“Christ … is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the … hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both…
If you’ve been with me and following my sermons for the past 5 years, you might remember a sermon similar to what I’m preaching today. But I think it’s important enough to use similar ideas and language, for today’s Gospel reading is important for us to see through a new lens and with new ears….
At the beginning of today’s Gospel reading, I am reminded of our cultural practice to celebrate high school reunions. Every ten years or so, many people travel to reunite with those from their hometown to catch up and [perhaps] to boast about what they’ve been doing with their lives, how much money they’ve made, and…
“Little girl, get up!” “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (Mk 5:41, 34) Let’s start today’s sermon with a little experiment. I invite you all to stand up. Now turn to face one other person. Extend your hand and shake that person’s hand. Good. Now,…
How many of you have seen the movie The Karate Kid? It’s about a teenager who feels alone and unprotected in the hostile environment of his school and community. He is scared – unable to defend himself against the bullies of his neighborhood. He is afraid. Young Daniel meets an old man, Mr. Miyagi, who…
“We walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Cor 5:6) While we live in the real world that is fraught with danger and filled with wonder, there is a movement beneath the surface that reveals a deeper – spiritual – dimension. Faith is a matter of perception and trust taking us beyond the obvious….
There are some weeks where I look ahead to the readings and go… “Can I find someone else to preach today?” No one seemed keen on taking my spot, so unfortunately that means that I can’t. So let’s dig in on Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, because I can’t stomach looking in depth at…
“Speak O Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Sm 3:9). Today in the first reading, we hear of Eli, whose “eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see” (1 Sm 3:2). If you don’t know the story of Eli, it starts in earnest right in the first chapter of 1…
One of the challenges to Trinity Sunday, which we celebrate today, is that it is the only day in our Episcopal calendar devoted to a doctrine and not to a person. But a bigger challenge is that there are no Biblical passages that discuss this peculiar understanding of our faith as God being three persons….
Pentecost means “The Fiftieth,” as it fell on the fiftieth day – or a week of weeks – after the Passover. Today, we heard a story from Acts where the followers of Christ were gathered together and were blessed by the Holy Spirit. We heard John tell us that Jesus “breathed on them and said,…
May often signals a season of transition in the church. Graduations, maybe the end of a Sunday school season with thanks to the teachers and time off in the summer. These ends often don’t immediately lead to new beginnings but, rather, to in-between times. Bu it’s hard to live in “in between” spaces — in…
The other day, I was looking at a care label on one of my shirts and read, “Warning: Do not iron while wearing shirt.” I know that laundry and dishwasher pods have large instructions on them that say “Do not eat” and the manufacturers have developed childproof packaging. There’s a warning on my washer that…
