Category: Holy Week
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The Messiness Of Betrayal – A Sermon On John 13:21-32 For Wednesday In Holy Week
I don’t know what to make of or do with today’s gospel (John 13:21-32). It raises more questions for me than it offers answers. There are some things that don’t fit or make sense to me. It’s a messy story, betrayals always are. The simplest and easiest thing to do with this story would be Read more
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The Power Of Holy Week – A Sermon On John 12:20-36 For Tuesday In Holy Week
Yesterday I said that it must have been hard to be Judas. Well, I think the same thing can be said about Jesus in today’s gospel (John 12:20-36). “The hour has come” he says. “Now my soul is troubled.” It must have been hard to be Jesus. I think that is some of the best Read more
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Sometimes It’s Hard Being True To Ourselves – A Sermon On John 12:1-11 For Monday In Holy Week
Today’s gospel (John 12:1-11) is the one we hear every year on Monday in Holy Week, and every year it starts me thinking about Judas. What’s the first word that comes to mind when you hear the name Judas? My guess is that for many of us the first word we think of is Read more
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The Things That Make For Peace – A Sermon Luke 19:28-40 For Palm Sunday
Did anything strike you as strange about today’s first gospel reading (Luke 19:28-40)? Did it sound like something was missing? It’s the familiar Palm Sunday story about Jesus sending his disciples into the village to retrieve a colt for him to ride to Jerusalem. As he rides along people are “spreading their cloaks on the Read more
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Waiting – A Sermon On Matthew 27:57-66
Here’s my question. What are you waiting for? And what is your hope on this day? The thing that makes Holy Saturday so difficult, that makes this gospel text so unsatisfying, that leaves my sermon lacking is that there is no resolution. There is only waiting. You’ve had days like that, so have I. And… Read more
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A Call For Change – A Sermon On John 18:1-19:42
Here’s my question. What is the cross of Jesus asking for in your life today? And what is it showing you? Most of us come to Good Friday believing that the cross gave us something. Most of us come to this day saying that “Jesus died for our sins.” I’m not so sure anymore. I… Read more
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Coming Clean About Ourselves – A Sermon On John 13:1-17, 31-35
Here’s my question. What in you needs to come clean tonight? And what is your fear about that? This is not about whether you will wash someone’s feet or take off your shoes and socks and let your feet be washed. This is about your own sense of worthiness and whether you are enough. I… Read more
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The Night Of Betrayal – A Sermon On John 13:21-32
Here’s my question. In what ways have you been the betrayer? Whom have you betrayed? And how did that happen? “Very truly, I tell you,” Jesus said, “one of you will betray me.” Everyone at the table looked around wondering who it was. I wonder if they looked at themselves or just each other. I… Read more
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What Troubles Your Soul? – A Sermon On John 12:20-36
Here’s my question: What troubles your soul today? What is the hour from which you want to be saved? Now before you answer, let me explain what I am asking about. I’m asking about more than just something that upset you or didn’t go your way. I am asking about more than an inconvenience, interruption,… Read more
Interrupting the Silence 