Category: Holy Week
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Taking our Share with Jesus – A Sermon for Maundy Thursday on John 13:1-17, 31-35
I’ve now been here at St. Philip’s long enough that you probably know one of the things I emphasize in my teaching, preaching, and our life together is the movement from thinking to experience, the practice of living out of our hearts rather than our heads. My focus on this is as much for me Read more
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Life-giving Turmoil – A Sermon for the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday, Matthew 21:1-11
Today is known as the Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday. (There are two gospel readings: Matthew 21:1-11 (the triumphal entry) and Matthew 27:11-54 (the passion)). I’ve been wondering and thinking though about a different name for this day. What if we renamed today “Turmoil Sunday?” Does that sound like the gospel to you? Did Read more
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In the Hell of Life, Holy Saturday
“When one door closes another opens,” goes an old and popular saying. But what about that time in between, after one door closes but before another opens? What do we do then? As a friend of mine once said, “It’s hell when you are waiting in the hallway.” That’s where we are today. The door Read more
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The Crucifixion as Revelation and not Causation
So what does it all mean? What difference does the crucifixion make? Does God love us more because Jesus died on the cross? Are we somehow more acceptable, more tolerable, to God because Jesus suffered? Have we been brought closer to God because his son was executed by a Roman governor who gave in to Read more
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A New Position and Role as Lover, John 13:1-17, 31-35
It’s not hard to imagine that after the supper fiasco in Bethany – Mary anointing Jesus’ feet, Judas’ outburst, and Jesus talking about his death – the disciples might have been looking forward to a quiet evening, just a regular supper, just some food and conversation. That’s how tonight’s supper began but that’s not how Read more
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“Lord, who is it?” A Sermon on John 13:21-32
He was the one they had waited for. They had grown up hearing stories of his coming. Then one day he showed up and chose them to be his friends and students, to follow and learn. He took them new places. He taught them new ideas and ways of living. He revealed God and showed Read more
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Dying to See Jesus, A Sermon on John 12:20-36
“Sir, we wish to see Jesus,” they said to Philip. It’s not an unusual request. I suspect most of us have said or thought it. Twice a week the children in our parish school sing, “Open our eyes Lord, we want to see Jesus.” I wonder, however, if the visitors who came to Philip had Read more
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Limits or Love? A Sermon on John 12:1-11
Three hundred denarii is just too much money to waste. That’s nearly a year’s worth of daily wages, an annual income. Who does that? Why would anyone do that? That’s neither practical nor reasonable. It makes no sense. Why does all of it have to be poured out? Something that valuable should at least be Read more
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Christ is Risen, Christos Anesti – A Collection of Holy Week Postings
Christos anesti ek nekron, thanato thanaton patisas, kai tis en tis mnimasi zoin harisamenos. Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. The following is a collection of postings from Holy Week: Holy Week, Love Week Palm Sunday – Emptying and Embodying Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Read more
Interrupting the Silence 