An Episcopal Priest's Sermons, Prayers, and Reflections on Life, Becoming Human, and Discovering Our Divinity
I often follow a thread or theme through Holy Week to Easter. This year I focused on self-betrayal, the ways in which we turn away from ourselves and our lives, and live less than who we truly are. It will…
Read More Sermons For Easter Sunday And Holy Week 2022
The music of Gene’s life did not end at his death. Though we might be able to name the day and maybe even the hour of Gene’s death, he never knew that moment. He simply moved from this life to a new life. The music hasn’t ended, the key has changed. And that means we must learn to listen in a new way. We must listen with the ears of our hearts.
Everything about Jesus, his life, his words, his actions, are a judgment on our lives and world. That judgment offers us the chance to see as he sees, to live as he lives, and to be as he is. His judgment, however, is not an adjudication for the purpose of punishment. Rather, it is a diagnosis for the purpose of healing and life. Jesus always casts his judgment with an eye toward change and transformation. Its purpose is to show us the way, the truth, and the life.
Where we begin our Lenten journey is not as important as where it takes us. In the same way, what we give up, take on, or do for Lent are not as important as what those things do for us.
Luke 2:1-20 I come to this Christmas Eve with mixed feelings. This has been one of those years when it seemed as if Christmas just couldn’t get here soon enough. I’ve felt an urgency and necessity about Christmas this year…
Read More What Will You Bring to the Manger? – A Christmas Eve Sermon on Luke 2:1-20
John 20:19-31 Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia. It just sort of rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia. It was the highpoint of last week’s Easter…
Read More He Came Back – A Sermon on John 20:19-31
Easter Sunday, Luke 24:1-12 “He is not here, but has risen.” That’s it. That’s all I got. That’s the Easter story. There’s really nothing more to be said about this day than that. To say much more than that borders…
Read More Resurrection, The First Day Stories of our Life – An Easter Sermon on Luke 24:1-12
“Flee to Egypt.” With those words echoing in his ears Joseph got up, took Jesus and Mary by night and went to Egypt. Regardless of whether this story really happened the way Matthew tells it, it’s not hard to know…
Read More Retelling the Flight to Egypt – A Sermon on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23
“Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place.” That’s what the shepherds said after the angels had left them and gone into heaven. It wasn’t enough to just hear the good news. It wasn’t…
Read More What Is Your Christmas Story? – A Christmas Sermon on Luke 2:1-20
“What then should we do?” That question is at the center of today’s gospel. It has its origin, however, in last week’s gospel and John the Baptist’s call for repentance. Today’s gospel (Luke 3:7-18) is the continuation of last week’s…
Read More What Then Should We Do? – An Advent Sermon on Luke 3:7-18
Interrupting the Silence 