Rotten Apple Seeds

Here is today’s sermon, October 6, 2024, Proper 22, Year B. It is based on Mark 10: 2- 16, Jesus’ teaching on divorce. In it I offer a theological and pastoral reflection on broken relationships. I observe that the end of a relationship often involves anger, falsehoods, and grieving. Certainly in relationships which include abuse or addiction, there is a pastoral urgency for safety. I also acknowl...

Here is today’s sermon, September 29, 2024, Proper 21, Year B. It is based on Mark 9: 38- 50. It tells of the conflict in the early Church and the struggles to manage differing viewpoints. I explain how Anglicanism, as a communion of Common Worship, rather than Common Belief, was conceived in conflict. The polity of Anglicanism is ideally matched to the management of conflict and maintenance of co...

Here is today’ sermon, September 22, 2024, Proper 20, Year A. It is based on Mark 9: 30-37, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom?” In it I explain that Jesus’ prediction of His death and resurrection shows a vulnerable God, willing to accept and absorb rejection and death. His disciples were looking for a Messiah to rescue them, while Jesus wanted disciples who will take up their own crosses. I sho...

Here is today's sermon, September 15, 2024, Proper 19, Year B. It is based on Mark 8: 27- 38, "Who do you say that I AM?". In it I explain that Jesus rejects the title, Messiah, and insists that God is not to rescue you from your situations. Instead, you are empowered by Jesus' life to model your response to your challenges to overcome them and find the abundance of God's lif...

Here is today’s sermon, September 1, 2024, Proper 17, Year B. It is based on Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23. Jesus explains why His disciples do not wash their hands before they eat. He explains that it is not what goes into a person, but rather what comes out of the person that makes the individual unclean. I discuss the meaning of hand washing and our mutual interdependence.

Here is today’s sermon, August 25, 2024, Proper 16, Year B. It is based on John 6: 56-69, the Bread of Life. In it I discuss the nature of sacrifice in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Seder meal, and the Eucharist.

Here is today’s sermon, August 11, 2024, Proper 14, Year B. It is based on John 6: 35, 41-51. It has s based on “I AM the Bread of Life”. In it I explain how we find abundant life in sharing a meal.

Here is today’s sermon., August 4, 2024, Proper 13, Year A. It is based on John 6: 24- 35, “Do not labor for bread that perishes, but labor for that bread which endures. “

Here is today’s sermon, July 14, 2024, Proper 10, Year B. It is based on Mark 6: 14-29, the Beheading of John the Baptiser. Instead of assuming that Herodias, the daughter of Herod who danced before him, was a temptress and Herod was a perv, I suggest that she reminded Herod of the innocence of children. We all grieve our lost innocence as jaded adults.

Here is today’s sermon, July 28, 2024, Proper 12, Year B. It is based on John 6: 1-21, the Feeding of the Five Thousand. In it I explain the connections to the Last Supper as well as the Holy Eucharist.

Here is today’s sermon, July 7, 2024, Proper 9, Year B. It is based on Mark 6: 1-13, Jesus’ rejection at Nazareth and the Sending of the Twelve. In it I explain how love and vulnerability overcome the dark spirits of division and rage in our society.

Here is today’s sermon, July 21, 2024, Proper 11, Year B. It is based on Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, “Come aside to a secluded place and rest awhile”. In it, I describe how we are so consumed with activity that to rest is a type of death. Therefore, through resurrection, we find new life after a period of rest.

Here is today’s sermon, June 30, 2024, Proper 8, Year B. It is based on Mark 5: 21- 43, the Woman with the Hemorrhage and Jairus’ Daughter. In it I discuss how this applies the definition of love by Rainer Maria Rilke.

Here is today’s sermon, June 22, 2024, Proper 7, Year B. It is based on Mark 4: 35-41, the Stilljng of the Storm.

Here is today’s sermon, June 9, 2024, Proper 5, Year B. It is based on Mark 3: 20-35. In it I explain how Jesus challenged contemporary visions of family life.

Here is today’s sermon, June 2, 2024, Proper 2, Year B. It is based on Mark 2: 22-36, the Man with the Withered Hand. In it I explain the scripture references as well as explain their contemporary application.

Here is today’s sermon, May 24, 2024, Trinity Sunday, Year B. It is an attempt to describe the experience that we may have of the Divine Mystery in our lives. What we call Trinity is a map of our minds attempting to grasp this mystery.

Here is today’s sermon, May 19, 2024, Pentecost, Year B. It is based on the church as God’s new language.

Here is today’s sermon, May 12, 2024, VII Easter, Year B. It is based on John 15, “Sanctify them in the truth”. In it I explain how holiness is unifying and formed in love.

Here is today’s sermon, May 5, 2024, V Easter, Year B. It is based on Acts 10: 44-48, the baptism of Cornelius. In it I explain how the gentiles were brought into the early church and how this is a model for contemporary denominations struggling with inclusion.

Here is today’s sermon, April 28, 2024, V Easter, Year B. It is based on Acts 8: 26-40, Phillip and the Eunuch. I explain how resurrection is shown in this story.

Here is today’s sermon, April 21, 2024, IV Easter, Year B. It is based on Acts 4: 5-12. In it I give an explanation of what it means that there is no salvation but in the name of Jesus. I explain that rather than being exclusionary, it is a way to healing and abundant life.

Here isis today’s sermon, April 14, 2024, III Easter, Year B. In it I discuss the meaning of eternal life and experiencing resurrection in our lives rather than wasting until after death.

Here it’s today’s sermon, March 31, 2024, Easter Sunday, Year B. In it I describe that the story of Easter is really a love story, with the Beloved Disciple.

Here is today’s sermon, March 28, 2014, Maundy Thursday, Year B. In it I draw parallels between the Last Supper, Passover, and the last Thanksgiving meal my family shared with my Mother.