07292020 – Matthew 13. Parables of the Kingdom Over the “past few of weeks” of July, we have been “LISTENING TO” the parables found in Matthew’s gospel the 13th chapter. I say “LISTENING TO” … because that is an IMPORTANT PART of all four of our early gospels. THEY are about “LISTENING.” …ABOUT Being […]
07262020- Matthew 13 – “The Parables of the Kingdom” Today’s lectionary text consists of four brief-rapid-fire-parables from the 13th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel… So, in rapid-fire-succession, we hear about a mustard seed, yeast, treasure, and a pearl. Some of these can only be found in the Gospel of Matthew – while others […]
St James, The Greater, Apostle July 25th, 2020 So much tradition. So much confusion. So much – that at one time was conjecture. You see it repeatedly. You must be careful. You must be perceptive. But then, thankfully there is the Biblical record. This JAMES is the brother of JOHN. Like […]
O7222020 – John 20. 1-2, 11-18 St. Mary Magdalene, Apostle St. Mary Magdalene has “long been” a figure surrounded by “controversy,” “curiosity,” and “a bit of confusion” in the Christian church. The controversies are “as alive” today as they were at any other time in the history of the church. People […]
07182020 – Matthew 13. 24-30, 36-43 This is a parable found only in the Gospel of Matthew and in the non-canonical gospel of Thomas. Jesus observed LAST WEEK that there were various kinds of soils…and now, THIS WEEK, various kinds of seeds. NOT all soil is alike. NOT all seeds are alike. Just like all […]
07152020 – Matthew 13. 1-9 ff The Sower A colleague started their sermon on this text by saying: “We are in the post-truth world listening to the manufactured lies, reading the systematic propaganda of fake news, and proclaiming the same with the help of high-profiled people in society to achieve their own specific purpose.” […]
07112020 – Matthew 13. 1-9, 19-23 Like it or not, Matthew comes every THREE YEARS as a “gentle reminder.” We ALL have “WORK” to do… We are not merely to SIT IDLY BY… When “an opportunity” PRESENTS ITSELF…we are to take advantage of it. Not in some kind of a NAGGING way… Just dropping SEEDS, […]
07042020 – Mark 12. 13-17 “The Fourth of July” Hopefully and prayerfully THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER 4th of July celebration “quite like this one…” Parades, floats, marching bands, public fireworks display and large family reunions and cook-outs are “typically” some of the “more POPULAR WAYS” we- mark the nation’s INDEPENDENCE from Britain […]
06272020 – Matthew 10. 40-42 God has this way of offering us CORRECTIONS along our life’s journey…subtle, sly, you KNOW it is HIM. IT has to BE. I mean, who else would it BE? At other times, the CORRECTIONS can be “less than subtle,” like taking a 2X4 and WHACKING us up – […]
06242020 – St. John, the Baptizer The story of John is deep. It is multilayered. It does not take a Rhodes Scholar to see the similarities. This may indeed surprise you. But then again, it may not. John’s story is Jesus’ story “in a nutshell.” The two stories have so much similarity between them. […]