From Rev’d Caroline – 01285 712467 – carolinesymcox@googlemail.com
Readings for Sunday: Ezekiel 33.7-11; Romans 13.8-end; Matthew 18.15-20
To hear the Gospel reading and Caroline’s sermon click on the arrow below
The following is taken from the Parish Newsletter for Sunday 6th September 2026
I’ve always been a great enjoyer of the cinema and the medium of film. Of course, as a parent and someone with a role that keeps her occupied and out of mischief for the most part, finding time to go to the cinema and watch movies can be a tall order, but I still get out there a few times a year at least. The subject matter of said movies can vary wildly. I have eclectic tastes, and usually there’s something to enjoy about a wide variety of film offerings, from the highbrow to the incredibly not-highbrow.
I make no apologies for the fact that I unironically love the Austin Powers movies. The sense of humour there is direct, slapstick and incredibly fun, while often hinting at deeper themes and concepts. There’s a particular scene in the first movie that immediately sprang to mind when I looked over our reading from Ezekiel for this Sunday, which is slapstick on the surface, but signposts a deeper message underneath.
Austin is making his escape from the henchmen in the evil base in the most unlikely of escape vehicles – a steamroller. One of the henchmen stands in front of him, a huge distance away, holding his gun up and screaming ‘NOOO!’ as the steamroller inches towards him. He continues to yell for a good thirty seconds of film time, never moving out of the way once, until the steamroller finally runs him over incredibly slowly. Silly humour on the surface. Why did the henchman never get out of the way? It took the steamroller forever to reach him – he could have moved at any time! But of course, there is a deeper theme. How often do we remain frozen or stuck in our habits even when we know there are dire consequences down the road?
The people of God in our reading from Ezekiel are doing just this – wailing and bemoaning their sinful ways, and the wrath of God that they know is coming as a result of them – and never once thinking to just… change. There is a note of pure frustration in the word of the Lord that comes to Ezekiel: “As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?”
They are just like that henchman – rooted to the spot, never thinking to move. They need to realise that they hold power in their hands – power to choose, and to change. There is always a choice to be made!
This week, let’s be ready to listen for the word of the Lord as it comes to us in prayer, in scripture and in teaching, and in listening, be ready to take action. God calls us into newness of life, and that means we simply cannot let ourselves be rooted to the spot but be ready to turn to Him in every way we can.
Rev’d Caroline
Updated 6th September 2026