Briefly Stated: Short Sermons for Year C

J.R.C. Perkin is past-president of Acadia University and the author of
Reflections and Insights.

This sequel to Gibson’s 1993 edition of the same title consists of a
foreword (repeated from the 1993 edition, and a masterpiece of insight
into the homiletic art) and 58 clearly presented sermons that were
delivered at the 8 a.m. Eucharist in the Convent of the Sisters of St.
John the Divine.

The sermons, which are based on themes determined by the church year
and follow the lectionary, open intellectual and devotional doors
without claiming to offer one-page solutions to complex questions. The
beginning of each sermon is usually arresting, with references to such
things as wrestling at Maple Leaf Gardens, the anguish of parents whose
child has been missing for three days, buying ready-made legal
documents, coming unexpectedly upon the site of the concentration camp
at Natzweiler, and “It’s a tricky business to preach about marriage
to a community of celibates.” This is followed by the text or theme of
the lessons for the day, often illumined by a light, scholarly touch
showing an awareness of theology, history, drama, and music. The end of
each sermon often picks up the opening theme and presents a hope, an
invitation, or a challenge.

This collection will reward careful and devotional reading and suggest
many insights to those whose responsibility it is to preach. If there is
a limitation, it is in the narrowly liturgical focus of many of the
sermons. For example, the stress on baptism, which is entirely
appropriate in a religious community, would need modification in more
typical Sunday worship. It is to be hoped that Dr. Gibson will have the
opportunity to address a regular parish congregation and that we shall
have the result of his preaching.