Sermons from St. John the Divine

The gift of the Holy Spirit is power to recognize God present in your life; power to discern God has come to where you are right now.

Today's gospel is the continuation of last week's, they are two parts of the same story. To understand today's passage, we must return to last week's. John is calling for actions, he does not want excuses. He wants us to bear fruits worthy of repentance.

Advent is a season of being puzzled by images we don’t always understand. So far in our Advent Bible readings we have reflected on the time before the birth and ministry of Jesus and on the time of his return, but we have yet to reflect on the preparations for his birth.   In the opening verses of Luke’s Gospel, we find out that he is an investigative historian. He records testimony from eyewitnes...

We can never ultimately solve our problems, satisfy our unfulfilled yearnings, or heal our hurts by human effort. We are unable to restore our own hope by force of will. We need something else, something more, something different entirely. So, we wait for him.

Jesus calls us to be ready for his return. He will be the judge, so we don’t need to judge anyone. And as we put our hope in him, our hope increases because he has done all things for us. In him, we win!

The Christian life is characterized by waiting, but we wait with hope because Jesus redeems us.

Like Pontius Pilate, we too shall be judged. But unlike Pilate, we know who our judge really is. He is Christ the King who judges us with his love and mercy.

We all want to be noticed. What is behind this desire? Jesus shows us that if we are not careful this desire can become twisted. He offers us the attention we seek from the world.

The vision of the coming Kingdom of God from Revelation is less about your personal salvation than your social fellowship with all the saints who worship Jesus.

John records, “Jesus was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.” The original Greek means he was highly agitated. As one commentator writes the verb “indicates an outburst of anger.” Jesus approaches Lazarus’ grave mad as hell and at hell. God did not create human beings to die like this. Sin brought death into the world, and Jesus has come to undo what humanity has created by following...

The blind beggar becomes the perfect example of what it means to be a follower of Christ. It is not until we recognize ourselves sitting beside the road as a beggar in need of mercy and healing that we truly be a grateful follower of Christ.

On his way to the cross, Jesus redefines the disciples’ expectations of glory. True glory is Jesus' love for us on the cross. 

The rich young ruler kept the Ten Commandment listed by Jesus. It was the unspoken commands that held him back: the first four about God and the last commandment about coveting. His money had become an idol. Is money an idol for you, something you put before God? When you ask yourself, “what about me and my money,” how do you answer?

Jesus' teaching about marriage and divorce is not just about rules, but about the powers of separation that have been put to death on Christ's Cross. Ultimately, we learn that marriage is a created image of what Christ has done for us. He has made us "one flesh" with Himself, bringing peace between Jew and Gentile by enjoining them together in His One Body. So, let no one separate what God has bro...

In an age of anxiety and uncertainty, we hold to the promise that Jesus is mindful of us and for us.

Perhaps our wealth is a barrier to faith. Instead, we are called to put our trust in Jesus who provides for all your needs and pray to him in all circumstances. And when we trust him and speak to him in all circumstance, we will find peace.

For the righteous person (James 5:16), prayer is powerful and effective. What makes us righteous? Jesus, of course. To pray out of our faith in his grace and love is to embody the power and presence of God in our prayers more than we too often imagine.

The noted 20th century scientist Albert Einstein said, “I do not fear the explosive power of the atom bomb. What I fear is the explosive power of evil in the human heart.”   What combats evil in the human heart? The fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We all need this fruit to ward off the power...