Sermon

On Thursday next we commemorate St Moluag of Lismore who carried the Gospel across Northern Scotland in the 6th Century.

There are churches, holy wells and preaching places dedicated to him from Lewis to Aberdeenshire. Many have traditions as places of healing.

According to the Aberdeen Breviary of 1510 (Scotland’s first full-scale printed book) Moluag was renowned as a great healer… “he visits the sick, he gives healing by a poultice by his prayers”... “health-giving medicine to a sick people”.

In the wake of the Covid-19 brokenness we all need healing in our lives. Healing for physical and perhaps mental illness and anxiety. Healing for the isolation. Healing for the loss of loved ones.

The most powerful aspect of the Gospel is that of healing. The Gospel of St Luke talks of Christ the Healer.

We may not, because of restrictions, travel to Moluag’s churches or holy wells but we do have access to the Scriptures. Maybe we should turn to those pages and take a fresh look at the Gospels. The Very Rev Dr Emsley Nimmo, Dean Emeritus of Aberdeen & Orkney