This is the text of a sermon presented at Saint John the Baptist Anglican Church on Sunday 2 March 2025, the Feast of the Transfiguration. The Transfiguration message encourages us to let love guide us beyond legal requirements. This message is highly relevant to Black Heritage Month. Our Bible readings present clear messages about liftingContinue reading “LIFTING THE VEIL. LETTING LOVE PREVAIL.”
Tag Archives: Black History Month
Black Canadians: The narrative and the vision
Systemic racism persists, even though there is no explicit racist intent and there is no contravention of anti-discrimination laws and anti-racist policies.
Act intentionally to dismantle systemic racism
As we celebrate Black History Month, the transfiguration calls upon all of us to examine the legacy of history and to act intentionally to surpass the limitations of anti-discriminatory laws in Canada.
Keep the faith and act in faith
Photo of Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby the Archbishop of West Africa, Cyril Kobina Ben-Smith and Archbishop Howard Gregory toured the Castle from which Africans were shipped to the Caribbean and the Americas.
Lifting the veil. Living in love.
The transfiguration is the literal depiction of how love, personified in Jesus, rises above the limitations of the law, and removes the veil of political correctness, racial tolerance, indifference, race, religion, gender, and all the other things that influence the way we view and treat ‘other’ people. That, dear sisters and brothers in Christ, is the connection between Jesus’ transfiguration and the stories we tell during Black History Month.
STORYTELLING & RECONCILIATION
Storytelling can be hard. It is uncomfortable to recount the acts of injustice, the cruelty of slavery and the complex issues of race relations. It is important to tell the story of Black people as it is intertwined with the story of all of us here in North America. And yes, telling the story of slavery is still relevant as we are living with the legacy of slavery.
TRUTH, DECEPTION & CHOICE
The shameful history of racism against Black people in the Worldwide Anglican Church is well documented. The Anglican Church was part of the oppressive colonial government institutions and made no attempt prior to the early to mid-19th century to declare abhorrence of slavery and racial discrimination. It was only in 2006, less than 20 years ago, that the Anglican Church through the Archbishop of Canterbury finally faced the truth of its history and issued a formal apology for the role it played in slavery and the consequent oppression of Black people in the Caribbean.
Picking the right battles. Winning the fight against racism.
Many of us find it very uncomfortable to listen to the facts and take action to redress racism. Sometimes guilt, pain and personal agendas are involved in the positions taken. Focus on solutions to make the world a better place by providing comfortable spaces for all of us.
Living in the Kingdom of God on earth
The resilience of Black people in their struggle for equal rights and justice is testimony to the faithfulness of God. Black History Month also reminds us of how far Black people have come, taking all Canadians further along the road to a more just society. But the journey is far from being over. Harriet Tubman’s exhortation to fugitive slaves to “keep going,” inspires us all to continue to push forward until all lives matter, until systemic racism is dismantled and until Black History is recognized as integral to the history of all Canadians.
Salt, Light and Love – Our Common Christian Identity
This is the text of my homily delivered at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church, Ottawa in celebration of Black History Month. Bible readings for Epiphany 5, Year A – Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 112:1-9; 1 Corinthians 2:1-12; Matthew 5: 13-20 Audio version : Click on February 9 – Black History Month Sunday The four Bible readings thisContinue reading “Salt, Light and Love – Our Common Christian Identity”
Glory Matters 