sea of Galilee. Beside the archaeological site of Capernaum were some benches. In the heat of the day it was good to get into the shade, because the benches were under the magnificent spreading branches of a tree. I can’t remember what kind of tree it is, but maybe it was a plane tree. I don’t think it was a fig.

As always we waited with anticipation for his commentary on what we were experiencing. We had listened to his description of the remains of Capernaum; the little streets and houses. It had been, as always, a full and inspiring commentary. So what was left? As we sat there in the shade of the tree Oliver started to illustrate for us a passage of scripture that is not particularly memorable compared to some of the best loved parables and images of the New Testament.

He told us about someone called Nathaniel; the same Nathaniel mentioned in our gospel this morning. Jesus compliments Nathaniel who says to Jesus, ‘Where did you get to know me?’ Somewhat enigmatically Jesus replies ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ What might we understand from this?

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Audio Sermon for the first Sunday after Epiphany, The Baptism of Christ, 10 January 2021

Fr Leonard Doolan

Sermon preached for 1st Sunday after Epiphany – The Baptism of Christ: Mark 1, 4-11

Fr Leonard Doolan

Some films jump backwards and forwards in time. Occasionally the viewer is assisted by the director – a prompt will come up on the screen saying  things like ‘6 months before’ or ’30 years later ‘ or if it is an American film, which they usually are, you are given a location as well, like, ’10 years previously in Sparta, Greece’ as if Sparta could be anywhere else but Greece! But I forgot, there is a Sparta in Tennessee. But surely London can only be in the UK, so ‘London, England, is one piece of information too much.

On the other hand some films jump backwards and forwards with no helpful directions – to show someone as an adolescent, or a pivotal event in someone’s life as they were growing up – or the influence of a mother or father. A classic example of this is Mama Mia, Here we go again! I hardly dare to admit that I have watched it! Films like these just move from one time zone or place with smooth, unannounced continuity, and it’s our job as the viewer to keep up with it. This requires quite a quick mind, and a dose of imagination. I’m not so quick witted so often get confused until the penny drops.

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