Sermons on Spiritual Life (Page 7)

Transition

the Spirit is calling me to talk about us today – our life together as a parish community – during this transitional moment in time that St. Benedict’s finds itself in. So that’s what I’m going to do.

Good Weeds

Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to you, Holy one. As a child, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents.  I was very blessed to have both sets play large roles in my life.  I spent most of my summers with my grandma and grandpa Crompton.  It was definitely better than daycare, and I learned so much in my time there.  One summer, my grandma was teaching me all about…

All Are Welcome

Matthew’s gospel text for today engages us in a conversation about what it means to be a welcoming community. Do we welcome people as they are or place conditions on our welcome? Using the foundations of our faith, we can find the tools which lead us to action and truly welcome all as they are.

Liberation Sermon

Imagine a world where all religions brought about liberation. Where we are all free to live into our fullest potential. Where we are free of fear, free of oppression, free of all domination systems, free to love and express ourselves just as we are. Imagine living in a world that celebrates differences and reveres the interconnectedness of all beings; and a world that treats the earth with respect.

Would Jesus be welcome at our table?

In today’s sermon, I share a little about our tabling experience at Pride and the message of our Gospel, which provides examples of mercy and discipleship in the stories of Matthew’s call, a woman’s healing, and the humble request of a leader. These acts of faith from those on the outer circle of society in Jesus’ time remind us of how expansive Jesus’ table truly is as he welcomes them in and shows us what it means to answer Jesus’ invitation to “follow me.”

The Light and the Breath of the Spirit

There are two different accounts of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the gap between the two is the place that the Holy Spirit enters… we need the action of the Day of Pentecost but just as much we need the gentle breath of Jesus.

God Sustains

Following Jesus does not guarantee an easy life, in fact the opposite but even in times of change, grief and difficulty God’s hand sustains God’s beloved.

Sometimes Jesus mixes his metaphors

Sometimes Jesus’ message seems to exclude more people than it includes, and it has been distorted to justify genocide, but by remembering that Jesus is also the Christ we can take his words less literally and more inclusively. We need to stand up against hatred masquerading as holiness.