Author: Michael K. Marsh
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Courage – A Holy Saturday Sermon On John 19:38-42
Today the shadow of Good Friday is long and dark. Yesterday’s nightmare did not end with this morning’s sunrise. If anything, today, Holy Saturday, only confirms what has been lost. It really did happen. The messenger of God’s love, peace, and nonviolence; the one who was anointed to bring good news to the poor, release Read more
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Now It Is Up To Us – A Good Friday Sermon On John 18:1-19:42
“‘It is finished.’ Then Jesus bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” “It is finished.” Those are not the words of a winner who accomplished his task. They are the words of a witness who, God help him, testified to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth: – The truth about Read more
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Let’s Get Personal – A Maundy Thursday Sermon On John 13:1-17, 31-35
I’ve come to believe that this night, Maundy Thursday, just might be the most difficult day of Holy Week. I think we would rather glory in the cross of Christ than expose our feet. I think we would rather marvel at the empty tomb than feel the altar of our life stripped bare. Maybe that’s Read more
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A Betrayable Life – A Sermon on John 13:21-32 For Wednesday In Holy Week
It’s easy and tempting to look at today’s gospel (John 13:21-32) and cast Jesus as the victim and Judas as the villain. It seems to be the usual interpretation. Maybe that’s a projection of our own experience of being betrayed. We feel like the victim. But Jesus never cast himself as the victim. He doesn’t Read more
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Our Jerusalem Road – A Palm Sunday Sermon On Luke 19:28-40
I have a lot of ambivalence and hesitancy about today. It’s one thing to hear the story of Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem knowing what will happen to him. It’s another thing when we realize it is our story too – and it always is. Let me give you a few examples, some modern Read more
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Loving Each Other Into The Future – A Sermon On John 12:1-8
By now many of you have heard that Tom died Wednesday afternoon. He was one of the great men in this parish and town. His wife and children were with him the last few days as he was crossing over. Grandchildren and other family members spoke to him by phone or video call. I got Read more
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No More Write Offs – A Sermon On Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
Last week I received an email from a woman who said she was unable to keep our appointment. It was the second time that had happened. I know from our first meeting a couple of months ago that she’s having a difficult time in her life. She ended her email by saying, “I hope you Read more
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Asking A Better Question – A Sermon On Luke 13:1-19 And Exodus 3:1-15
The Why Question Years ago I was talking with John, one of my best friends. I was telling him about something that had happened to me. I no longer remember what it was but I vividly remember wanting to know why it had happened. I wanted an explanation, a sense of security, maybe even a Read more
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The Clarity To Be All In – A Sermon On Luke 13:31-35
Last Sunday I spoke about the decisive moments in our lives. You may remember that I distinguished them from the routine and ordinary decisions we make every day. They are the kind of decisions that reveal who we are and what it means to be uniquely us, decisions that ask something of us, decisions that Read more
Interrupting the Silence 