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Walking on Water
In the story, Jesus walks on water. So does Peter. He is just doing what Jesus did, offering us an option at a time of great fear. Proper 14A | Matthew 14:22-33 The first time I walked on water, I was 16 years-old. I had never done anything so intentional as that before. It was…
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They Entered the Cloud
Following Jesus can be really hard. But in the Transfiguration, we have a story about following the path, even when it forces us to face our fears. Transfiguration | Luke 9:28-36 Jesus chose three disciples to join him up a mountain, for prayer. It must be an honor to be chosen. How special they must…
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Love Poets
Like poets, Jesus invites his followers to observe in our world those places where God breaks through so that we might revel in that joy. Proper 12A | Matthew 13:31-33,44-52 The work of the poet is discovery. After ruthless editing of course. Discovery. It begins first with discovery in the world: observation. The poet watches…
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Revealed
In Matthew’s parables, we are offered different visions of God’s dream for humanity, but we struggle to hear what Jesus is revealing. Proper 11A | Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 The first time I knew that God was real, I was in seminary. While some of you might think that’s crazy, I know some of you know…
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To Not Be Righteous
As followers of Jesus, we are called into discipleship. But that doesn’t mean being more righteous than our neighbors but merely generous. Proper 8A | Matthew 10:40-42 This short gospel reading doesn’t seem like much. But if you’ve been following along the last few weeks, then you know it is anything but simple. Not even…
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A ‘Kum Bah Ya’ Moment
In Matthew 10:24-39, we find the downside of discipleship, the hard stuff which would drive us away from it. If we didn’t know what’s at stake. Proper 7A | Matthew 10:24-39 There are certain times preachers don’t want to take on the gospel. Often because it’s hard to talk about money or sex or divorce.…
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An Embarrassment of Grace
Jesus sends his disciples out before they’re ready to do the work they don’t understand. A lot like us. Because that’s the work for us to do. Proper 6A | Matthew 9:35-10:23 Some time ago. A few years before seminary, before I preached my first sermon or proclaimed my first gospel, I was getting up…
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Discipleship Reimagined
When we take the Great Commission as our marching orders, we often make the same mistakes about Jesus the first disciples made. First Sunday after Pentecost | Matthew 28:16-20 These are the last words in the gospel of Matthew. Words which are often referred to as “the Great Commission.” A name which has parallel and…