A sermon for the sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Gen 21:8-21; Psalm 86: 1-10; Rom 6:1b-11; Matt 10:24-39) This morning we have a wealth of great texts.  This is not to say that the scripture we hear other mornings is somehow less important or inferior, but there is just so much that “will preach” here.  The calling of Abraham, Paul’s midrash on the calling of Abraham, the Exultate of Psalm 33, and then this gospel lesson of calling and healing – all very rich stuff. I want to mention the text from Genesis primarily because of the weeks ahead of us … Continue reading Jesus Heals Two Daughters

  A sermon for the second Sunday after Pentecost; Matthew 6:24-34 It was one of those images, something about it caught my eye.  While surfing the web I saw an image of a young newly married couple standing in front of a magnificent cathedral.  The caption read, “Wedding Photo Shoot Witnesses Earthquake’s Destruction.”  I clicked on the story and found a series of images documenting the aftermath of the massive earthquake in China’s Cheng Du province. It seems the cathedral was part of an abandoned Roman Catholic monastery, and it had since become a very popular location among local residents … Continue reading God Provides, from the Dirt Up

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

Easter 2A A Sermon for the Second Sunday of Easter John 20:19-31 Just north of Pittsburgh PA in a little crossroads just off the interstate near Ellwood City lies the Monastery of the Transfiguration.  A small community of nuns from the Romanian Orthodox Church live there and are very hospitable to those who come by, even unannounced. It was less than an hour from where I went to seminary, so regular groups of seminarians would drive up, often unannounced, and raid the gift shop, buying icons and incense, and visit the amazing chapel and gaze upon the icon that wept … Continue reading Honest Thomas

A sermon for Good FridayJohn 18:1 – 19:42   We have become so accustomed to them, we hardly notice them.  There are plain ones and jeweled ones, simple ones and elaborate ones.  Some have been passed down for generations.  Others are given as gifts.  They are ubiquitous, and yet, there are many who don’t know the whole story behind these little crosses we wear. I remember hearing one preacher remark how odd it would seem for people from the time of Jesus to see us wearing them as jewelry, carrying them in procession, making them out of gold.  It would … Continue reading The Agony of Why

A sermon for Passion Sunday, Year A Matthew 26:36-27:66 Could you not stay awake with me? What tone do you think Jesus used when he spoke these words to the disciples?  How might an actor bring life and emotion to these words? Was he angry? Was he discouraged and disappointed? Was he fearful and lonely? Despite their best efforts, the disciples, even this early in the story of the last hours of Jesus’ life, are already deserting him.  They cannot even manage to keep awake, to pray, to protect him. I imagine all of these emotions must have surged through … Continue reading Keep Awake!

A sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year AJohn 9:1-41 I want to begin this morning doing something I almost never do – begin with a commercial.  On Tuesday evening during Holy Week, which is believe it or not, two weeks from this coming Tuesday, it is our tradition here at Christ Church to gather together and hear the Gospel of the Year read in its entirety. This year, of course, we will hear Matthew read in its entirety in one sitting – well we might have an intermission.  Why on earth would you do that, you might ask.  … Continue reading The Man Born with Blind Neighbors

A sermon for The Second Sunday of Lent, Year A John 3:1-17; Genesis 12:1-4a Forty-one years ago, on St. Helena Island, lying just off the coast of South Carolina, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was holding a staff retreat.  It was held at a Quaker retreat center that had originally been of the first schools for freed slaves.  The members of the SCLC who had gathered for the retreat were not there to bask in the summery weather.  Instead they were facing a critical crossroads in their mission. Leading this retreat was Martin Luther King, Jr., their founder and president.  … Continue reading The Changing Face of Change