One of the great joys of sharing a home with another priest is the opportunity to try out our homilies on each other before we subject a congregation to our reflections on the Sunday readings.

As many of you know I am now living with my uncle, also a priest. At 86 years old and after more than fifty years of priestly ministry he is still fully active, much to the joy of those who benefit from his daily ministry.

Jack is well known for his practical and engaging homilies, and last week he discovered a story that we both thought to be ideal for a homily. The story is of the duck church and was first told by danish philosopher, theologian, poet (among many other gifts) Soren Kierkegaard.

There was a little town of Ducks. Every Sunday the ducks waddle out of their houses and waddle down Main Street to their church. They waddle into the sanctuary and squat in their proper pews. The duck choir waddles in and takes it place, then the duck minister comes forward and opens the duck Bible (Ducks, like all other creatures on earth, seem to have their own special version of the Scriptures.) He reads to them: “Ducks! God has given you wings! With wings you can fly! With wings you can mount up and soar like eagles. No walls can confine you! No fences can hold you! You have wings. God has given you wings and you can fly like birds!” All the ducks shouted “Amen!” And they all waddled home.