This sermon was preached for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, VA on the Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year C 2022. Photo by Federico Respini on UnsplashLuke 15:1-3, 11b-32 There are a lot of things going on in today’s gospel story. Did you notice some of them? Disgruntlement with Jesus. Public humiliation. Legal proceedings and inheritance law. Disagreements about money. Family Values. Famine and poverty. … Continue reading The Prodigal Son
How then are we to orient our lives, knowing that we are not at the center of them? How are we to grow towards God, knowing that we are not the gardener at work delicately fashioning them? How are we to abandon our desires for power over our circumstances, knowing that we cannot control them? Continue reading Who is the True Vine?
Entering into Holy Week means entering into the passion of Christ. It means journeying alongside him. We watch as first the public turn against him, then as Judas betrays him. Then sit vigil with the disciples who cannot keep awake. We hear Peter’s promise to never betray him. Then his disciples scatter; Peter follows but sure enough denies Christ three times. The authorities condemn him, then the Roman authorities crucify him. Continue reading Palm Sunday
Note: This sermon was given at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Louisville, Kentucky on March 7th, 2021 on the Third Sunday in Lent, Year B. The recording at the bottom of this post is the version for St. John’s. Photo by David Wirzba on UnsplashReadings:Exodus 20:1-17John 2:13-22Psalm 19 In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. This morning we read the account … Continue reading The Ten Commandments
Note: This sermon was given at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Murray, Kentucky and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Anchorage, KY on February 14, 2021 on the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B. The recording at the bottom of this post is the version for St. John’s. Readings: 2 Kings 1:1-16 Mark 9:2-9 “Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck … Continue reading Silent Watchfulness
Note: This sermon was given at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Murray, Kentucky and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Anchorage, KY on January 17, 2021 on the second Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B. The recording at the bottom of this post is the version for St. John’s.Readings: 1 Samuel 3:1-10(11-20) 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 John 1:43-51 Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17 Now the LORD came and stood … Continue reading On Christian Vocation
We need to listen to Elizabeth and Mary and all the mothers in our lives. We need to see the faithful women who say YES to God and say YES too Jesus and say YES to the Holy Spirit and we need to emulate them too. Continue reading Hail Mary
Just like John, in the final equation, our salvation and hope is out of our hands. We are witness to something so powerful, so other, that it makes no sense to the ways of this world. We are not to save to the world through our own action, but to point to the One who already has. We are witnesses to this story, this Gospel, the truth that sets us free. Continue reading We are Witnesses
“So to know who we are, we must remember.” Continue reading Memory
Note: This sermon was given for St. John’s Episcopal Church, Murray KY on October 11, 2020.Readings: Matthew 22:1-14 Where is the good news in today’s parable? It seems like Jesus has really handed us a doozie. First, the king in this parable invites all to a feast; a number of his friends say “no thank you.” At the king’s repeated insistence, some turn to the … Continue reading Sermon for Proper 23, Year A
Ben Cowgill 