We continue our exploration during Lent of the question, “Why was Jesus killed?” In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus’ disciples are husking grain while walking through a wheat field on the Sabbath. This invokes the anger of the Pharisees, who confront Jesus about this violation of the Sabbath rule. Jesus goes on to heal a man with a withered hand in the synagogue – again, on the Sabbath. In his response to the Pharisees, Jesus makes a profound statement about our relationship to religious rules: “The Sabbath was made for humanity, not humanity for the Sabbath.” Immediately the Pharisees conspired to […]

Throughout Lent we are asking: Why did Jesus get killed? What was so provocative about his message and ministry that some wanted to put him to death? In today’s sermon, we explore a strange story about Jesus visiting his hometown of Nazareth immediately after the start of his public ministry. Things go great … until Jesus reads a text from Isaiah and is then asked to do a miracle. Rebuffing the people of Nazareth for their lack of faith and self-centeredness, they try to throw Jesus off a nearby cliff. What do we learn from this encounter about how Jesus […]

Leading up to Holy Week and Easter, Father John begins a sermon series exploring what caused Jesus to ultimately be killed by those in power in his day. We begin by looking at the ways in which Jesus overturned social norms, specifically the place of the poor in society. Jesus expressly identified the poor as the recipients of his Kingdom, and as persons who had a place of blessing and honor within it. How does that strike you? What do you feel about the poor who are your neighbors, and how does Jesus prioritizing of them affect your view of […]

This week we look at the prophet Hosea, and his message to Israel at a time of great political upheaval. Israel had developed a pattern of making decisions without consulting God, and this led to everything falling apart. This raises the important spiritual question: How do we invite God into the decision-making processes of our lives? In this sermon, Father John offers three suggestions for seeking God’s leadership in our lives when it comes to the important decisions we face – things all of us can do to avoid living with regret in our lives, and to live more faithfully […]

Today’s sermon is brief because of our Annual Meeting, but in it Father John continues exploring texts from the Hebrew Prophets that speak to us today. This morning’s Scripture is taken from Ezekiel 2, following a vision that the prophet had that caused him to fall to the ground, powerless to stand up. Then, a “spirit from God” entered him and he was able to stand. This sermon explores the idea that when God calls us to mission that we have a power available to us that will help us “stand” for what is right, to accomplish God’s purposes in […]

Isaiah 45 contains an important message about living authentically, and embracing both the strengths and weaknesses of our lives. In this sermon, Father John explores the importance of gratitude and acceptance in life, rather than always wishing we were better, or someone different. If you struggle with embracing yourself as God made you, listen and be encouraged!

Ever feel like life has led you into a space that you should never have found yourself in? Ever feel despondent about all the troubles and problems you face? It is tempting to think at points in life that “the best has already happened,” and that the future seems dim. Today, Father John begins a new sermon series lasting through Epiphany, focusing on the messages of the Hebrew Prophets, and asking what their messages means for us today. In this first installment, the prophecy found in Second Isaiah (Isaiah, Chapter 43) points the Israelites in exile to fresh hope that […]

At the outset of the New Year, Father John explores a story from the sixteenth chapter of Genesis – Abram and Sarai and their dealings with Hagar, their slave girl. After running away from them because of Sarai’s mistreatment, Hagar finds herself in a dire situation in the wilderness. The angel of the Lord finds her, and instructs her to return to her past and to her painful situation and to face it – some counter-intuitive advise from the Lord! This sermon asks the question the angel asks Hagar: “Where are you coming from? And where are you going?” Important […]

It is easy during the holiday season to get caught up in nostalgia, in the warm memories of family and friends far and near … so in this sermon, Father John invites us to consider some of the theological implications of God becoming a human being. Listen and consider what you actually believe about Christmas – and about God who comes into our lives in order to come close.

Have you ever considered the dilemma that Joseph faced when he found out that Mary, his betrothed, was pregnant? In this sermon, Justin Glessner (Professor of Religious Studies at DePauw University and parishioner at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church) explores in depth what options Joseph faced in that dark hour – and how he decided to follow the instruction of God and “stay put” in all the mess and complications which the situation created for him and Mary. Listen, and learn some important lessons for how we react when people like Mary come into our lives and require us to make […]