Tag: Love
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Love Abhors A Vacuum – A Sermon On John 13:31-35
“Where I am going, you cannot come,” Jesus says to his disciples in today’s gospel (John 13:31-35). It’s the night of the last supper and Jesus knows his time to depart this world has come. “Little children,” he says to them, “I am with you only a little longer.” Peter wants to know where Jesus is 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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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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Taking The Gospel To Heart – A Sermon On Luke 6:27-38
Today’s gospel (Luke 6:27-38) is one of those texts that some say preaches itself. The text itself is the sermon. It’s even called the Sermon on the Plain in recognition that Jesus “stood on a level place” while preaching. I spoke about that level place in last Sunday’s sermon about blessings and woes. Jesus continues Read more
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“Amen, Amen.” – A Wedding Sermon On Tobit 8:5-8
“Amen, Amen.” Do you remember those words from today’s first reading (Tobit 8:5-8)? A few weeks ago we talked about them and why you chose that reading for today, why that double amen attracted you. “Amen, Amen” is what Tobias and Sarah say at the end of their prayer. They offered their wedding night prayer. Read more
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Who Are You Living For? – A Sermon On John 10:11-18
Who are you living for these days? I’m not asking what you are living for, but who. Now before you answer let me just say that your spouse, children, grandchildren, best friends, and Jesus don’t count. It’s not because they are wrong answers. It’s because most of the time they are too obvious, safe, and Read more
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Doing Love
This past Sunday I preached on the two great commandments, to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves. We usually associate love with a feeling toward another. We love some people but not others. We love sometimes but not all the time. Love as a feeling is based on circumstances. Jesus, however, commands love Read more
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Love Without Measure – A Sermon On John 12:1-11 For Monday In Holy Week
In yesterday’s sermon for Palm Sunday, or as I called it Turmoil Sunday, I said that this week would be one of conflict, confrontation, and choices. And that’s what we find in today’s gospel (John 12:1-11). Jesus is once again at the center of and provoking turmoil. This time the conflict is between gift and Read more
Interrupting the Silence 