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This passage from the Gospel of Matthew is known commonly as The Beatitudes. They are fondly heard by people of good will and treasured as words of comfort to the afflicted and distressed. But like many popular passages in Scripture, they need to be placed in the context of their original hearers and then brought…
In the Gospel for today, Jesus is identified by Matthew as the prophetic Light that shines in the darkness. He is associated with Isaiah’s prophecy that people who have lived in a land of deep darkness now have a new light shining upon them. Unfortunately one need not look very far to see the darkness…
Last Sunday’s readings talked about baptism and identity, and included that wonderful sentence from Isaiah, where God says to Israel, to Israel’s servant, and to us, three things: God says, “I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the…
This is my Son, the Beloved. (Matthew 3:17) It may come as a surprise to you that today is the first of five Sundays after the Epiphany, yet in many Episcopal churches the feast of the Epiphany itself is hardly celebrated at all. In fact, Epiphany is perhaps the only great festival day of the…
(Note to the reader: This sermon is written for use the Sunday after the tsunami disasters in the Indian Ocean. While it makes reference to the lessons for the Second Sunday after Christmas Day, it is topical in nature). As we gather in worship today we have to remember before God the mounting numbers of…
The indigenous peoples of Hawaii are peoples of oral tradition, at least that’s what some Hawaiian people say today—perhaps as an excuse or, jokingly, to get away from too much paperwork. Today, the indigenous peoples of Hawaii are literate because of the great work done by missionaries who brought Christianity, the Bible, and formal education…
His authority shall grow continuallyand there shall be endless peace. (Isaiah) Glory to God in the highest heavenAnd on earth, peace. (Luke) On this wondrous day, when our Advent anticipation culminates in the awaited birth of Jesus, we find ourselves still waiting for the fulfillment of the promises of Christmas, we are still waiting for…
In Hawaii, the elders of the indigenous people have explained why the giving of names is so significant within the extended family tradition of the islands: “Some children were named for their ancestors,” it is said, “some for events, some for or by chiefs, and some were named by the gods. To name a child…
It is Christmas Eve once again. We welcome the sweetness of this night and all the memories that give meaning to it and make it unique among anniversaries. And, we dread it. For those among us whose youth is past, this evening is bittersweet—another year has gone by, another season of Advent has ended, and…
Foretold by the prophet Isaiah seven centuries before it occurred, and now over 2,000 years after the event, the birth of Jesus in the somewhat obscure town of Bethlehem in Palestine is still the greatest story ever told. What makes this Christmas story unique and special, worthy of so many Hollywood movies and countless village…
Here’s a question for you. Why the pink, or rose-colored, candle on our Advent wreath this morning? After all, the other three candles are all either violet or perhaps a shade of blue. Need a hint? Well, consider that this is the third Sunday in our current Advent season, a time of reflection and even…
Today may we consider what it means to find springtime in December.In the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In many parts of the country, late fall weather can be surprising. In fact, it can seem like spring. Temperatures can be unseasonably mild and people can even walk around in their shirtsleeves or…
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