Forgiveness is the basic move of Christianity—”only what we ought to have done.” But basic doesn’t mean easy.

The parable of the unjust steward is the fourth in a series of parables that praise “bad stewardship”—letting go of what we think we need to hang on to.

There are so many hymns about being lost and getting found. We sing some of them in this week's sermon on the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-10). And we reflect on how God is better at finding than we are at getting lost.

St. Augustine had a friend who he loved “as if he should never die.” His insight is that when we really love, we go ALL IN—we don’t calculate the cost—which, when we love what dies, will be grief.

Jesus’ invitation in today’s Gospel is that we love everyone recklessly, unreservedly, and without calculating the cost.

Think of someone who helped you, believed in you, and wanted the best for you. Think about the gifts—tangible and intangible—that you received from them.

Now I have one question. Did you repay them?

No? Maybe that's how it's supposed to be.

What, besides having my coffee just the way I like it, gives my life weight and meaning?

On the spiritual practice of asking for what you really want.

Mary, Martha, and the one thing that is necessary. Also, this is the only sermon preached on July 17th 2022 anywhere in the world that doesn't mention the New Fancy Space Telescope images!

I was invited to be a special guest on The Lagniappe,* a podcast created by leaders at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Chenango Bridge, NY. This is my very first PODCAST SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE and I had a great time dissing cats, trying to explain the transitional diaconate, and opining about politics in sermons.

Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost (July 10, 2022). On going all out in a display of foolish love.

Sermon for the Third Sunday after Pentecost (June 26, 2022). On following Jesus when there are other things we’d rather be doing.

Sermon for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 7, Year C, June 19, 2022. What would it be like to cast off every influence that is not God?

Sermon for Pentecost, Year C, June 5, 2022. The story of the tower of Babel and the story of the first Pentecost are the same: stories of people being sent forth to dream bigger dreams.

Sermon for the 7th Sunday of Easter, May 29, 2022. What I want you to remember this week is that when Jesus was here on earth in a body like you and me, that he prayed for you. He prayed for you. He prayed for this church. He prayed for all of us.

Sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 8, 2022. So often, when we're called to make a difficult decision or we're called to walk alongside with someone else who's making a difficult decision, we don't hear God’s voice in a neat and tidy way.

Sermon for the Last Sunday after the Epiphany (February 27, 2022). After weeks of growing tension on the news, on Thursday morning we woke up to hear that Russia has invaded Ukraine. Radio reporters on the ground spoke to families fleeing Odessa on foot. They played recordings from their phones of the sounds missile strikes made in their hotel rooms. 

And here is what I want to say to you about that:

Do not be ashamed to pray.

Sermon for the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany (February 20, 2022). The other day I learned a new concept, the “Leaden Rule.” As you might guess, this is kind of the inside-out of the Golden Rule, and the rule is this: When I’m at my worst, I do to others that which I most fear having done to me.

Sermon for the Sixth Sunday of Easter (May 9, 2021). When you hear the word joy, is there a person, living or dead, whose face comes to mind?

Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent (February 28, 2021). I once heard a woman in recovery from addiction sum up her life in this way. “My life [in recovery] didn’t become a rose garden. But it became a life.”

In the wilderness? Surrounded by beasts? You are not alone. Sermon for the First Sunday in Lent (February 21, 2021).