The Voice of the Lord

Trinity Sunday (Year B)

Isaiah 6.1-8; Psalm 29; Romans 8.12-17; John 3.1-17

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

For a number of years now, in the week between Pentecost and Trinity Sunday, as I attempt to come up with a sermon on the Trinity, I watch a YouTube video that is part of the Lutheran Satire series. The video is called “St. Patrick’s Bad Analogies.” 

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"Pentecost is God in Us"

Day of Pentecost (Year B)

Acts 2.1-21; Romans 8.22-27

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

If you could pick one Biblical event to personally witness, what would it be?

Of course, there’s no right answer. There are so many to choose from. As a Christian, I would have to narrow my choice to the New Testament. But even then, there are just so many significant events.

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So, Let's Get On With It

Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year B)

Acts 1.15-17, 21-26; John 17.6-19

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Just one week before Pentecost, as we near the end of Eastertide, our Gospel selection loops back around to the last few hours of Jesus’ earthly life. The events of today’s Gospel reading actually take place on Maundy Thursday, mere hours before Jesus is arrested and eventually put to death by crucifixion. Why on earth, in the season celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection and our life post-Resurrection, would our lectionary seek to revisit the time before Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion? We’ve been there and done that. So has Jesus. We’ve all moved on, haven’t we?

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Abiding in the Gifts of Joy and Friendship

Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B)

1 John 5.1-6; John 15.9-17

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Last week, we talked about the symbolism of Jesus as the vine and us as the branches. We focused on the themes of abiding in Jesus and bearing fruit, and how these are demonstrated by and accomplished through our commitment to live more fully into his commandment: “love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 13.34; Jn 15.12). Both today’s Gospel reading from John and the Epistle reading from the First Letter of John are continuations of their corresponding readings from last week. They further elaborate on the themes of abiding in Jesus, what it means to bear fruit, and the commandment to love one another. So what more can or needs to be said?

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