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This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning for Resurrection of Our Lord (Easter Day). The gospel text was Luke 24:1-12. Previously on “The Gospel of Luke”: Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. He wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid it in a tomb. The … Continue reading What If… (Easter sermon)
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached at the Great Vigil of Easter this morning. The gospel text was John 20:1-18. Rabbouni. That was the word Mary said to Jesus once she knew it was really him. Once Mary believed that Jesus had risen from the dead, she spoke one word, Rabbouni. … Continue reading The Opposite of a Black Hole (Easter Vigil Sermon)
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached last night, Good Friday. The gospel text was the Passion according to John, John 18:1 -- 19:42. John tells us that it was a Friday evening when Passover began that year. It was one of those years when the first day of Passover was also … Continue reading The Completion of the Cross (Sermon)
While doing some work on my upcoming sermons, I found a website called "My Jewish Learning," which is designed as an encyclopedia of sorts for all things Jewish, to aid everyone from a synagogue leader looking to deepen her knowledge to a newcomer considering converting to Judaism. It has a nice article by Rabbi Ismar … Continue reading Easter is not about ME ME ME!
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning. The text I preached on was 1 Corinthians 15:1-11. Think of a gift you received that was really important to you. The last four weeks here in church, we’ve been talking about some gifts that are important. We’ve been talking about the gifts … Continue reading For You (Sermon)
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning, All Saints Sunday. The gospel text was John 11:32-44, the raising of Lazarus. One day, not long after Halloween, a day not unlike today, a monkey came upon a jar filled with Halloween candy. It’s not important how this jar got into the … Continue reading Clinging
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning. The text was Mark 9:30-37. I am going to die. It’s true. I don’t like to think about it too often, but a day is coming, perhaps a long way off, or perhaps not, when I will die. That’s uncomfortable, isn’t it? And … Continue reading “I am Going to Die”
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached this morning, the Second Sunday of Easter. The gospel reading was John 20:19-31. Poor Thomas. He never wanted that nickname, but he got it. Our gospel today tells us he was known as “the Twin,” but that’s not the nickname that stuck. No, thanks to … Continue reading Doubting Tiger, Suffering Dragon
This is an adapted form of the sermon I preached on the Resurrection of Our Lord, Easter Day, April 1, 2018. The gospel reading was Mark 16:1-8. So [the women] went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. - … Continue reading The End is Not the End
Jonathan Antonioli was an active member of my congregation. Last week, at age 16, he died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. The past week has been tragic for the congregation and the whole community. His death is a textbook example of "not fair" -- he was kind and loving and intelligent and so … Continue reading A Sermon I Never Wanted to Preach
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