Sermons

At the hearts of all these readings, there is a longing for a real, tangible need and a reminder to refocus our attention on what is really important: proper and appropriate worship. If we move our attention from what we think we really need to worshiping God, our appetites will be reordered. Worship is meant to order reality and restore our proper desires.

Dcn Adewale Giwa-Alaka asks us to begin our Lent with the story of creation on, noticing in particular the differences God made in making man verses the rest of creation. The extra care God took and the materials he used to make man should give us perspective on our natural relationship with God. As we enter this season of repentance, realizing that natural relationship should be the start of our spiritual growth.

Readings for Transfiguration SundayExodus 24:12-18 Psalm 99 Philippians 3:7-14 Matthew 17:1-9Dr. Adam Johnson uses the readings from the seventh Sunday of Epiphany and Transfiguration Sunday to explore the story of the Transfiguration. The readings all show us how God has given the Church an unusual and somewhat backward concept of submission. In light of this unusual definition of submission we are able to see that the Transfiguration is not about looking at Jesus as something completely different from us as humans; but rather we are able to see him as a foreshadowing of our own fate.

Sunday’s ReadingsEcclesiasticus 15:11-20 Psalm 119:9-16 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Matthew 5:21-37Fr. Greg Peters explores a passage of St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and how it applies to us, as part of the same Church, today.

Sunday’s Readings2 Kings 22:8-20 Psalm 27 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 Matthew 5:13-20Today’s readings are a reminder that our faithfulness to God, begun through our baptism, will be rewarded with blessings and eternal life.

Sunday’s ReadingsMalachi 3:1–4 Psalm 84 Hebrews 2:14–18 Luke 2:22–40While Jesus was presented at the temple as Mary and Joseph’s participation in the law, performing their purification after his birth, Jesus’s presence in the temple is more than simply a fulfillment of the law. Simeon and Anna’s witnessing of this event reminds us that everything Jesus does creates a bridge between the old testament and the new. Liturgically, we are situated between the nativity and the crucifixion; a reminder that Jesus is the light that came into the world and also the destroyer of nations.

Sunday’s ReadingsAmos 3:1-11 Psalm 139:1-16 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 Matthew 4:12-22Continuing the narrative from last week’s gospel reading, this week we observe Jesus’s movements through the nations and see his teachings summarized by this week’s collect: that the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The collect takes Jesus’s teaching and simplifies them into a two part instruction: first to see and hear the Gospel and second, to respond immediately to that call. Like Andrew and Simon, we need to be open to hearing the Gospel and respond by immediately living our lives in the context of Jesus’s teachings. This means that we must daily chose to make Christ the first priority in our lives.

Sunday’s ReadingsIsaiah 42:1-9 Psalm 89:1-29 Acts 10:34-38 Matthew 3:13-17As we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord, Fr. Greg reminds us that we are more similar to Jesus than we may think; that we have been equipped with the same tools as Jesus to spread the Gospel. In Baptism we are all empowered with the Holy Spirit that Jesus received in his baptism.

Sunday’s ReadingsIsaiah 60:1-9 Psalm 72 Ephesians 3:1-13 Matthew 2:1-12The feast of Epiphany marks not only the beginning of a season of light and that the all people have received this gift of Light, but it also marks a season of trust. Because we have been given the “light that dispels the darkness” in the infant Jesus, we have been entrusted with the power of the Holy Spirit to go into the world and preach the Gospel — to be stewards of that light in the darkness of the world.

Sunday’s ReadingsIsaiah 61:10-62:5 Psalm 147:13-21 Galatians 3:23-4:7 John 1:1-18By exploring the Gospel of John, Fr. Greg points out that Christmas is not just about remembering Christ’s birth, but noticing that the incarnation implemented all sacraments: God sent his son to earth in human form and in doing so God elevated something that was mundane and normal to something holy and sacred.

Christmas Day readingsIsaiah 62:6-12 Psalm 97 Titus 3:4-7 Luke 2:1-20Fr. Greg Peters uses St. Paul’s letter to Titus to show us that Christmas is not just about Christ’s birth, but its about God’s deep love for humanity and the Holy Spirit’s work in the world.

Sunday’s ReadingsIsaiah 7:10-17 Psalm 24 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25Though this set of readings seem to have obscure and “unsolvable” prophecies, Matthew explains in the Gospel reading that the point is not to solve the prophecies, but to know that God is with us in this moment: that He came to earth as a child and remained with us. The point of these readings is not to wonder if the sayings are true, but to be faithful as Joseph was faithful to trust God.

Sunday’s ReadingsIsaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146 James 5:7-12 Matthew 11:2-19Fr. Greg Peters acknowledges that for many of us the holidays can be a difficult time full of loss and difficulties. Our readings, however, remind us that even the wildernesses will blossom and be glad. Though we are in a time of waiting and anticipation, and though our lives may feel barren and full of challenges, we are to remain patient and steadfast in our preparation of Christ’s second coming without complaining.

Sunday’s ReadingsIsaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-19 Romans 15:1-13 Matthew 3:1-12Fr. Greg uses this week’s readings to remind us that our focus should always be on the bigger work that God is doing in our lives. Our focus should always be on the Gospel: that God created the world, that we sinned and turned away from God, and that he sent his son to redeem us and give us everlasting life. In other words, as we prepare for Christmas we shouldn’t get so focused on the Incarnation that we loose sight of the whole picture of the Gospel and how ACE fits into that picture.

