December 24, 2025 - Christmas Eve

Lectionary Readings

May the love of Christmas be ours this night and for ever ☩ in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

In my office I have two shelves of books that I intend to soon read. And those shelves would be empty if I’d stop buying new books to fill them. One of those books that I haven’t yet gotten to is called “God: A Biography.” I’m sure it’s a good read, but there’s just something about that title that seems overly ambitious. Talk about padding your résumé – “Oh yes, I’m God’s biographer.” The truth of the matter is that no mortal is able to be God’s biographer. Our intellects are too dull, our lives are too short, our perspectives are too limited.

December 21, 2025 - The Fourth Sunday of Advent

Lectionary Readings

O come, O come, Emmanuel. Amen.

If you had to summarize the Gospel into a single thought or sentence, what might you come up with? Many years ago, I remember that The Christian Century magazine published an article that asked leading authors and theologians to summarize the Gospel in seven words. There were some lovely and interesting responses such as: “God, through Jesus Christ, welcomes you anyhow,” “In Christ, God’s yes defeats our no,” and “God was born; we can be reborn.” It does take a bit of reflection and wordsmithing, but it’s an good exercise to really think about what are the most essential elements of faith.

December 14, 2025 - The Third Sunday in Advent

Lectionary Readings

O come, O come, Emmanuel. Amen.

Isn’t it a relief when someone asks the question that you have but were too embarrassed to ask? John the Baptizer asks the question that many wonder about – “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Over the past several months, our family has really been enjoying watching the television series The Chosen, and when you adapt the Gospel stories into that format, you have to fill in some gaps. One of the things in the show that the disciples are constantly wondering about and saying is, “Jesus, this is so great that you’re teaching with such wisdom and healing all these people, and multiplying the loaves and fish, wow, that was really something. But Rome is still occupying our Promised Land, the Temple leadership is focused on power and wealth while ignoring the needs of the people, and the throne of David is empty, so, uh, when are we going to march on Jerusalem and start the regime change?”

December 7, 2025 - The Second Sunday of Advent

Lectionary Readings

O Lord, forgive the sins of the preacher, for they are many; that only your word may be proclaimed and only your truth be heard. Amen.

I’ve often thought that “brood of vipers” is an underused invective – it’s Biblical, arresting, and makes the point clear. I’ve sometimes said that I’d love to see a greeting card line based on John the Baptist instead of all of the sentimental stuff that usually fills the cards: “Wishing you an introspective Advent, you brood of vipers!” Who knows, maybe there isn’t much a market for that. And much like John the Baptist’s preaching, this sermon might not be the most comfortable, but it is my hope and intention that, like John, it points to the grace of Jesus Christ.

November 30, 2025 - The First Sunday of Advent

Lectionary Readings

O come, O come, Emmanuel. Amen.

“Advent begins in the dark,” so says the Episcopal priest and author Fleming Rutledge. At least in the northern hemisphere, Advent, which is the liturgical new year, begins as the days are colder and darker. This is our plight as followers of Jesus, to be living between the two Advents of Jesus Christ – between his first and his second comings. We have seen his Resurrection light but we wait for that light to vanquish all the darkness of our lives and our world. Many describe this as living in the “already but not yet” and that can be both an exciting and challenging place to be.

November 27, 2025 - Thanksgiving Day

Lectionary Readings

Blessed are you, O Lord God, King of the Universe, for you give us the living bread from heaven. Amen.

Later today at your dinner table, someone might say “Pass the bread,” to which you might respond based on the text from John, “You seek only to fill up on carbs. Do not ask for food that perishes, but for food that leads to eternal life.” On second thought, maybe just pass the rolls if that happens. But the point that Jesus is making is one worthy of our attention on Thanksgiving Day. It’s a question of what we hunger for.

November 23, 2025 - The Last Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Readings

Lord Jesus, help us to recognize that the way of the cross is the way of abundant life. Amen.

If we had to name what the most pervasive and pernicious idol in our culture is we’d have a lot of contenders because there are so many things that we allow to define us, that we end up serving, that we pursue instead of the living God. But if we pay close attention to our modern society, it becomes clear that the idol we struggle the most with is control. It’s the one thing that we just can’t imagine giving up. Sure, if we can have some control over our circumstances, we might be willing to give up money, rightness, or reputation. But our need to be in control has taken such deep roots in our hearts and minds that it’s an idol that we gladly serve in exchange for some sense of predictability and stability.