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Salt And Light – A Sermon On Matthew 5:13-20
Anybody feeling particularly salty today? How about bright and shining? You are “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” aren’t you? That’s what Jesus says about you in today’s gospel (Matthew 5:13-20). Today’s gospel is a small piece of what Jesus preaches in his sermon on the mount. He’s preaching about salt and…
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Let’s Wait And See – A Sermon On Luke 2:22-40
“Now you are dismissing your servant in peace.” That’s what Simeon says in this evening’s gospel (Luke 2:22-40) after he took the child Jesus in him arms. Simeon’s experience of receiving and holding Jesus was one of being set free, let go of, released, dismissed, sent away. But from what was Simeon being set free…
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We’re All Blessed – A Sermon On Matthew 5:1-12
“Blessed.” Jesus says that word nine times in today’s gospel (Matthew 5:1-12). We often talk about ourselves or others as being blessed. “I’m blessed.” “She’s blessed.” “We’re really blessed.” You’ve said and heard those things, right? But here’s what I wonder: what do they mean? What does it mean to be blessed? When you tell…
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Rethinking Repentance – A Sermon On Matthew 4:12-23
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” Jesus says in today’s gospel (Matthew 4:12-23) How’s that working for you? Who here has repented today? Anyone? No? Okay, well it’s still early, not even lunch time yet. Did anyone repent over the weekend? No? How about over the past week? No? Is anyone thinking…
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What Are You Looking For? – A Sermon On John 1:29-42
“What are you looking for?” That’s the question Jesus asks in today’s gospel (John 1:29-42). We’re now two weeks into the new year and I wonder, what are you looking for in 2023? It’s been seven and a half months since the May 24th shooting. In what ways has that tragedy changed or challenged what…
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My New Christmas Word – A Christmas Day Sermon On Luke 2:8-20
The child has been born. Take a deep breath. Breathe in the truth of his birth. The child has been born. I love the Christmas Day liturgy. It’s one of my favorite liturgies of the whole year. It’s so different from last night’s liturgy. The crowd at last night’s liturgy has gone home. There aren’t…
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What Is Your Amazing Story? – A Christmas Eve Sermon On Luke 2:1-20
“They made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.” (Luke 2:1-20) What do you imagine the shepherds told them? Did they tell about standing in a light of divine presence? Did they admit there were terrified? Did they tell about…
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Emmanuel And The Messiness of Life – A Sermon On Matthew 1:18-25
What do you make of today’s gospel? (Matthew 1:18-25) It’s a beautiful story but does it make sense to you? I doesn’t to me. I have some doubts about it. It doesn’t sound or feel real to me. Does it to you? I struggle with today’s gospel and wonder if that’s really how it happened.…
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Imprisoned By Our Blinders – A Sermon On Matthew 11:2-11
What happened to John the Baptist? That’s the question that comes up for me when I hear today’s gospel (Matthew 11:2-11). Last week (Matthew 3:1-12) John was a voice crying out in the wilderness. He was preparing the way of the Lord and announcing that the kingdom of heaven had come near. He demanded repentance.…