Restored to Self

Luke 8:26-39

In today’s Gospel, Father Mark reflects on Jesus’ healing of the man possessed by demons in the country of the Gerasenes. This man, isolated and tormented, becomes a mirror of the community’s unspoken fears and brokenness. His possession is not just a personal affliction, but a symbolic burden that the townspeople project upon him—he becomes their scapegoat. Jesus’ healing of the man destabilizes the community’s sense of order, revealing how fear prefers the familiar brokenness over uncertain transformation.

Father Mark draws a powerful parallel between the demoniac’s healing and the deep psychological and social healing many of us resist. Just as the community fears change and loses their scapegoat, so too we often cling to unhealthy identities—whether as victims, the sick, or those who see others as “the other.” He explores how we create division through demonization: of people of different races, beliefs, orientations, or political views. These divisions serve as false identities, distractions from the liberating truth of who we are in God.

Jesus doesn’t just heal the man—he commissions him. Sent back to his community, the restored man becomes a witness to God’s transforming love. Father Mark calls us to the same mission: to be healed and then become healers, to know our true identity as beloved children of God and to help others reclaim theirs. He reminds us that our deepest identity is not found in opposition to others, but in union with a God who makes us all sisters and brothers.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Eye of the Heart

John 14:8-17 (25-27)

Father Mark reflects on the underappreciated significance of Pentecost, contrasting it with culturally embraced holidays like Christmas and Easter. He suggests that Pentecost’s focus on the Holy Spirit—something unseen and internal—makes it difficult for many, particularly modern Americans, to fully grasp or celebrate. He points out how people often seek God externally, missing the deep spiritual truth that God’s presence is already within and among us. Even Philip, who spent years with Jesus, struggled to recognize the divine in Him, looking for physical evidence rather than perceiving with the “eye of the heart.”

The sermon encourages a turn inward to rediscover spiritual awareness. Citing figures like Meister Eckhart and Henri Nouwen, Father Mark underscores the importance of solitude, silence, and contemplative prayer as essential practices for connecting with the indwelling Spirit. Jesus Himself modeled this rhythm of withdrawal and engagement—finding power and clarity through quiet communion with God. The Holy Spirit is not only a spectacle of fire and wind but also a gentle, sustaining presence that abides within us when we cultivate space through prayer.

Father Mark praises the loving spirit of Christ’s Church, attributing its welcoming nature not to programs or traditions alone, but to the prayerful openness of its members. The unseen spiritual current that animates the parish comes from those who faithfully practice daily prayer, spiritual listening, and intentional community. Pentecost, then, should be seen not only as a miraculous historical event but as an ongoing celebration of God’s Spirit transforming us quietly from within.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

United in Love

John 17:20-26

Father Mark begins with a story of a tow truck driver who refused to help a disabled woman because of her political affiliation. Claiming divine justification, the driver prioritized his ideological identity over compassion. Father Mark highlights this incident as a troubling example of how devotion to partisan beliefs can dangerously overshadow the central Christian commandment to love others, especially those different from ourselves. He reminds the congregation of Jesus’ words: “They will know you are my disciples by your love.”

Drawing from Jesus’ farewell prayer in the Gospel of John, Father Mark emphasizes that Jesus’ final wish before His crucifixion was for unity—not just among His disciples, but for all who would come to believe in Him. Jesus’ desire was that all followers would be one, united in the love of God, mirroring the oneness of the Trinity. Father Mark ties this prayer to today’s world, which is fractured by divisions of race, politics, religion, and more. He insists that Jesus’ prayer for unity remains as urgent now as it was then.

The sermon concludes with a reflection on our divine identity. Quoting Richard Rohr and William Shannon, Father Mark explores the idea that each of us bears the image of God, and while we may lose touch with it through ego and division, it remains within us. The pandemic revealed both our capacity for fear-driven isolation and our potential for compassionate unity. In the end, Father Mark asserts, only our true self in God will endure—our separations will not survive death. True discipleship lies in choosing love, compassion, and oneness with all people.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Little Christs

John 14:23-29

Father Mark begins his sermon by drawing a parallel between the bittersweet experience of high school graduation and the disciples’ experience during Jesus’ farewell in the Gospel of John. Just as graduates feel a mixture of pride and uncertainty about their future, the disciples face anxiety at the thought of Jesus leaving them. Yet, Jesus comforts them by promising the presence of the Holy Spirit, assuring them that their journey with Him is not ending, but transforming. They are not losing Him—they are growing into a new phase of spiritual maturity where they must now live out what He taught them.

