The Perfect Joy of St. Francis

Readings for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22 – Track 1 – Year A) Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20Psalm 19Philippians 3:4b-14Matthew 21:33-46 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on October 4, 2026. One winter, St. Francis was walking with Brother Leo from Perugia to the church of Santa Maria delle Angeli […]

Saint Francis of the Mountains

Readings for the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14 – Track 2 – Year A) 1 Kings 19:9-18Psalm 85:8-13Romans 10:5-15Matthew 14:22-33 This sermon was preached at St. Francis of the Mountains (Fallen Leaf Chapel) at Fallen Leaf Lake in South Lake Tahoe CA on Sunday August 9, 2026. Twas to the mountain Jesus went to pray, […]

“Be Kind to My Mother” – Jesus (in the Quran)

Readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year A) Acts 17:22-31 1 Peter 3:13-22 John 14:15-21 Psalm 66:7-18 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on May 10, 2026. Happy Mother’s Day to you all! On this day when we celebrate motherhood in all its many forms and give thanks for our moms, […]

The Cross and the Wolf Within

Readings for Good Friday Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 Psalm 22 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1 – 19:42 This sermon was preached on Good Friday at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on April 3, 2026. About 800 years ago, the people in the Italian city of Gubbio were being terrorized by a fierce wolf who was not […]

St. Francis and Sister Death

Readings for the Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year A) Ezekiel 37:1-14 Romans 8:6-11 John 11:1-45 Psalm 130 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church Eureka on Sunday March 22, 2026. “Well, everything dies, baby, that’s a fact / But maybe everything that dies someday comes back.” These are lyrics from the song “Atlantic City” by Bruce […]

Seeing Christ’s Healing Power in Sister Earth

Readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent – Laetare Sunday (Year A) 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 Psalm 23 This sermon was preached at St. James Episcopal Church in Florence, Italy on Sunday March 15, 2026. It’s a joy and honor for me to be worshipping with you and preaching here at St. James […]

The Mysterious Conversion of St. Francis

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 at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Ha pater sou ha blepon en to krypto apodosei soi. Your Father (pater) who sees […]

Giving Thanks with the Samaritan, St. Francis, and the Bodhisattva

Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 23 – Year C – Track 2) 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c Psalm 111 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Luke 17:11-19 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on October 12, 2025. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the […]

The Zen of St. Francis

The Zen of St. Francis: An Episco-Bu-Jew’s Reflections on the Poverello This presentation was given at Ensō Village, Zen-inspired Retirement Community in Healdsburg CA as part of the Speaker Series on Wednesday October 8, 2025. It’s a joy and honor to be here and I’d like to thank my friend Kogen for inviting me. You […]

Listening to trees with Jesus and St. francis

Sermon begins at 23:55 Readings for the Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22 – Year C – Track 2) Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4 Psalm 37:1-10 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Luke 17:5-10 This sermon was preached at Christ Episcopal Church in Eureka CA on October 5, 2025. On this final Sunday of Creation season, Jesus uses imagery from creation to […]