New Boldness

Second Sunday of Easter Acts 5:27-32 Revelation 1:4-8 John 20:19-31 Peter and the other disciples are standing trial for proclaiming Jesus as the messiah. How did we get to this point? I mean this question in two ways. First, what was the sequence of events that led to Peter standing trial. But also, second, where …

Anything Less is Absurd

Resurrection of Our Lord Isaiah 65:17-25 I Corinthians 15:19-26 Luke 24:1-12 Most of our Easter traditions don’t make a lot of sense when you stop and think about them. I don’t know the origins of all these practices, though I’m sure there are some theories out there. Why is ham a central part of most …

I Have Seen The Lord

Easter Vigil John 20:1-18 “I have seen the Lord!” Mary’s Easter proclamation is our Easter proclamation. On that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene experienced the most improbable event in history. Her friend and savior, Jesus of Nazareth, was raised from the dead after three long days in the tomb. When Jesus revealed himself to her, …

Christ Sees Through Our Disguises and Loves Us

Maundy Thursday Exodus 12:1-14 I Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-17, 31b-35 We all wear disguises. We have a part of ourselves that we want to hide from the rest of the world. We believe that there is a better version of ourselves which the rest of the world really wants us to be. We want to …

What’s So Funny bout Peace, Love, and Understanding?

Palm Sunday Luke 19:28-40 https://youtu.be/Ssd3U_zicAI Christ was sent to us so that all the world would have true peace. We all want peace. We want peace from violence and war. We want peace in our hearts from worry and fear. We want peace from the threat of disease. Most of all, we want peace that …

Don’t Save Your Funeral Oil

Fifth Sunday in Lent Isaiah 43:16-21 Philippians 3:4b-14 John 12:1-8 Mary of Bethany pours out a whole pound of costly perfume on Jesus’ feet so that she might anoint him for his burial. Mary is inspired to pour out such extravagance upon Jesus because she knows both the power and inevitability of death and she …