Rev elations

St Peter, free on pixabay I work at Chelmsford Cathedral as the newly installed Canon for Evangelism and Discipleship and what better model than St Peter when we're thinking about discipleship? The first thing we learn from St Peter is that it’s normal to get things wrong, miss the point, not understand. Peter is so eager and keen as a disciple, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t make mistakes. The most profound and painful learning experience for Peter comes after Jesus’ arrest. Despite Peter’s enthusiasm, despite his confident claim that he will follow Jesus whatever the cost, he is found wanting at the time of trial. The context for the passage from John’s Gospel that we are using (see below) is Peter’s threefold denial of Jesus after Jesus’ arrest. At three separate occasions and by different people Peter is recognised as one of Jesus’ followers and each time he denies that he is: ‘ You are you not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?’ He denied it a...

Sunday 23 rd June, Trinity 1 (Galatians 3.23-29) A robe of St Francis of Assisi, Florence I wonder how much thought you gave to what you would wear this morning. Clothes have an extraordinary power to communicate and can be used to demonstrate wealth and power, or to reveal poverty, for instance. They can also convey changes in identity or role. It was a peculiar part of the liturgy on Sunday evening when I was welcomed to this Cathedral as a Residentiary Canon and I was clothed in a cope by Nicholas –it was a powerful metaphor signalling a rite of passage, a change in role and identity. I was now part of the team, wearing the same special clothing. In the letter to the Galatians, St Paul writes about being clothed with Christ - and this is a powerful idea. What does it mean to be clothed with Christ? What would Christ’s clothing look like and what would it say about us? Church ministers wear clothes that tend to denote Christ’s kingship, but how often do we wear vest...