Sermon, 4th Sunday in Lent, 2024
In today’s Gospel, we read of the feeding of the 5000. This miracle shows us of the abundance that we have in Christ. How does this abundance translate into the lives of the faithful? Is this a health and wealth gospel or is there something deeper here? Propers Manuscript
Sermon, Third Sunday in Lent, 2024
Many Christians try to live in two worlds. We like the things of the world, holding on to habitual sins and things in this world that do not lead us into godliness. But we also attend church and might read our Bibles now and then. We want Jesus, but not enough to actually be too inconvenienced by Him. Christ reminds us in St. Luke 11, that a house divided against itself cannot stand. And St. Paul reminds us that if we really are children of the light, then we should walk as children of the light. Let us not be half-in and half-out. May be we all-in for following Jesus.…
Sermon, First Sunday in Lent, 2024
Christ endured the fasting and temptation in the wilderness out of love for us. He endured torture and death out of love for us. He rose and ascended to heaven where He sits at the right hand of God interceding in love for us. But yet He also knew that the joy to be had when humanity and God are once again united in the world to come was worth all of the agony that He endured. In our lives, we are blessed with sublime moments that allow us to glimpse God, that allow us a foreshadowing of that blessed joy that will one day be ours in its entirety. …
Sermon, Quinquagesima Sunday, 2024
The epistle lesson this Sunday is St. Paul’s masterful ode to love, 1 Corinthians 13. In love we allow ourselves and our plans to be interrupted by others. Jesus demonstrated such love when He paused during His final journey to Jerusalem to heal a blind man. However, the disciples in their ambitions, could not be interrupted by the plans Jesus set before them. They were committed to their own plans so that they could not comprehend what Jesus had to do to redeem the world. May we deny our own ambitions to listen to our Lord and follow Him in service to all. Propers Manuscript
Homily, the Feast of St. Stephen, 2023
St. Stephen, as the first Christian martyr, shows all the followers of God what godly dedication should be. First, he is not afraid to speak the truth boldly, and yet he does not do so out of malice or hate for those who are murdering him. St. Stephen, with his dying breathe, follows the example of Christ by praying for His persecutors even as they killed him. And yet one of these persecutors would become St. Paul by whom the gospel was spread throughout the Roman Empire. The Church, the Body of Christ, grows through our suffering. Let us therefore welcome the suffering that God brings to us. May we…
Homily, Christmas Day, 2023
This Homily was read from the Christmas homily by R. U. Smith found on Lectionary Central. In it we are encouraged to put aside the Christmas sentimentality that characterizes the secular celebrations of the season, and instead to truly celebrate Christmas as the spiritual holy day that it is. Propers Manuscript
Homily, Christmas Eve, 2023
To unbelievers, the Incarnation is foolishness. Unfortunately to believers, the Incarnation is often taken for granted. We are too comfortable with the story of Christmas. It would serve us well to spend a few moments considering just how impossible the Christmas story is, for then we might be all the more grateful for God’s love for us. God in Christ, did the impossible. He entered into our human sufferings. For with God, all things are possible. Propers Manuscript
Sermon, 4th Sunday in Advent, 2023
“Comfort, Comfort ye my people.” Thus says the prophet Isaiah in the 40th chapter of the biblical book that bears his name. We, the people of God, need the comfort of God for we still labor in this world under the curse. But Christ came to us and remains with us by His Spirit living in and among us. Where the bridegroom is, there is rejoicing. Let us rejoice that God is with us. The LORD is at hand! Propers Manuscript
Sermon, 3rd Sunday in Advent, 2023
In this life, we are necessarily most familiar with our own stories, and we are most familiar with our own struggles and pain. It is therefore very easy to believe that our pain and difficulties are worse than that of other people. In other words it is easy for us to be judgmental towards others. This is an ancient problem for the Apostle Paul was often judged by those to whom he ministered. And Jesus Himself, was seemingly judge by John the Baptist when John did not understand what was happening or what Jesus came to do. So how do we avoid judging others? Jesus is the only just judge. …
Sermon, 2nd Sunday in Advent, 2023
The Holy Bible, God’s Word to us, is a tremendous gift. It is given to us so that we can learn about God and meditate upon His direct message to us. In learning the Word, we are formed and we develop patience, knowing that every one of God’s promises will come to pass, just like every promise about Christ came to pass. Propers Manuscript