Sympathy for MacPhisto: Finding Apocatastasis in U2

A couple weeks ago, I attended my fifth U2 concert, which inspired me to dust off an old paper that I wrote for a course in seminary. The course was titled “The Spiritual Journey of U2” and it was co-taught by Professors Barry Taylor and Ryan Bolger at the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Theological […]

Drenching Our Discernment in Prayer

Readings for the Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year B) Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Psalm 1 1 John 5:9-13 John 17:6-19 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Sausalito CA on May 17, 2015. In a little more than a month, the House of Bishops will gather in Salt Lake City to elect the 27th […]

The Secret to Joy

Readings for Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter Acts 18:1-8 Psalm 98:1-4 John 16:20-23a This open-ended homily was preached at All Saints Chapel at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley CA on May 15, 2015. A grandmother was watching her grandchild playing on the beach one day when a huge wave came and took him […]

“How Long Will You Take Away Our Life?”: Followers of the Good Shepherd in Baltimore and Nepal

Readings for Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter Acts 11:19-26 Psalm 87 John 10:22-30 This sermon was preached at All Saints Chapel at Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley CA on April 28, 2015. In our Gospel this morning, the Judeans gather around Jesus and ask, “Ayos potay ten psyche humon aireis” (Εως […]

The Pastoral Theodicy of the Good Shepherd

Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday – Year B) Acts 4:5-12 Psalm 23 1 John 3:16-24 John 10:11-18 This sermon was preached at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in San Rafael CA on April 26, 2015. In 1940, Anglican author and apologist C.S. Lewis wrote a book titled The Problem of Pain, which […]

Forgiveness Uncrossed

Readings for the Third Sunday of Easter (Year B) Acts 3:12-19 Psalm 4 1 John 3:1-7 Luke 24:36b-48 This sermon was preached by Daniel at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in San Rafael CA on Sunday April 19, 2015. A few years ago, Saturday Night Live showed a trailer on their program for a fake film […]

The Cross and the Spirit of Compassion

Gospel for Good Friday John 18:1 – 19:42 This reflection was shared at the Good Friday Meditation service at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in Berkeley CA on April 3, 2015. “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 […]

Archbishop Oscar Romero: Angel or Thunder?

Readings for Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year B) Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 51:1-13 Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33 This sermon was preached by Daniel at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Albany CA on Sunday March 22, 2015. Famous icon artist (and Franciscan friar) Robert Lentz wrote an icon of the Archbishop and martyr of El Salvador Oscar Romero […]

The Invitation of the Lamb and the Goat

Readings for First Monday of Lent Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18 Psalm 19:7-14 Romans 9:1-5 Matthew 25:31-46 This homily was preached at All Saints Chapel at Church Divinity School of the Pacific on February 23, 2015. Calm, gentle, creative, thoughtful, amicable and honest. These are some of the characteristics of those born in the year of the sheep, which began about […]

Holding the Tension in Lent

Readings for Ash Wednesday Isaiah 58:1-12 Psalm 103 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 This homily was preached by Daniel at All Saints Chapel at Church Divinity School of the Pacific on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2015. It was Johannine scholar and Salesian priest Frank Moloney who first called my attention to the obvious incongruity built into the […]