Sermons

There are two basic ways to tell someone how to get to a certain spot: 1) provide fully detailed instructions, or 2) describe the general location relative to nearby landmarks and allow the person to work out the details for themselves. How we choose to navigate...

May 3, 2020 Cycle A There are many “voices” in the world vying for, even demanding our attention promising everything from cures for deadly diseases to the secret of “eternal” youth and “happiness”. These voices want our time, our money, our allegiance, our vote, our...

Easter 3 – April 26, 2020 Cycle A The “Walk to Emmaus” is obviously a resurrection story – a record of Jesus’ Easter appearance to two disciples. But it is far more than “just” that. While it’s important to know that Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to many as...

Easter 2 Sermon April 19, 2020 Cycle A Last Sunday I noted that the disciples, that human beings in general, suffer from the fear of death.But when it comes to facing death’s specter, the unknowability of it, the English word “fear” isprobably not “vivid” enough....

Easter April 12, 2020 Cycle A The 3 days since Jesus’ betrayal, arrest, “trial”, and execution had been the worst time in Peter’s and the other disciples’ lives. They were lost, alone, and overwhelmed by feelings of shame and grief. Just as Jesus had predicted, all of...

Good Friday April 10 2020 Cycle A As I wrote in my message for Maundy Thursday, God’s love “scandalizes” us – especially love as made visible in Jesus, who on the night before his death humbled himself by washing his disciples’ feet. In our society we really don’t...

Maundy Thursday Sermon 2020 Cycle A While Jesus’ actions on Maundy Thursday might surprise, even shock us, his kneelingdown to wash the disciples’ feet absolutely scandalized his disciples. We can hear this inPeter’s voice, “You will never wash my feet”! In no way...

Palm Sunday April 5 2020 Cycle A As I was reading through the Gospel for today, I was struck by the similarity to things that have been going on in our society over the last year or so.  We are in a presidential election cycle, and many women and men have bravely put...