John 20:1-18 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other di

Matthew 28:1-10 After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that

It wasn’t supposed to end like this. Just five days ago, they crowded around him, cheered into him as he rode into town triumphantly.  Crowds waving palms and shouting, as the prophet Zechariah foretold: Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9) Now five days later they are now they were scattered

John 13:1-17, 33b-35 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.  2  The devil had already decided [ a ]  that Judas son of Simon Iscariot would betray Jesus. And during supper  3  Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God,  4  got up from supper, took

Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe requested dioceses and churches hold a service of lament on Holy Monday. This is the reflection on John 12:1-11 which I wrote for that service: John 12:1-11 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped t

I didn't have a sermon for Palm/Passion Sunday. We read Matthew's account of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-11) and the story of Jesus' passion and death from Matthew 26:14 -27:66. It's a solemn and heavy story. What more could I say. After the readings, we had a moment of silence to reflect on all that we heard. Then I offered the following poem. The contrast of going from shouts of "Hosanna" to shouts of "Crucify" captivated me all week. As I pondered and wrestl

Luke 23:39–43 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in [ k ] your kingdom.” 43 He replie

John 11:1-45 Once again, this is a very long reading and is included at the end of the sermon. Sermon There are times when you know it’s hopeless. It’s beyond hopeless. Hope is deader than dead. Thomas facing one of those times · · Jesus and gang are ‘across the Jordan’ because the Judean leaders tried to stone him – they barely escaped. · · The disciples are in no hurry to go back to Judea – certain death awaits Jesus there – and probably f

John 13:1–9, 33–35 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already decided [ a ] that Judas son of Simon Iscariot would betray Jesus. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from supper, took off

The gospel reading is John 9:1-45. As it is lenghty, I have included at the end of this post. There’s seeing and then there’s seeing       ‘The man born blind” or the blind man or the formerly blind man, etc. is a lot to have to say over and over in a sermon.  His traditional name is Celidonius. That’s still a mouthful, so I’m going to call him Kel.     The disciples saw   · A sinner -   · Sickness as punishment  · So