Sundays at St. James

“Let the Young Jesus Teach You” Main point: Even as a young man, Jesus set an example of how to be in the world. On the 4th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: four calling (colly) birds. (Some day this stands for the 4 gospel writers who have us our accounts is the life of Jesus.) On the 5th Day of Christmas my true love gave to me: five gold rings. (Some day this stands for the 5 books of...

“Fire and Brimstone” Main point: Pondering the way(s) each of us receive the call to repent and live a righteous life. Introduction Clear the way for the Lord! John the Baptizer bursts onto the scene with quite a message.   You brood of vipers! Bear fruits worthy of repentance.  The ax is lying at the root of the tree. If it does not bear good fruit it will be cut down and thrown into the fire. Th...

“Make A Way!” Main point: The coming of Jesus makes the path straight to salvation. Introduction Our gospel today breaks easily into three sections. To our modern ears this first section may sound like a lot of white noise. We hear names and places with little or no association with anything that connects to our knowledge or experience. But in a first century audience, the people who heard these w...

Advent 1 Year C “Wait” Main point: What do we do while we wait? INTRODUCTION If you're looking for a gentle, nostalgic introduction to the countdown to Christmas, you won't find those sentiments in today's gospel. Welcome to the first Sunday of Advent! Advent is a unique season of waiting and pondering as the days get shorter, the nights get longer, and our hibernation instincts begin to kick in a...

26th Week after Pentecost. “Birth pangs lead to new birth” Main point: What is newly being birthed in us (collectively or individually) after the devastation we have experienced?

Year B, Proper 27

Gospel: John 8:31-36 Jesus speaks of truth and freedom as spiritual realities known through his word. He reveals the truth that sets people free from sin. 31 Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never be...

Gospel: Mark 7:24-37 In Mark’s gospel, encounters with women usually signify turning points in Jesus’ ministry. Here, a conversation with a Syrophoenician woman marks the beginning of his mission to the Gentiles. 24 [Jesus] set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice,25 but a woman whose little daughte...

Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51 After feeding more than five thousand people in the wilderness, Jesus teaches them regarding the true significance of this remarkable sign. 35 Jesus said to [the crowd,] “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”   41 Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that ca...

Gospel: John 6:1-21 In John’s gospel, the miracles of Jesus are called “signs,” because they reveal the true character of God. As such, they remain within the mystery of God and cannot be brought under human control. 1 Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A large crowd kept following him because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3 ...

Gospel: Mark 6:14-29 As Jesus and his disciples begin to attract attention, Mark recalls the story of John the Baptist’s martyrdom. Like John, Jesus and his disciples will also suffer at the hands of those opposed to the gospel of salvation. 14 King Herod heard of [the disciples’ preaching], for Jesus’s name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and...

Gospel: Mark 4:26-34 Jesus frequently uses parables to teach ordinary people as they are able to hear and understand. Images of sowing and growing show the vitality of God’s kingdom. 26 [Jesus] said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itsel...

Gospel: Mark 3:20-35 In response to charges that he is possessed, Jesus wonders aloud how anyone who is demon-possessed can cast out demons. Those who do the will of God are possessed by the Holy Spirit, siblings of Christ. 20 [Jesus] went home, and the crowd came together again, so that [Jesus and the disciples] could not even eat.21 When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for pe...

Gospel: John 3:1-17 Jesus’ miracles prompt Nicodemus to visit him in secrecy. Jesus tells him about being born of the Spirit and about the Son who has been sent by God to save. 1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless G...

Gospel: John 15:1-8 On the night of his arrest, Jesus taught his disciples about the relationship they would have with him. Those who abide in his word and love bear fruit, for apart from him, they can do nothing. [Jesus said:] 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fr...

Gospel: Luke 24:36b-48 In this account of an appearance after his resurrection, Jesus opens the minds of the disciples to understand him as Messiah. Jesus convinces them that he has been raised and sends them on a mission to proclaim the message of repentance and forgiveness. 36b Jesus himself stood among [the disciples] and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and terrified an...

Gospel: John 20:19-31 The story of Easter continues as the risen Jesus appears to his disciples. His words to Thomas offer a blessing to all who entrust themselves in faith to the risen Lord. 19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After...

Gospel: John 2:13-22 Jesus attacks the commercialization of religion by driving merchants out of the temple. When challenged, he responds mysteriously, with the first prediction of his own death and resurrection. In the midst of a seemingly stable religious center, Jesus suggests that the center itself has changed. 13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the tem...

Gospel: Mark 1:21-28 Forces that would bring death and disease have taken hold of a man, yet they recognize Jesus and know what his power means for them. Jesus commands these forces to leave and people are amazed at his authority. 21 [Jesus and his disciples] went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them...

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28 John’s gospel describes Jesus as the “light of the world.” John the Baptist is presented as a witness to Jesus, one who directs attention away from himself to Christ, the true light. 6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to test...

Gospel: Mark 1:1-8 The Gospel of Mark does not begin with a story of Jesus’ birth but with the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. 1 The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ.   2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,  “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,   who will prepare your way,  3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:   ‘Prepare th...

Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus compares himself to a king who moves among his subjects to see how he is treated: what is done for the least of those who belong to his family is truly done for him. [Jesus said to the disciples:] 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he...

Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus tells a parable about his second coming, indicating that it is not sufficient merely to maintain things as they are. Those who await his return should make good use of the gifts that God has provided them. [Jesus said to the disciples:] 14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talent...

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus tells a parable about his own second coming, emphasizing the need for readiness at all times. [Jesus said to the disciples:] 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten young women took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise t...

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 In the Beatitudes, Jesus provides a unique description of those who are blessed with God’s favor. His teaching is surprising and shocking to those who seek wealth, fame, and control over others. 1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 And he began to speak and taught them, saying:   3 “Blessed are the poor in...