Category Archives: homily

For the love of libraries

Yesterday was the commemoration of Thomas Bray, who founded scores of lending libraries and founded the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge and the Society for the Promulgation of the Gospel. The gospel reading appointed for his festival is … Continue reading

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Christmas Eve

A message for and from the Church of the Epiphany, Euclid, Ohio There’s something strange about the sign that the shepherds outside Bethlehem received that Christmas night so long ago. After all, if a choir of angels appears above the … Continue reading

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Of refrigerators, the Borg, and Jesus’ prayer for his disciples

A homily for Unity at the first Euclid Ecumenical Service at the Cathedral Worship Center of Euclid, Ohio We read from John 17. You know those public prayers where the person praying ostensibly addresses themselves to God, but in reality … Continue reading

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Maundy Thursday: sacrificing others

Caiaphas, the High Priest to whom Judas betrayed Jesus: Caiaphas had determined that it would be better for one man to be put to death for the sake of appeasing the Romans, for the sake of keeping the peace; for … Continue reading

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An Ash Wednesday meditation

We are dust, and to dust we shall return. That much is true, and yet it is not the whole truth. We are dust. We are accounted as dust in the scales of creation and God, of the nations and … Continue reading

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The Dorchester chaplains: friends of God

Homily for Evensong at Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland A website dedicated to the memory of the Dorchester chaplains describes a fine detail: Petty Officer John J. Mahoney, tried to reenter his cabin but Rabbi Goode stopped him. Mahoney, concerned about the … Continue reading

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A very brief Epiphany homily

There is a huge risk that God takes, to be born, made incarnate, made flesh, not only in secret, the flesh and blood of an insignificant country couple who barely know where he came from. It is a huge risk, … Continue reading

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Sermon for a Christmas Eve pageant

And so here we all are. Here is Mary, exhausted. There’s a reason that childbirth is called labour: it’s a workout. Here is Joseph, permanently bewildered, still not really sure what’s happening, but see the love that he has for … Continue reading

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Lesser known legends of St Nicolas

Nikolai was born in Demre, Turkey, formerly known as Myra. Nikolai was born into a wealthy family, but he was orphaned at a young age and raised by monks at a local orphanage. When he came of age, Nikolai travelled … Continue reading

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Preaching peace unpeacefully

I preached peace anyway; the peace that passes understanding; the peace with which Jesus leaves us, although he spent a lot of time, too, promising persecution. I worry that this will not be received as good news. Continue reading

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