Category: Sermons

Sermons preached in a context, but written for people of all sorts and conditions.

  • The Miracle

    The Miracle

    The Nativity and the Christmas Truce Christmas  |  Luke 2:1-20 What Is and Isn’t There Have you ever noticed that a word is missing from the account of Jesus’s birth? There is no word telling exactly where Jesus is born. The word stable doesn’t appear, though most of us put him there in our minds.…

  • Here Am I

    Here Am I

    Mary does not sing of false humility, but describes her response to the very character of GOD. That her very soul reveals GOD, her spirit (not just her mind) rejoices, for GOD’s favor has come to the poor, not the powerful. She is proof of who GOD is and who GOD favors.

  • The Opening Act

    The Opening Act

    John the Baptizer and the new thing he creates a Homily for Advent 3B  |  Texts: John 1:6-8,19-28 The messiah is in the wilderness, among the people seeking repentance. He isn’t in Jerusalem with the Pharisees. He isn’t judging or obsessing over the rules. He isn’t kicking out the people who don’t follow the rules,…

  • To Be Continued

    The never-ending story of GOD a Homily for Advent 2B  |  Text: Mark 1:1-8   The Beginning The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. This gospel, given to us by the writer we call Mark, opens with a declaration of beginning. It does not say this is the beginning,…

  • Looking for Change in All the Wrong Places

    Looking for Change in All the Wrong Places

    Darkness, Advent, and what the Light is really for. We need this reminder now more than ever. That we aren’t children of darkness. We are children of the light. That the darkness in the world is not imposed upon us by an angry GOD, but comes from fear and prejudice. We are the light-bearers, the…

  • Being Where GOD Will Be

    Being Where GOD Will Be

    That is our certainty. It is found being where GOD is. Where GOD says GOD will be. It isn’t found in our stated beliefs or creeds or political affiliation or what our Sunday School teachers taught us about GOD: it is about how we treat the powerless and the defenseless.

  • Untalented

    Untalented

    How the talents Jesus speaks of aren’t really gifts a Homily for Proper 28A   |  Text: Matthew  23:34-39 And the master rewards this behavior (dare we say, stealing) of the first two slaves. They know what this man is like. Chances are, they take on this behavior. Think The Wolf of Wall Street and the…

  • For the Great Creator

    For the Great Creator

    Stephen, Righteous Abel, and the blessing of creativity a Homily for St. Stephen’s Day (observed)  |  Text: Matthew  23:34-39 And yet GOD never said he didn’t appreciate Cain’s gift! GOD just loves being surprised. GOD loves to see us stretch ourselves and try new things and use all of our gifts and currencies to express our…