An Episcopal Priest's Sermons, Prayers, and Reflections on Life, Becoming Human, and Discovering Our Divinity
“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,…
Read More Let’s Wait And See – A Sermon On Luke 2:22-40
“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…
Read More Rethinking Repentance – A Sermon On Matthew 4:12-23
“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…
Read More What Are You Looking For? – A Sermon On John 1:29-42
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” John the Baptist announces in today’s gospel (Matthew 3:1-12). But it’s Isaiah in today’s Old Testament reading (Isaiah 11:1-10) who describes the kingdom. It’s Isaiah who gives us a glimpse of…
Read More Peace For Our Wolves And Lambs – A Sermon On Isaiah 11:1-10
A few nights ago my wife Cyndy woke me and said, “Mike, turn over. You’re snoring.” I said, “I am? Really? I didn’t even know I was asleep.” That’s the thing about sleeping; we don’t know we’ve been asleep until…
Read More Waking Up To The Unexpected Hour – A Sermon On Matthew 24:36-44
I suspect we’ve all had times in our lives when something happens and we know that that event is asking something of us. We know something needs to be done in response to what has happened. We want to do…
Read More A Vision For The Future – A Sermon On Isaiah 65:17-25
I suspect we’ve all seen before and after pictures; before and after the diet or workout plan, before and after a re-model, before and after a particular event or experience. If you looked at my before St. Philip's pictures you'd…
Read More Changing The Picture of Life – A Sermon On Luke 13:10-17
“How is Uvalde?” How many of you have been asked that question? I have. I suspect it’s a conversation we’ve all had whether about Uvalde or another situation. It’s the obvious and natural thing to talk about after any kind of…
Read More Interpreters Of The Present Time – A Sermon On Luke 12:49-56
“By faith Abraham … set out [for a place], not knowing where he was going.” How’s your faith these days? I ask that question because there are events, times, and seasons in each of our lives when everything we thought…
Read More If That’s What Faith Is Like … – A Sermon On Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
“Lord, teach us to pray,” one of the disciples asked Jesus in today’s gospel (Luke 11:1-13). I wonder what’s behind his request. When you reflect on your own life of prayer what do you imagine he’s really asking? In what…
Read More Can I Get An “Amen”? – A Sermon On Luke 11:1-13
Interrupting the Silence 