The Mischievous Smile of St. Matthew

A reflection on St. Matthew the Apostle inspired by the oil painting of Fr. George Leonard Shultz (1896 – 1971). This same reflection was published in the Times-Standard on October 3, 2020: “The Mischievous Smile of St. Matthew” On September 21, Episcopalians celebrate the feast of St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist who is traditionally […]

Our Name is Israel (Exodus V)

This sermon, which is the fifth in a sermon series on the Book of Exodus, was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Saturday September 19, 2020. Readings for the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20 – Year A) Exodus 16:2-15Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45Philippians 1:21-30Matthew 20:1-16 It is so good to be together. Behold how good and pleasant it […]

God’s Name is YHWH (Exodus IV)

This sermon, which is the fourth in a sermon series on the Book of Exodus, was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday September 13, 2020. Worship program here. Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19 – Year A) Exodus 14:19-31Psalm 114Romans 14:1-12Matthew 18:21-35 About ten years ago I had the enormous privilege of attending […]

God’s Name is Mighty Victim (Exodus III)

This sermon, which is the third in a sermon series on the Book of Exodus, was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday September 6, 2020. Worship program here. Readings for the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 18 – Year A) Exodus 12:1-14Psalm 149Romans 13:8-14Matthew 18:15-20 A famous soldier came to the Zen master Hakuin and asked: […]

God’s Name Is “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus II)

This sermon, which is the second in a sermon series on the Book of Exodus, was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday August 30, 2020. Worship Program here Readings for the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17 – Year A) Exodus 3:1-15Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45cRomans 12:9-21Matthew 16:21-28 This morning we continue our journey […]

Tsunami (Book Review)

A book review of Jean-Pierre Dupuy’s A Short Treatise on the Metaphysics of Tsunamis written for The Bulletin of the Colloquium on Violence and Religion August 2020. Jean-Pierre Dupuy, A Short Treatise on the Metaphysics of Tsunamis. Translated by Malcolm B. DeBevoise. Studies in Violence, Mimesis, and Culture. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 2015. Pages 78. […]

God’s Name is Salvation (Exodus I)

This sermon, which is the first in a sermon series on the Book of Exodus, was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday August 23, 2020. Worship Program here. Readings for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16 – Year A) Exodus 1:8-2:10Psalm 124Romans 12:1-8Matthew 16:13-20 This summer I’ve been inviting us to […]

Under the Fig Tree with St. Bartholomew

This is a reflection on St. Bartholomew the Apostle inspired by the oil painting of Fr. George Leonard Shultz (1869 – 1971). A shorter version of this reflection was published in the Times-Standard on September 5, 2020: “Under the Fig Tree with St. Bartholomew” Following the Western Church’s Calendar of Saints, Episcopalians celebrate the feast […]

Beholding the Beauty of Unity

Readings for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15 – Year A) Genesis 45:1-15 Psalm 133 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday August 16 2020. Worship Program here. Oh, how good and pleasant it is when brethren live together in unity! Every time I […]

Are We Ready to Wrestle?

Readings for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 13 – Year A) Genesis 32:22-31 Psalm 17:1-7,16 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 14:13-21 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday August 2 2020. Worship Program here. (Homily begins at 28:35 in video above) There’s a Yiddish story of a man named Chaim Yankel who was having […]