Sermons

Sun, Jan 29, 2017 Lectionary Frankly the readings from scripture today seem like the triumphant announcement that all the weeks since Christmas have been building toward. The way a symphony starts by introducing a theme, pursues various sub-themes or variation, and then as the music reaches a crescendo, the grand presentation of the meaning of the work breaks forth. He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? ( Mic 6:8 ) Paul: “message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise Matthew’s gospel presents Jesus in the fullness of his authority as teacher and rabbi. He begins his grand sermon on the mount, beginning with the Beatitudes which we hear today. As if his birth, his epiphany to the magi, his baptism, his calling of...

Sun, Jan 22, 2017: Preface Lectionary Trying to hear with new ears Jesus has heard that John was arrested. Was he afraid? Was that a sign for him? Whatever, he withdrew to Galilee and went to Capernaum by the sea. Fulfilling the prophecy he said. Who are these living in a land of deep darkness? The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness– on them light has shined. ( Is 9 ) We hear this passage twice today: once from the prophet himself. The other from the gospel writer quoting the prophet. Mathew’s call of the disciples: 2 familiar pairs of brothers: Peter & Andrew, James & John With the repetition of the words of the prophet, I am inclined to emphasize them. To see in them a clue for us to hear with fresh ears. The prophet spoke to his generation. The writers of the NT heard the words as God speaking to them. We perhaps should do the same. Listen to these words speaking to us in our generation. then ...

Sun, Jan 8, 2017 Lectionary lectionary “who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit” from collect – also connecting to baptism of all of us Suffering Servant – bold language and vision Peter sermon overview of message Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth A light to the nations – from Isaiah Once again I am drawn to the power, the laser-like precision that the prophet Isaiah speaks to our own time as well as the time of the Messiah and his own time as well. His words seem to speak to all eternity – every-present, always relevant. “I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spr...

Sat. Dec. 24, 2016: St. Peter’s 1: the people have seen a great light Isaiah 9:2-7 Titus 2:11-14: the grace of God has appeared Luke 2:1-14(15-20) Psalm 96 lectionary History of Christmas: How is it that we find ourselves in the night-time of the year, celebrating the nativity of Jesus? How it got to be Dec. 25th At the founding of our country – very little attention paid by the Puritans. (One of the scandals of the “Anglicans” was their observance of Christmas Much of what we observe today a product of the commercial and business interests of the 19 th / 20 th century Each of us here tonight carries memories of our local and family traditions. ( I asked a clerk at Publix the other day whether she was going to be spending time with little family or big family – she immediately knew what I was talking about. Her big family is in Georgia and they hoped to get there next month, but this weekend it is a quiet time together with the local family. ) by the 4 th c. a cluster o...

Sun, Dec 18, 2016: St. Peter’s Sermon Fourth Advent The strange circumstances of King Ahaz Bible Study and lectionary In our reading from Isaiah this week, God responds with as it were a sigh of exasperation at King Ahaz who says in a voice of mock piety, "Nah, I don’t need a sign from you. I’m doing just fine. To which God (the Lord) says, “Well, I’m going to give you one anyway. A young woman is with child. And his name will be Immanuel.” That’s not particularly remarkable we can observe, except perhaps the name which means “God is with you.” But then if we add some of the back story to the short reading it all just seems even weirder – at least to me. You see Ahaz is being attacked from an alliance of the northern kingdom and Syria (“2 kings” from the reading). God has promised to rescue King Ahaz from the predicament. But Ahaz thinks he can do just fine without God’s help so he makes the response we have heard today. The text as we all know was used by the writers of...

Sermon Third Advent: Dec. 11, 2016 lectionary a highway there (Isaiah some more) ransomed of the LORD break out in song possible use of Magnificat James “be patient” til the coming of the Lord John the Baptist – see I’m sending my messenger ahead to prepare the way In previous Sundays I focused on the readings from the prophet Isaiah in an attempt to hear an Advent message in a fresh light. Isaiah has looked out at his own country and seen a leadership made impotent by rampant injustice and a failure to reflect the deeper values of the people of Israel. In spite of expecting destruction from the legacy of these leadership problems, Isaiah brings a message from God that inspires hope and expectation in a time to come. Advent is a time of preparation for a time to come. In the Orthodox church it is a period of self-reflection and self-examination that lasts 40 days – mirroring the time of preparation in Lent. It is a time to be taken seriously. Perhaps it is a time to take t...

Sun, Dec 4, 2016: St. Peter’s Sermon second Advent: lectionary Last week I announced that I intended to preach on the Isaiah passage each of these weeks through Advent. Week by week we will hear from the prophet Isaiah. Each of the passages is famously associated with Christmas – going back centuries. A great danger for us, I believe, is to become more and more immune to hearing the true power of the message. My hope is to help in hearing the message of the gospel. Today we hear from (ch. 11 of Isaiah) – stump of Jesse – the peaceable kingdom, the wolf and the lamb lie down together. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you (Rom) Rom refers to Isaiah John the Baptist appears Broad influence of Isaiah When we listen to Handel’s Messiah passage after passage is taken from the prophet. It has been called “the Fifth Gospel”, and its influence extends beyond Christianity to English literature and to Western culture itself. gathering of commentaries: (mo...