An Episcopal Priest's Sermons, Prayers, and Reflections on Life, Becoming Human, and Discovering Our Divinity
On Palm Sunday I told you that Holy Week would be a week of conflict, confrontation, and choices. I told you that again yesterday. Any guesses on what I’m going to say today? In case you missed it the first…
Read More Figuring It Out As We Go – A Sermon On John 12:20-36 For Tuesday In Holy Week
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…
Read More My New Christmas Word – A Christmas Day Sermon On Luke 2:8-20
“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…
Read More What Is Your Amazing Story? – A Christmas Eve Sermon On Luke 2:1-20
I used to try to understand, explain, or make sense of this day, Good Friday. I don’t anymore. I’ve given that up. What do you say on days like this? What can be said? Besides, most of the explanations that…
Read More On Days Like This – A Sermon On John 18:1-19:42 For Good Friday
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…
Read More The Power Of Holy Week – A Sermon On John 12:20-36 For Tuesday In Holy Week
Photo by Keighla Exum on Unsplash Pecan pie. That’s what I thought about as I was reading today’s gospel (John 1:1-18) and preparing for this sermon. I thought about pecan pie. I know, it’s a strange connection but stick with me. It’s not…
Read More Grace Upon Grace – A Sermon On John 1:1-18
When I was kid I loved the “then and there” Christmas story. You know it. It’s the one we just heard from the gospel according to St. Luke (Luke 2:1-20). It begins, “In those days …” and it happened “in…
Read More Tonight It Is Filled – A Christmas Eve Sermon On Luke 2:1-20
“But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about [his teaching], said to them, ‘Does this offend you?’” Let’s start there. Who’s offended by today’s gospel (John 6:56-69)? Raise your hand if you are. Anyone? No one? When was…
Read More When The Gospel Gets Flesh And Blood Real – A Sermon On John 6:56-69
I think most of us hear about the Word becoming flesh and living among us and we immediately assume it’s about Jesus. I don’t disagree with that. We see him enfleshing the Word of God throughout his life; enfleshing forgiveness, love, mercy, peace, gentleness, nonviolence, wisdom, compassion, generosity. That was his way of being and living. But what about you and me? What about the Word becoming flesh in us?
It’s so quiet this morning, so calm, so empty. Christmas Day is one of my favorite services every year. It’s just us and the baby. Most years I come to Christmas morning with two questions: Now what? So what? I never seem to have a final and lasting answer. So, once again, I come to Christmas morning with the same two questions.
Interrupting the Silence 