What’s Love got to do with Obedience? A sermon for the Sixth Sunday of Easter — John 14:15-21   If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Commandments/Love This juxtaposition of love and commandments repeated in Jesus’ teachings seems less like a paradox than a non sequitur.  It doesn’t follow. Love? / Commandments? Some would say, if Jesus was truly loving he wouldn’t have made so many demands of us – and he certainly would not bring up “commandments” in the same breath as love.  Still others would see these words as an example of Jesus establishing a holiness-code … Continue reading What’s love got to do with…obedience?

April 16 2008 A sermon for remembrance on April 16th, 2008Psalm 23; John 11:17-45 Did you hear the news? When did you hear? Our rector, Scott West, opened his sermon on Easter morning with these words. News travels fast these days, faster than Mary Magdalene or the disciples ever could have imagined on that first resurrection morning. When did you first hear the news on April 16th?  For many of us those will always be moments frozen in time. This was not good news, not the kind of news that was escaping fevered lips on that morning so long ago … Continue reading Good news amidst the bad

As many of you no doubt know, last week this parish was very privileged to host a delegation from our Sister Parish in Guatemala, San Andres Itzapa.  Basilia, Lucia and their translator Ellen even honored the Wednesday evening Canterbury service with their presence and made us a wonderful and hearty Guatemalan dish for dinner.  During the sermon time of that worship service I invited Basilia and Lucia to share their thoughts and reflections on some of the texts we have heard this morning – texts about “The Good Shepherd.” I will be the first to admit that I was motivated … Continue reading Good Shepherd Sunday