10.01.23 "Harden Not Your Hearts" | The Very Rev. Dr. Robert Willis, Dean Emeritus of Canterbury

A youth of St. Mark's once asked Dean Robert if we are in control of our lives or if God is. The answer lies in the stories of a God who relentlessly pursues us and who asks us to listen rather than hardening our hearts.
The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Chapters:
00:00 Just beginning
03:20 Harden not your hearts
07:12 Who is in control of your life?
10:44 Those who come late are accepted
14:42 Never too late

[@geoff7517]

As a member of the garden congregation, Dean Willis always represented the Gospel in a beautiful, gracious way. I thoroughly enjoy his teaching. It is indeed a treat to find this video.

[@pamcowie2982]

Thank you Dean Robert for your humility and for helping us to understand that small efforts count. The unnoticed efforts. I sit in the back rows of the church and life. Blessings to you and Fletcher always. A loyal member of The Garden Congregation

[@annesfeltedfriends]

As a member of the garden congregation, I too was so pleased to hear from the Very Rev. Dr. Robert Willis again.

[@gloriagarrison8055]

Amen from Cincinnati ❤

[@user-pj8jt7rr4k]

During the pandemic, I was nourished by the Garden congregation webcasts by Dr. Willis. Great to hear him again. God's continued blessings.

[@autumnhardenstine8032]

As a member of the Garden Congregation it is always wonderful to hear and see our dear Dean Robert speaking wisdom, even if he is not in a garden. Thank you for having him and providing a forum for him to share about God's loving patience.

[@gaynorkapadia8832]

I am part of the Garden Congregation; I still listen to all the teachings from 2020. So wonderful to hear you speak Dean Robert Willis. God bless you.

[@gloriagarrison8055]

Same here in Cincinnati ❤

[@susananderson5681]

I listen as well.

[@ruthgoebel723]

Same here in Pennsylvania!

[@charliesgrl2]

Same for me! I have made playlists of several months. There are two years of morning prayers. I do so enjoy the little history lessons, background stories, and everything that the videos provided. I love them. They are a treasure.

[@msmanners5458]

Oh, me too!

[@user-ge9kh7fn6c]

As a member of the garden congregation I start every morning replaying the daily prayers and reflections from 2020 onward. What a blessing to still have access to them and how wonderful to have found him. Fletcher also added so much to the service the way he made the settings so perfect.

[@arthillside5837]

Wonderful to see, and here The Very Rev. Dr. Robert Willis. I was part of the worldwide " Garden Congregation" during the dark days of Covid. Continued good health to you Sir.

[@gloriagarrison8055]

Will forever be a part of the Garden Congregation as the rest here ❤

[@stella448]

Like other commenters, I deeply miss the Garden Congregation and Dean Robert!! And, yes, great to see and hear him again! I love his interpretations and his voice is so soothing! Wishing him and Fletcher and the rest of the Garden Congregation all the best ❤ Thanks for posting!

[@joywatts4839]

Here in Australia this morning, I was so happy to hear and see dear Dr Willis, in retirement, still able to open my mind to God's Word, utilizing his unique teaching style and well modulated voice which I grew to love in the Garden Congregation during the Pandemic.

[@greenstair]

I have missed my morning garden congregation talks, it's lovely to see and hear Dean Robert again and to hear of him and Fletcher travelling about. May our Lord God bless you and keep you - and all of the garden congregation folk.

[@barbaraison6181]

Wonderful to see and hear Rev Willis . He sustained me during the pandemic.

[@gloriangarner9146]

Start each day with Dean Robert's morning prayer episodes. So glad to have them.

[@johnanderson3700]

So great to see and hear the Dean again. He is an inspiration and a fount of wisdom for these troubled times.

[@cheleatsiu5438]

As a member of the Garden Congregation, I also gratefully listen to Dean Emeritus Robert Willis daily, gaining new insights as he opens up the scriptures - thank you for continuing your ministry and sharing your teaching with us!

[@annathurenmarlotte7240]

I’ve missed hearing his teaching every day. I thank Lord for every word that I hear. God bless them🙏

[@mspocahontas46]

I am also a Morning Prayer Garden Congregation member and am delighted to hear him speak about God. We are privileged to participate in this service.

[@karenwood1364]

He so makes me warm to churches x preachers. I have missed him soooo much since the end of his morning prayers. Every blessing to you x fletcher dean robert.x

[@user-xb3yp2px6b]

I am also part of the Garden Congregation and miss having that experience everyday. So glad to see and hear you preach again, Dean Robert. Your message is critical at this time, for the Church and for us as individuals. Thank you for surfacing and reinforcing the fire in our hearts!! 🙋❤️‍🔥✝️💝

[@user-ge9kh7fn6c]

As a member of the garden congregation I replay them every morning. What a blessing to find this service. He is such a blessing!! 10:27

[@dalemac614]

I too am member watched every day and still watch often plan to start in advent and watch everyday for a year

[@sharonbennett7725]

As a member of the Garden Congregation, I listen to the videos again and again. I’ve learned so much! I’m quite thrilled to see Dean Robert again! Thank you.