Father Mark then explores what it means to grow in spiritual maturity, using examples like the life and teachings of Richard Rohr. Rohr’s legacy isn’t about himself, but about the message of love, growth, and God that he embodied—just as Jesus was never about Himself, but about the Father. The sermon emphasizes that the responsibility of carrying the Word forward now falls to us. Christ’s love, presence, and Spirit abide in those who love Him and keep His word. We are not called to be passive believers, but to become the very presence of Christ in the world—to embody what we’ve received.

Finally, Father Mark challenges his listeners to recognize how rare spiritual maturity is in today’s society. He critiques the cultural norm of intellectual growth without parallel spiritual growth, warning that immaturity leaves people vulnerable to deceit and chaos. Quoting Paul, he reminds us that our calling is to “grow up into Christ,” becoming stable, loving, and truthful presences in the world. In an age rife with confusion and manipulation, what the world needs more than ever is not just believers—but mature Christians, “little Christs,” living embodiments of Jesus in thought, word, and action.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Love Like Christ

John 13:31-35

At the Last Supper, with betrayal looming and his crucifixion near, Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment: to love one another just as he has loved them. This command is not about feelings or beliefs but about a way of living—a radical, self-giving, boundary-crossing love. Jesus loved by showing mercy to the outcast, healing on the Sabbath, forgiving enemies, and sacrificing himself for others. In doing so, he did not preach doctrine or demand worship—he simply said, “Follow me.”

Father Mark contrasts this call with the modern perception of Christianity. Despite Christ’s clear command to love, studies show that Christians today are often seen as judgmental, arrogant, and lacking compassion. He challenges the congregation to reflect on whether the image we project to the world aligns with the love Jesus demonstrated. Being a follower of Jesus, he insists, is not about belonging to the right group or believing the right things—it is about embodying Christ’s love in our actions.

In closing, Father Mark reminds us that we are created in God’s image—imbued with divine DNA—but we also carry the aggressive instincts of our evolutionary past. Like the old Cherokee tale of the two wolves, he urges us to “feed the good wolf”—our divine side—by walking the road of love. Our true witness to the world is not in our religious identity but in our sacrificial, active love for others. This is how the world will know we are Jesus’ disciples.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Resurrection in Action

John 10:22-30

Father Mark opens by highlighting the powerful shepherd imagery found throughout the day’s readings, especially in the Gospel of John where Jesus declares Himself the Good Shepherd. He draws a parallel between the failed shepherds—leaders of ancient Israel who neglected their people—and both religious and political leaders in Jesus’ day who ignored society’s most vulnerable. Jesus assumes the role of true shepherd, offering protection, eternal life, and care for those who follow His voice.

This theme of shepherd-like care continues in the reading from Acts, where Peter raises Tabitha from the dead. Tabitha, known for her acts of kindness and support for widows, represents the embodiment of Christian compassion. Her death was not only a personal loss but a blow to the community’s fragile support system. Peter’s act of raising her reflects the restoration not only of a life but of a compassionate, communal order rooted in Christ-like love.

Father Mark concludes by emphasizing that kindness is central to the resurrection life. He stresses that Jesus, Peter, and Tabitha demonstrated divine compassion through everyday acts of mercy. Drawing from modern voices like John Van de Laar, Mother Teresa, and Brother Curtis Almquist, Father Mark calls on all of us to embody kindness as a daily expression of our faith in the risen Christ. Kindness, he says, is not weakness—it is resurrection in action.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Feed My Sheep

John 21:1-19

In this sermon, Father Mark reflects on the rich symbolism and spiritual metaphors of John’s Gospel, particularly the story of the risen Christ appearing to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. The sermon begins by highlighting the contrast between Peter’s ego-driven decision to return to fishing and the disciples’ inability to catch anything on their own. Father Mark connects this to the first chapter of John’s Gospel, emphasizing that Jesus, the eternal Word, calls us back to our true identity—not as self-reliant individuals, but as children of God. Jesus’ calling the disciples “children” is not an insult but an invitation to reclaim their deeper spiritual identity and live not from ego, but from divine relationship.

