Rotten Apple Seeds

Here is today’s sermon, September 21, 2025, Proper 20, Year C. It is based on Luke 16: 1-11, the Dishonest Steward. I use imagination and read a lot into the parable in order to make it applicable to today.

Here is today’s sermon, September 14, 2025, Proper 19, Year C. It is based on Luke 10: 1-15, the Lost Sheep an d the Lost Coin. In it, I note that my congregation is not necessarily lost, nor are they resentful about welcoming the lost. Instead, I discussed how we are called to the spiritual discipline of joy and celebration.

Here is today’s sermon, September 7, 2025, Proper 18, Year C. It is based on Philemon 1-21, advocating for the slave Onesimus. In this sermon, I draw parallels between this passage and the Prodigal Son. In addition, I note that, congruent to Psalm 139, the story is about running away and returning to surrender to love.

Here is today’s sermon, August 31, 2025, Proper 17, Year C. It is based on Luke 14:1, 7-14, Jesus at Table. In it I explain that this is not a life hack, but rather it demonstrates the great mystery of the Word Made Flesh so we may share in the Divine Life. We share the Divine Life when we create, forgive, love, grieve, and engage our humanity.

Here is today’s sermon, August 24, 2025, Proper 16, Year C. It is based on Luke 13:10-17, the Healing of the Stooped Woman. In it I discuss that religion ought not to bind us with rules and duties, but to free us to be most who we are: Infinitely Precious Children of Our Father, purchased at great price.

Here is today’s sermon, August 17, 2025, Proper 14, Year C. It is based on Luke 12:49-56, “I have come to bring not peace but a sword.” In it I observe that, while our history of Christianity has been one of conflict, Anglicanism is uniquely positioned to manage conflict in our communion. We may argue over non essentials, but we remain in communion as members of one family of Christ.

Here is today’s sermon, August 10, 2025, Proper 14, Year C. It is based on Luke 12:32-40, the Little Apocalypse. In it I discuss that this is about confronting the powers of violence and death in a nonviolent way. We can still be engaging even is we wish to use other means to oppose violence.

Here is today’s sermon, July 27, 2025, Proper 11, Year C. It is based on Luke 11: 1-13, the Lord’s Prayer. In it I share an experience I had in prayer in which I came to understand the the Divine Mets us where we are, not as we think we ought to be. Our response to this intimacy is one of love and joy.

Here is today’s sermon, July 20, 2025, Proper 11, Year C. It is based on Luke 10: 38-42, Martha and Mary. In it I explain that active ministry is holy and it is was Jesus asked us to do. We are challenged to keep Christ as the ground of our congregational activities.

Here is today’s sermon, July 13, 2025, Proper 10, Year C. It is based on Luke 10: 25-37, the Good Samaritan. In it I consider that love compels us not to ignore differences, but to enter into each other’s traumas and wounds and be willing to abide in that awkward and difficult space.

Here is today’s sermon, July 6, 2025, Proper 9, Year C. It is based on Luke 10:1-11, 16-20, the Sending of the 70 Apostles. In it I discuss how Naaman had a physical mark (leprosy) which alienated him from the community, Paul in the Letter to the Galatians discussed circumcision (physical mark alienating from the community), and the apostles healed those they preached to in the Gospel. I indicated...

Here is today’s sermon, June 29, 2025, Proper 8, Year C. It is based on Luke 9:51-62, the Cost of Discipleship. In it I explain that ministry may be difficult, or awkward, but that means that it reflects the Cross. But the willingness to let go of habits which no longer are applicable in 2025, or may no longer serve us in Denton, means that the transition in faith will lead us to new life and resu...

Here is today’s sermon, June 22, 2025, Proper VII, Year C. It is based on i Kings 19: 1-15a, Elijahs Flees into the Desert. I asked the congregation if they wished to hear me preach on this passage or on the Gospel, Luke 8: 26- 39. They chose the first lesson. I preached on the Divine Grandeur of God and Prayer as Silent Listening and Waiting.

Here is today’s sermon, June 15, 2025, Trinity Sunday, Year C. It is based on the doctrine of the Trinity. I begin with arguing for Jesus’ Divinity. If we then have two Divine persons, and possibly three with the Holy Spirit , Christianity would be radically different as a polytheistic faith. In fact, it would collapse all together.

Here is today’s sermon, June 8, 2025, Whitsunday, Year C. It is based on the readings of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-21. In it, I explain the mission of the Church and what we are called to proclaim today.

Here is today’s sermon, June 1, 2025, VII Easter, Year C. It is based on John 17:20-26, the Priestly Prayer of Jesus. In it I explain that our unity is not based on common belief, but rather, communion in Spiritual Gifts. I identified the spiritual gifts that I saw in the congregation.

Here is today’s sermon, May 25, 2025, VI Easter, Year C. It is based on John 14:23-29, part of Jesus’ Final Discourse. In it I discuss whether we who rely on the inspiration of the Spirit for our relationship with Jesus are somehow less than those who know Jesus in Person. I explain that we are not People of the Book, but rather a Community of the Spirit and what that means.

Here is today’s sermon, May 11, 2025, IV Easter, Year C. It is based on Acts 9: 36- 43, the Raising of Tabitha (Dorcas). In it I observe that death is not a part of life the is experienced individually, but that the community experiences loss, grief, or saying goodbye. Nevertheless, we may console each other with the knowledge that we may find deeper life and renewed purpose even despite grief.

Here is today’s sermon, May 4, 2025, III Easter, Year C. It is based on John 21:1-19, Jesus’ Resurrection Appearance on the Shore of Galilee. In it I discuss How, through Jesus’ redemption, we are able to rewrite the history of our conflicts through forgiveness and reconciliation.

Here is today’s sermon, April 27, 2025, II Easter, Year C. It is based on John 19: 20-31, Doubting Thomas. In it I explain that faith is a relationship, not a set of beliefs. It is based on trusting a person, rather than knowing a bunch of facts about her or him. In the Anglican tradition, we are a communion not of common belief, but rather common worship.

Here is today’s sermon on, April 20, 2025, Easter Sunday, Year C. I show explain that the greatest proof of the Resurrection is not the Empty Tomb, but rather, the behavior of the disciples after the Resurrection Appearances. In that vein, I suggest that we show our Resurrection faith through joy and love.

Here is today’s sermon, April 17, 2025, Maundy Thursday, Year C. It is based on John 13:1-17, 31b-35, The Footwashing at the Last Supper. In it I suggest that Washing Feet was a rite of hospitality and welcome. Jesus used the footwashing to welcome the disciples into the Kingdom of God. Perhaps we could incorporate footwashing to welcome new parishioners, at the moment of death, at a wedding, and...

Here is today’s sermon, April 13, 2025, Palm Sunday, Year c. It is based on Philippians 2: 5-11. I show how Jesus emptied Himself through this Holy Week and how we accompany Him. We empty ourselves, as well in order to prepare for the good news of the Open Tomb.

Here is today’s sermon, April 5, 2025, V Lent, Year C. It is based on John 12: 1-8, The Anointing of Jesus at Bethany. In it is draw parallels between the story of Martha and Mary in the gospel of John and the story of Ruth and Naomi. I show how the anointing of the feet with perfume is involved in both stories, in preparation for the wedding feast: of Ruth and Boaz, and Jesus the bridegroom.

Here is today’s sermon, March 30, 2025, IV Lent, Year C. It is based on 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, “In Christ there is a new creation”. In it, I share the spirituality of Catherine of Siena, in which our truthful and humble reflection on our own lives leads us to embrace and be subsumed into the Love of God. In this Mystical Union, our will and desires completely align with God’s and we love others as...