A Posture of Forgiveness
September 13, 2026
16th Sunday after Pentecost; Proper 19 Year A
Matthew 18:21-35
Click the Audio Link below to hear the Sermon. the second audio file includes the reading for the day.
Sources:
- Anne Lamont, “You Are Every Age You’ve Ever Been (or Earth is Forgiveness School), Sweet Breathing Blog, February 14, 2020. Accessed Sept. 12, 2026: https://sweetbreathing.com/you-are-every-age-youve-ever-been-or-earth-is-forgiveness-school/2020/15/
- Sarah Fisher, “More Than Makes Sense,” Castings of Diocese of East Carolina, September 11, 2026. Accessed Sept. 12, 2026: https://mailchi.mp/47ff79ed8430/castings-june-12-18263498?e=c541d7822f
Faithful Forgiveness
October 2, 2022
Church of the Servant
17th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 21, Year C Luke 17:1-10 Click the Audio Link below to hear the Sermon (The second link below includes both the Gospel reading and the Sermon.)
Go and Let Go
April 8, 2018
Church of the Servant, Wilmington, NC
2nd Sunday of Easter
John 20:19-31
Listen here:
Gospel Text:
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
E is for Evil; F is for Forgiveness
July 9, 2017
Christ Church Episcopal, Norcross, GA
Proper 9 Year A
Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30
Listen here, or read below:
A couple of months ago I preached a sermon about the importance of not avoiding things that are complex just because they are complex. Jesus certainly didn’t avoid difficult topics or situations – he faced them head-on.
In Matthew’s gospel we see many occasions of Jesus challenging the scribes and Pharisees. He points out that although they followed the letter of the Hebrew law, they were missing the underlying intention of the law. Love of God and love of one’s neighbor were the most important things. Jesus demonstrated that love by healing the blind man, even though it was done on the Sabbath. By doing this, he was showing that it’s more important to have compassion than to follow the rigid rules of the religious tradition.
There are lots of examples of Jesus confronting things that would have been more easily avoided. And today I’m faced with a similar dilemma. Not that I’m comparing myself to Jesus – on that I’d fall well-short – yet, his is the example we’re called to emulate as his followers.
Now, when I preached that sermon in May, I should’ve guessed it wouldn’t be long before I was faced with a lectionary text that would make me literally practice what I preached! Today I’ve found that in Paul’s letter to the Romans. Read the rest of this entry »
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