Father Mark then explores the deeper significance of the miraculous catch of fish, the charcoal fire on the shore, and the threefold question Jesus asks Peter: “Do you love me?” These moments symbolically reverse Peter’s earlier denials and point toward transformation. The sermon beautifully contrasts the fear and failure of Peter’s past with the morning of restoration and spiritual clarity offered by Christ. The call to “Feed my sheep” is not only directed at Peter but at all of us, representing our own call to respond to God’s love with self-surrender and service.

Finally, Father Mark encourages the congregation to examine whether their daily actions flow from ego or from their identity as beloved children of God. He invites everyone to approach the Eucharist as a sacramental breakfast with the risen Christ—a moment of spiritual nourishment and renewal. He concludes by praying that every word and act in the coming week might emerge from that sacred inner place where the Word of God dwells, empowering us to love and serve with grace.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

From Doubt to Faith

John 20:19-31

The sermon reflects on the Gospel story of Jesus’ resurrection appearance to the disciples, especially the encounter with Thomas, often remembered as “Doubting Thomas.” The preacher shares how Thomas’ desire for concrete proof resonates with human nature: a need for clarity and certainty when faced with mystery. Yet Jesus meets Thomas in his doubt, offering tangible evidence and inviting him into deeper belief, emphasizing that seeking understanding is part of faith.

The preacher, David Sisson, shares his personal journey from a Baptist background into the Episcopal tradition, describing the unexpected richness he found in Scripture reading, prayer, and liturgy. Despite initial skepticism, he found a new spiritual home, learning that traditions different from his own could be deeply rooted in love for God and neighbor, guided by Scriptures like Micah 6:8 and Matthew 22:37-40. His reflections show how common Christian foundations—justice, kindness, humility, and love—cross denominational lines.

Finally, the message highlights that doubt is not the enemy of faith; rather, persistent, honest questioning can lead to stronger belief. Like Thomas, we may struggle with uncertainty, but Christ graciously meets us where we are, calling us from doubt into conviction. The sermon ends with an encouraging reminder that Jesus always comes to meet our needs, helping us grow into a living faith that declares, “My Lord and my God.”

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

This podcast was produced by an AI overview of 48 sermons by Fr. Mark Meyer of Christ Episcopal Church in Canon City, CO.

We Are Risen

John 20:1-18

Father Mark began by reflecting on the Gospel account of Mary Magdalene encountering the risen Jesus at the tomb. Despite being one of Jesus’ closest followers, she did not recognize him until he called her by name. Father Mark emphasized that this recognition wasn’t about physical sight but spiritual perception—a recognition of the divine love that radiated from Christ. Drawing on theologian Cynthia Bourgeau’s insight, he explained that the post-resurrection Jesus appeared differently to help his followers learn to recognize him through the heart and soul, not just through appearances.

The sermon then explored how resurrection is not just a past event centered on Jesus but an ongoing invitation for all of us. Using his own experience with anorexia as a modern parable, Father Mark shared how he was freed from the mental and physical prison of the illness—a personal resurrection. He spoke of how the Easter message comes alive when we allow God’s love and power to transform us here and now, echoing St. Paul’s assurance that the same Spirit that raised Jesus can raise us, too.

Finally, Father Mark expanded the idea of resurrection from the personal to the communal and global. Drawing from writers like Thomas Merton, Brian McLaren, and Richard Rohr, he spoke of Easter as an invitation for societal transformation—from violence to peace, fear to faith, consumption to stewardship. Resurrection, he said, happens every time we choose love, hope, or healing over despair and death. The Easter message is not just “Christ is risen,” but “We are risen,” and we are invited to live into that reality again and again.

Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.