[@elizabethtallman3280]

I also watch his Morning Prayers every day!

[@hwestministries]

Always a deep blessing to hear Rev. Robert.

[@sisterpamop]

The Garden Congregation is following Dean Emeritus Robert and Fletcher around the world as they continue working for Jesus. Let us, as a Congregation, do the same.

[@gloriagarrison8055]

Amen from Cincinnati ❤

[@gillianglean-walker6205]

God Bless Dean Robert and Fletcher. Good to listen to you again 💖,

[@prins_af_danmark]

GOOD TO SEE DEAN ROBERT BEING VIBRANT! VERY GOOD TO SEE HIM IN HIS MILIEU!

[@MyaRiskedahl]

Thank you for St Mark Episcopal church in Connecticut to share DR’s sermon! I am also a member of Garden Congregation and still watching morning prayer daily ( restarted from March 2020 to April 26 2024 now). I have learned so much from DR - not just through scriptures but also music/hymns/poetry/painting/story reading /history. Thank you for both Dean Robert and Fletcher . God bless you both. ❤🥰🤗 - Seattle, WA

[@DeBorahPalmerUnicorn]

❤❤❤ Glad to see and hear Dean Robert Willis. God bless.

[@rachelashley22]

Hello, I have been wondering how he was since he retired last year, I am so pleased to see him on line again, I really missed him.😊

[@johnaromeri4337]

So excited to hear Dean Willis live again. Still replaying our Garden Congregation daily

[@gilljames6370]

Lovely to hear your points in the Bible which are important God Bless😢

[@christianliechtenstein4879]

IF GOD REALLY WANTS ME TO CARRY THIS HEAVY BURDEN HE PUT ON MY SHOULDERS; HE HAS TO HELP ME NOW OR AT LEAST SHOW ME THE WAY TO CARRY IT; AS I ´M AT THE END OF MY POWER FIGHTING ALL THE PEOPLE TORTURING ME AND FORCING ME TO MAKE AN END TO THIS PAIN!

[@charliesgrl2]

“No man is a fool who gives up what he can not keep; to gain what he can not lose.” Love is never wrong. Sex often is. In your lesson you referenced the complaints of Israel about what God supplied for them to eat. Eating is necessary for life. God provided food from heaven, but the people were not satisfied. They wanted what they had seen in the world, in Egypt. That lesson was not just about food. It was about other hungers of the flesh. It was a warning to be satisfied with what God has provided.

[@charliesgrl2]

When God made man, He said “it is not good for man to be alone” and so, as the perfect companion, God made a woman; bone of his bone, flesh of his flesh, blood of his blood. Woman is the perfect companion that God made for men. 2 halves of one whole. He made man a wife. Yet many are not satisfied with the gift of God. It’s amazing that one can see how wrong the Israelites were to complain about God’s provision in the wilderness and yet be blind to their own complaining, and dissatisfaction with God’s provision in their own lives. They instead beg for meat, and God brings them their desire… yet that desire kills them.

[@adriennebeecker5000]

What a pleasure to find The Very Rev.Dr.Robert Willis Dean Emeritus of Canterbury preaching as I scrolled through You Tube. To see and hear Dr.Robert Willis is a gift as is the known presence of Fletcher there with him. As part of The Garden Congregation, I am so thankful to have heard Morning Prayer which helped to sustain me throughout The Pandemic.Thank you for this Homily.

[@christianliechtenstein4879]

GOD HAS TO GIVE ME SOME POWER; TO CARRY ON; HE IS TORTURING ME DAY AFTER DAY BY INSISTING TO GO ON: HE HAS TRAPPED ME BY SENDING ME INTO A BATTLE AGAINST THE BETRAYERS; LIERS; THIEVS; AND ADULTERERS; ALONE AND UNARMED; AGAINST THEM ALL FORCING ME TO GIVE UP. EVEN HIS PEOPLE; THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY; IS FIGHTING AGAINST ME AND COVERING THE BETRAYERS!

[@carolyuengling8085]

Luke 12:54-59. To my Accusers: Bishop Knestout et. al. 54 He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, “It is going to rain”; and so it happens. 55And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat”; and it happens. 56You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? 57 ‘And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? 58Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case,* or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. 59I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.’ Amen. B. 10/27/2023. 05:01 ET.