In the Eastern Orthodox Church, there is a tradition of reading the Paschal homily of St. John Chrysostom on the first Eucharist of the Easter season. John Chrysostom was the Archbishop of Constantinople back in the 4th and 5th centuries; and he earned the name “Chrysostom” which means “golden-mouthed” because of his eloquence in preaching. […]

A Good Friday Homily preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka  “I came into the world,” Jesus said, “to testify to the truth.” And Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” For centuries, Christians have attempted to answer this question, specifically, “What is the truth to which Jesus came into this world to testify? What is the […]

Readings for Maundy Thursday Exodus 12:1-14 Psalm 116:1, 10-17 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-17,  31b-35 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on March 29, 2018.  Whenever God makes covenants with his people, he provides clear instructions for fulfilling our part of the agreement. We call these instructions commandments or sometimes […]

March 24, 2018 ~ March for Our Lives Rally ~ Arcata, CA ~ Opening Ritual   We are local spiritual leaders, representing some of the world’s great religious traditions. Today we are not here to teach or preach, but to listen and learn.  To all the students gathered here today, and the million students marching […]

  Apart from last Sunday’s serpentine detour, the readings from the Hebrew Scriptures this Lenten season have focused on holy contracts between God and humanity, which we call covenants. We get the word “covenant” from the Latin convenire, which means “agreement”; and these covenants are essentially Letters of Agreement in which God agrees to deliver […]

  Readings for Wednesday in the Fourth Week of Lent Isaiah 49:8-15 Psalm 145:8-19 John 5:19-29 This sermon was preached at the Chapel of Our Merciful Saviour in Eureka CA at a deanery-wide gathering of the Episcopal Church Women on Wednesday March 14, 2018.    This Saturday is the feast day of Ireland’s most beloved […]

Readings for Tuesday in the Fourth Week of Lent Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 Psalm 46:1-8 John 5:1-18 Luke 8:40-56 This reflection was shared with the Pastoral Care Team / Team of Healers of Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on March 13, 2018.  When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a […]

We are now halfway through the season of Lent. For 20 days we have been observing this liturgical season of penance and preparation for Holy Week and Easter. We began this journey on Ash Wednesday, which was also Valentine’s Day and tragically the day of a mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland […]

Readings for the Feast Day of William W. Mayo and Charles Menninger Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 38:1-8 Psalm 91 Acts 5:12-16 Luke 8:40-56 This reflection was shared at the monthly gathering in Eureka CA of Associates and Oblates of the Community of the Transfiguration on March 6, 2018. Last night, I did some brief research on Dr. […]

Readings for the Third Sunday in Lent (Year B) Exodus 20:1-17 Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22 This sermon was preached at Sts. Martha and Mary Episcopal Church in Trinidad CA and at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on March 4, 2018.     Ironically, it is one of the most hateful villains in […]