Rev Leon's Podcast

Scripture Focus: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28; John 20)

On that first Easter morning, when the stone was rolled away, and the tomb stood empty, something far greater than a historical moment occurred. Yes, Christ rose bodily from the grave. Yes, death was defeated. But Easter is not a day to remember the resurrection it is an invitation. Easter is the story of God awakening what humanity has forgotten.
God bless,
Rev Leon

There are moments in Scripture where God draws a bold line between what was and what now is. Hebrews 10:4–10 is one of those moments. For generations, Israel brought sacrifices—bulls, goats, lambs—year after year. But the writer of Hebrews says something shocking: 

“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

What is true sacrifice?

God bless,
Rev Leon
Hebrews 10:4-10

Have you noticed the trend for folks to be at the “top of the mountain?” There is an obsession to be first, the best, better than the rest. From the time we are children, we are taught to climb, to outpace, and to command. This culture measures success by the number of people who report to us, the size of our title, and the volume of our own voices. Today, I want to confront a jarring, counter-cultural question: What is servant leadership?
God bless,
Rev Leon

We live in a world that is loud. It is becoming increasingly hollow. From the moment we wake up and scroll through our phones, we are bombarded by a barrage of empty words.
When we choose to step into that light of Christ, the empty words of the world fade and give ways to Divine Light.
God bless,
Rev Leon

Ephesians 5:6-14

A dear soul, Vincent Filardi, understood this. It is sad to think of life without Vincent, as he passed away last year. He carried with him a phrase that he offered like a lantern in dark places: “Fear is False Evidence Appearing Real.” It’s not clear where this wisdom came from for Vincent, but he knew that fear often masquerades as truth. He knew people needed to be reminded that what feels real is not always what is real, and he was right.

God bless,
Rev Leon

“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)

The world today feels more like a marketplace where the currency is not money, but the very lives of our brothers and sisters. We look across the seas to the landscapes of Venezuela and now Iran, and we see a familiar, ancient shadow wearing a new mask. It is the shadow of empire-building.

This is a call for modern day disciples because Christian Activists are sorely needed.
God bless,
Rev Leon

Matthew 4:1–11 tells the story of Jesus being led into the wilderness, where He fasted for forty days and forty nights. In that place of hunger, isolation, and vulnerability, Jesus was tempted with a simple, seemingly harmless suggestion: “Turn these stones into bread.” But Jesus responded with a truth that echoes through every Lent season: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
God bless,
Rev Leon

What parent would deny or turn a blind eye to the behavior of a child with whom they are well pleased? What adult would shy away from recognition for work that uplifted multitudes in need? Who among us would refuse to honor someone whose actions rose above the ordinary and poured blessings into the lives of others? And what parent would ever deny a child who healed the sick, fed the hungry, comforted the broken, and walked in compassion as naturally as breathing.
God bless,
Rev Leon
2 Peter 1:16-21

There is a quiet tragedy unfolding in our communities. It is a tragedy of inaction. It is the quiet absence of the full exploration and expression of our gifts. Some say that the greatest sin in life is not what we do wrong, but what we fail to do. Specifically, taking our greatest gifts to the grave, fully intact and never used. This isn’t a theoretical concept; it is a heartbreaking reality.
God bless,
Rev Leon

Matthew 5:13-20

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus looked out at a crowd that was weary. The land was occupied by an empire, and they were desperate for a sign that their existence carried weight in the eyes of God through Jesus. He didn’t offer them a political stump speech or a shallow platitude. Instead, Jesus offered the Beatitudes, a revolutionary declaration that the very things the world ignores or exploits are the things God blesses.

The landscape of today feels strikingly similar. We see the halls of power in the United States often serving the personality of an office rather than the people under its care. We see a devaluation of life that has become so pervasive it threatens to numb our very souls.

We see and experience a hunger and thirst for righteousness. It is time for those of us with this experience to speak up and stand for justice.
God bless,
Rev Leon
Matthew 5L1-12