Sermons
The Lord appointed others and sent them out. Luke 10:1
The reading from Luke provides instructions on how to be an evangelist. These instructions show us how we to share the Good News and how to install God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Citizens of God’s Kingdom
“We are citizens of God’s kingdom. God’s citizenship comes with rights and responsibilities. Chief among the rights is freedom. Paul identified this right in his letter to the Christians living in Galatia.”
He walks with me & He talks with me
“There is no where you can go, Jesus won’t be. There is no god forsaken place you or I can end up where Jesus is not already establish permanent residence. And we can never be lost because Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is vigilant and will not rest until every lost sheep is found. Jesus walks with us.”
A hope does not fail.
“Paul shared an important truth with the Christians in Rome. The assumption that suffering is for naught; that nothing good can come from bad things is wrong. Faith in God, makes the opposite assertion true. Great good, transformative experiences, critical insights, and rapid change are, more often than not, byproducts of suffering, hardship, struggle and loss. When we endure suffering with God, good things can come from bad circumstances.”
Jesus prayed for us to be unified.
Jesus prayed for his disciples and for successive generations of believers to be unified. In today’s Gospel reading (John 17:20-26) we hear his pray "I ask not only on behalf of the disciples, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one.
As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:20-21
Expanding the scope of love
Last week we considered the command to love one another. Those considerations led us to admit our tendency to narrow the scope of our love. Like the first generation of Christians who considered Gentiles unclean and resisted inviting them into the faith community, there are people we struggle to love and find it difficult to welcome. The small size of most faith communities and the decline of denominations in developed nations are consequences of the limits we place on love. The sad truth is we focus on our circle of family and friends because it is comfortable. The reality is we limit our love to people we like and people like us. We avoid people we disagree with and put distance between ourselves and our enemies. God’s commend to love one another has always apply to all people and all nations.
Jesus: shepherd and mother
This day in Easter season is known as Good Shepherd Day. The collect and Bible readings assigned recall Jesus’ role as the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Jesus came to search for and recover lost sheep. Jesus laid down his life to protect the sheep. Jesus, by his death and resurrection, opened the gate of God’s pasture for the sheep. Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus made told Peter that loving God required him, requires us, to tend and care for the sheep. Pope Francis called clergy shepherds and said faithful clergy smelled like sheep.
Open the eyes of our faith.
”Keeping my eyes on the prize requires constant vigilance. In some circumstances keeping the eyes of my faith open and focused is so difficult I cannot do it without God’s help. Life presents so many demands and challenges. It is hard to find the right path and, at times, harder to stay on course. It is so easy to take a wrong turn. “
Why are you weeping? God’s mercy endures for ever.
Why are you weeping? God’s mercy endures for ever.
John 20:15 & Psalm 118:1b
“My children love amusement parks. When they were little, I happily rode with them on the carousel. When they were older but their legs were too short to reach the bumper car peddle, I rode with them as they steered and I pushed the peddle. When they finally achieved the height required for the thrilling rides, I tried to ride with them.”
Lead Us Not Into Temptation
How did you cope with news reports this week? I was distressed and overwhelmed by the news. Fighting between Israel and Hamas resumed, causing the deaths and injuries of hundreds of children and noncombatant adults.
God’s Servants
“What were James and John thinking? Were they grasping for power or were the sons of Zebedee pursuing sacrificial service? The Gospel of Mark says James and John approached Jesus.”
What if We Get it Right?
“Peter was not alone. The Gospel of Mark makes it clear, the other disciples also failed to understand who Jesus was and what Jesus needed to do. Jesus was aware of their failure. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus met privately and repeatedly with the disciples. “
God, help us not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly so we can hold fast to the things that endure. (Proper 20 Collect)
“Peter was not alone. The Gospel of Mark makes it clear, the other disciples also failed to understand who Jesus was and what Jesus needed to do. Jesus was aware of their failure. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus met privately and repeatedly with the disciples. “
Who is Jesus?
“Jesus asked the disciples, who do the people say I am? They answered: some people say you are John the Baptist resurrected from the dead; others say you are Elijah returned by the God who took him from earth to heaven in a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses; and still others say you are one in a long line of great prophets.“
Those who trust in the Lord, like a mountain cannot be moved,but stand fast for ever. Psalm 125:1
“Today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark describes trust in God that is so strong it is unmovable.“
Increase in us true religion, (BCP, Collect for Proper 17)
“We hear ‘Happy are they who dwell in the house of the Lord!’ Psalm 84:4. King Solomon and the people of Israel and Judah were happy. Construction was done and they were moving the arch of the covenant into the temple.”
Happy are they who dwell in your house! they will always praise you. (Psalm 84:3)
“We hear ‘Happy are they who dwell in the house of the Lord!’ Psalm 84:4. King Solomon and the people of Israel and Judah were happy. Construction was done and they were moving the arch of the covenant into the temple.”
Fear of the Lord
“Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Faith in God developed Solomon’s understanding and empowered him to act inaccodance with God’s will. Solomon became king of Israel and Judah around age 15..“
The Bible: A Gift That Keeps On Giving
“Last week we focused on King David. As we considered the ways David abused the power and privileges God granted him, we came to appreciate the relevance of the Bible. “
A Bible Telenovela
“The readings from the Hebrew Scripture (aka Old Testament) for last week and this week sound line soap operas, telenovelas or those true crime story shows. These Bible passages describe abuse of power, sexual violence, and murder.”