Sermons @ FLC

Love Potion - Sixth Sunday of Easter (B)

Sun, 13 May 2012 01:39:53 -0400

Acts 10:44–48
1 John 5:1–6
John 15:9–17

his Sunday's image of the life the risen Christ shares with us is the image of friendship. We are called to serve others as Jesus came to serve; but for John's gospel, the image of servanthood is too hierarchical, too distant, to capture the essence of life with Christ. Friendship captures the love, the joy, the deep mutuality of the relationship into which Christ invites us. The Greeks believed that true friends are willing to die for each other. This is the mutual love of Christian community commanded by Christ and enabled by the Spirit.

Going Organic - Fifth Sunday of Easter (B)

Sun, 6 May 2012 16:17:37 -0400

Acts 8:26–40
1 John 4:7–21
John 15:1–8

This Sunday's image of how the risen Christ shares his life with us is the image of the vine. Christ the vine and we the branches are alive in each other, in the mystery of mutual abiding that we read of in the gospel and the first letter of John. Baptism makes us a part of Christ's living and life-giving self and makes us alive with Christ's life. As the vine brings food to the branches, Christ feeds us at his table. We are sent out to bear fruit for the life of the world.

Big Brother - Good Shepherd Sunday/Easter 4 (B)

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:16:25 -0400

Acts 4:5–12
Psalm 23
1 John 3:16–24
John 10:11–18

The image of the Good Shepherd shows us how the risen Christ brings us to life. It is the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep, one of mutual knowledge and love, that gives the shepherd authority. The shepherd's willingness to lay down his life for the sheep shows his love. First John illustrates what it means to lay down our lives for one another by the example of sharing our wealth with any sister or brother in need.

He'll Have the Fish - Third Sunday of Easter (B)

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 14:06:44 -0400

1 John 3:1–7
Luke 24:36b–48

The gospel for the third Sunday of Easter is always one in which the risen Christ shares food with the disciples, meals that are the Easter template for the meal we share each Lord's day. In today's gospel, Jesus both shares the disciples' food and shows them the meaning of his suffering, death, and resurrection through the scriptures: the two main elements of our Sunday worship.

Reasonable Doubt - Second Sunday of Easter (B)

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 21:11:30 -0400

Acts 4:32–35
1 John 1:1—2:2
John 20:19–31

The Easter season is a week of weeks, seven Sundays when we play in the mystery of Christ's presence, mostly through the glorious Gospel of John. Today we gather with the disciples on the first Easter, and Jesus breathes the Spirit on us. With Thomas we ask for a sign, and Jesus offers us his wounded self in the broken bread. From frightened individuals we are transformed into a community of open doors, peace, forgiveness, and material sharing such that no one among us is in need.