Choose

13^th Sunday after Pentecost, Yr. B, August 26, 2012

Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69

Sermon preached at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

As far as John’s gospel goes we’re picking up right where we left off last week.  Actually we’re picking up reading the last two verses of what we heard last week.  Jesus has just told his followers that they must eat his body and drink his blood if they are to be true followers of him.  He could have made it a lot easier for them by talking plainly, and not in metaphors.  But he doesn’t, and as it says in the message version of this passage, Jesus sensed that the disciples were having a hard time with this.  Such a hard time in fact, that many of them decide to leave.  So Jesus turned to his trusted inner circle of apostles, and he asks them, “Do you also want to leave?” 

At the time when John was writing this gospel the Christ followers were being shut out of the synagogues.  The temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed a second time after a failed revolt.  The unrest was firmly blamed on the messianic Jews among them.  Those who still followed the teachings of the prophet Jesus.  The early Christians were being forced to choose whether they would remain within Judaism, or whether they would risk cutting themselves off to continue to follow the Way of Jesus.  Judaism had a tenuous relationship with the Roman leadership, but the outside of that fold, Christianity was an illegal religion.  There were real risks to consider.

A Red, Red Rose

12^th Sunday after Pentecost, Yr. B, August 19, 2012

Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34:9-14; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58

Sermon preached at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

Last week, I went to church at St. Patrick's Church in Brewer, ME.  I've been there a number of times, always in the summer, and usually when the priest there is on vacation ... like I am.  This time the Associate Priest was presiding and preaching at the service.  He started his sermon by saying that he had intended to make this sermon a two parter.  Beginning with last Sunday's lessons and finishing with this Sunday's readings.   But things hadn't worked out exactly as he had planned, so he actually ended up condensing last week's sermon and giving us a preview of this week. 

He shared with us two poems, and he talked about the way poetry often communicates a message that is difficult to articulate in everyday language.

To Work and To Love

8^th Sunday after Pentecost, Yr. B, July 22, 2012

Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Sermon preached at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

         Here’s how I imagine the gathering at the beginning of our gospel story.  The apostles are returning in their pairs from the mission that Jesus has sent them out to do.  They are all talking at once. 

“Jesus, you’ll never believe what happened to us in Jerusalem.”

“Jesus, Andrew and I were so tired after walking that first night that I didn’t think we were going to make it into the city to find shelter.”

“Jesus, Peter and I got lost on the path to Jericho and I wanted to kill him for taking us down the wrong road.”

“Jesus, Nathaniel healed a blind woman and her husband was so grateful that he let us stay with them for a whole week!”

 “Jesus, I think I need a new pair of sandals.”