Sunday’s ReadingsIsaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 24:29-44This week we enter the season of Advent; a season of anticipation of Christ’s coming as a child on Christmas morning and of his future second coming. The readings for this week usher us into this season with a sense of tension of knowing and not knowing. We know that the hour has come to wake ourselves to the things of God, but we do not know the exact moment of Christ’s coming. Fr. Greg Peters points out that, as Christians, we should use this tension to live in a state of preparedness for Christ’s second coming.

Sunday’s ReadingsJeremiah 23:1-6 Luke 1:68-79 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43As we come to the end of our liturgical year we are reminded that everything is about the Redeemer of all things, the only Son of God, Jesus Christ. On Christ the King Sunday we should rejoice in Christ’s kingship over everything, but we should also ask ourselves how we let him exercise that kingship over our own lives. We should ask ourselves, in what areas of our lives are we keeping him from reigning as King?

Sunday’s ReadingsIsaiah 65:17-25 Isaiah 12 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19Fr. Greg' frames this week’s readings in the context of our position in the liturgical year. As we come to the end of the liturgical year, the readings from Isaiah remind us that no matter how well or poorly things we did things throughout the year, we have the opportunity to start again in a couple weeks. We should therefore approach this new season with joy and thanksgiving, not only because we can put behind us all the burdens we accumulated over the course of the year, but because we have chance to experience God’s love, redemption, and forgiveness anew.

Sunday’s ReadingsHaggai 1:15b-2:9 Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 Luke 20:27-38This week’s set of readings give us examples of individuals or groups of people who are struggling to do God’s work in the present moment because of their anxiety caused by their conception of the future. Monica Romig Green points out that in all of these examples God is faithful to intervene, offer comfort and encouragement to these people, and help them refocus their energy on doing the work He has called them to do. God’s presence in the Church’s life should be a reminder to us now that no matter what our concerns about the future are, He will be present with us and He is always faithful in His promises.

Sunday’s ReadingsDaniel 7:1-3, 15-18 Psalm 149 Ephesians 1:11-23 Luke 6:20-31Dr. Adam Johnson explores the lessons for this week and shows that ultimate power belongs to Christ and is seated with Him at the right hand of the Father. He also points out that because of this, part of our inheritance as children of God is to “judge the nations,” which means that we are called to lead all people to a life of faith and assist them in walking in the ways that are pleasing in God’s sight. Finally, when looking at these readings as a whole, we are offered a different perspective on things like suffering and how we can celebrate in it; justice and how it nurtures all people; prayer and how that is something that happens on a larger scale rather than only in our individual needs; and much more.

Sunday’s ReadingsJoel 2:23-32 Psalm 65 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14Dcn Wale reminds us that as Christians we are formed by immersing ourselves in the word of God and constantly repenting.

Sunday’s ReadingsJeremiah 31:27-34 Psalm 119:97-104 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 Luke 18:1-8Though these four passages do not readily appear to have any connections, Dcn Steve points out that all of these passages are reminding us to be faithful to God, His promises and His word, through all the suffering we may endure, because His promise is that He will give us justice and answer our prayers.

Today’s ReadingsJeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15 Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Luke 16:19-31Fr. Steve explains the parable from the Gospel reading and shows how these parables are examples of God’s mercy and His judgement. This parable should serve as a warning to us today to extend our love and resources to those in need.

Today’s ReadingsJeremiah 8:18-9:1 Psalm 79:1-9 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13Matthew Green uses the parable of the shrewd steward and the string of parables in Luke to give us pause and examine our own priorities.

This Week’s ReadingsJeremiah 18:1-11 Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 Philemon 1:1-21 Luke 14:25-33In light of another harsh Gospel reading from the book of Luke, we are forced to ask “how do we love our neighbors as ourselves and honor our parents and simultaneously hate them? And why must we hate them?” Fr. Greg Peters explains how we as followers of Christ are called to live the ascetic life, and how this life is seen most clearly in our weekly celebration of the Eucharist.

Today’s ReadingsJeremiah 2:4-13 Psalm 81:1, 10-16 Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 Luke 14:1, 7-14Fr. Greg Peters continues our exploration into the nature of faith. The writer to the Hebrews encourages us to think about the consequences of our actions as well as the things we should be doing on a daily basis as people of faith.

Today’s ReadingsJeremiah 1:4-10 Psalm 71:1-6 Hebrews 12:18-29 Luke 13:10-17In reflecting on today’s readings, Fr. Steve reminds us that not only are we all children of God, but that He finds all creatures, even the disadvantaged and those in the womb, worthy of love, care, and protection.

Today’s ReadingsHosea 11:1-11 Psalm 107:1-9, 43 Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21

Today’s ReadingsHosea 1:2-10 Psalm 85 Colossians 2:6-15 Luke 11:1-13Ms. Fisher shows how today’s readings remind us that, when we are faithful children of God, we flourish and grow — we are met with righteousness and peace, mercy and truth.

Today’s readings: Amos 7:7-17 Psalm 82 Colossians 1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37

Today’s readings2 Kings 5:1-14 Psalm 30 Galatians 6: 7-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Today’s Readings2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14 Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20 Galatians 5:1, 13-25 Luke 9:51-62

Readings for Trinity SundayProverbs 8:1-4, 22-31 Psalm 8 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15