John 18:1-19:42 Yesterday, we heard that the devil had put it in the heart of Judas to betray Jesus, and today we bear witness to the outcome of that betrayal. “The Devil made me do it,” a phrase popularized by a comedian in the 70s, has long been a tongue-in-cheek way of excusing minor infractions,Continue reading “The Devil is a Liar”
Category Archives: holy week
In Remembrance of Me
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 & John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Do this in remembrance of me. In Paul’s letter to the Christians in Corinth, we have the earliest mention of the Eucharist, Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper. Paul was writing almost a generation before the Gospel of John was written, and decades before Mark or Luke or MatthewContinue reading “In Remembrance of Me”
Joy & Grief
Luke 23:1-49 A speaker at a lecture I recently attended pointed out that there are two emotions that we are meant to cultivate, two emotions that come up again and again in Jesus’s life and in his preaching. Joy, and grief. Blessed are those who mourn. Rejoice and be glad. Blessed are you who weepContinue reading “Joy & Grief”
Why Should We Not Imitate Him?
John 18:1-19:42 So far, this Church year has felt in many ways like a very long Good Friday. Multiple horrific mass casualties, an ongoing genocide of an entire people who share a homeland with our Lord, violence raging in the Sudan, a humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, personal losses and illnesses onContinue reading “Why Should We Not Imitate Him?”
Love Takes the Risk
John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Once upon a time, a white straight Christian minister invited a Black gay actor to cool his feet in a wading pool on a hot day. After sharing a few moments of relaxation together, their feet side by side in a small plastic pool, the white man shared his towel with theContinue reading “Love Takes the Risk”
Anointed
Mark 14:1-15:47 We are all familiar with the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus shared with his friends the night he was betrayed, the meal we remember on Maundy Thursday and every time we share the Eucharist. But did you ever notice that there’s also a First Supper? Our Lenten study group spent anContinue reading “Anointed”
Good Friday is for Grievers
John 18:1-19:42 & the Good Friday liturgy, found on page 276 of the Book of Common Prayer The Maundy Thursday sermon at St Mark’s & Grace was given this year by our ministry intern, Kathy Maddox, a Candidate for Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacons. If you missed worship this year, and you wouldContinue reading “Good Friday is for Grievers”
Save Us
In light of recent tragedies and ongoing conversation in this country around gun violence, I would like to lift up the work of March for Our Lives, RAWtools, and Bishops Against Gun Violence as good starting places for education, advocacy, and resources. It is impossible for me to reflect on the ministry of Jesus andContinue reading “Save Us”
Are you?
John 18:1-19:42 To learn more about the anti-Judaism and anti-Semitism I address in the opening paragraph of this sermon, I encourage all Christians to pick up a copy of The Jewish Annotated New Testament edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler. I encourage you to read the articles included at the end of thatContinue reading “Are you?”
The Gift
John 13:1-17, 31b-35 On the last night of his earthly life, Jesus gave his friends a gift. Knowing that he would be betrayed by someone close to him this very night, knowing that most of the people in the room would pretend not to know him by morning, knowing that tomorrow the entire world wouldContinue reading “The Gift”
Mother A Writes 