Wise Men Still Seek Him: Magi as Descendants of Daniel

This article was written for the January 2025 Chronicle newsletter for Christ Church Eureka. Wise Men Still Seek Him: The Magi as Descendants of My Namesake A couple years ago, parishioner Marty Vega gave me a sweatshirt that her late husband, Daniel, used to wear during this time of year, near Epiphany, when we celebrate the visit […]

Abide in Abba (honoring John Cobb and St. John)

Readings for the First Sunday after Christmas This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday December 29, 2024. Three days ago, on December 26th, the Eve of the Feast Day of St. John the Theologian, we lost another theologian named John: John Boswell Cobb Jr., who died a couple months shy of his 100th […]

Dies Irae

Readings for the Second Sunday of Advent (Year C) This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday December 8, 2024. This week, I was reading and reflecting on today’s Gospel, especially Luke’s words from the prophet Isaiah who says, “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill made low” (Luke […]

“Look at all the Trees”

Readings for the First Sunday of Advent (Year C) This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday December 1, 2024. Today marks the beginning of a new liturgical year and the first day of the Advent season when we eagerly await and silently anticipate the coming, the Adventus, of the Christ. Tis […]

the Reign of the Divine voice of Love and Gratitude

Readings for Thanksgiving Day Joel 2:21-27Psalm 1261 Timothy 2:1-7Matthew 6:25-33 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Thanksgiving Eve on November 27, 2024. Today’s Gospel passage is my favorite biblical passage of all; and I’m grateful that the liturgical “powers that be” have assigned this passage for the Feast of […]

Gustavo Gutiérrez and the Book of Job

Readings for the Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost (Year B – Track 1 – Proper 25) Job 42:1-6, 10-17Psalm 34:1-8, (19-22)Hebrews 7:23-28Mark 10:46-52 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday October 27, 2024. May the words of my mouth and music of all our hearts be pleasing to you, O Lord, our […]

Forearmed against Trumpery

Readings for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost (Year B – Track 1 – Proper 24) Job 38:1-7, (34-41)Psalm 104:1-9, 25, 37bHebrews 5:1-10Mark 10:35-45 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday October 20, 2024. Over the last several weeks, I’ve been teaching a course online entitled “Early and Medieval Christian Spirituality” in […]

St. Francis and Forest Therapy

This article was written for the October 2024 Chronicle newsletter for Christ Church Eureka. St. Francis and Forest Therapy In the first biography of St. Francis written by Thomas of Celano in 1230, four years after Francis died, we see evidence of the saint’s love for the forest. Along with reporting the saint’s famous sermon to […]

Be at Peace with One another

Readings for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Year B – Track 1 – Proper 21) Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22Psalm 124James 5:13-20Mark 9:38-50 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday September 29, 2024. In this morning’s Gospel, Jesus is teaching his disciples and us how to be at peace with one another, […]

The Greatest Ministry at Christ Church

Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Year B – Track 1 – Proper 20) Proverbs 31:10-31Psalm 1James 3:13-4:3, 7-8aMark 9:30-37 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Sunday September 22, 2024. May the words of my mouth and the music of all our hearts be pleasing to you, O Lord, our […]