Emmanuel Episcopal Church

In Amos we see God's anger at the people of Israel who are misusing the gifts He has given them, and are mistreating one another. God sent Amos to bring them back to God; He loves us too much to leave us to our own devices, also. He has set us a plumb line in Jesus Christ, and by measuring ourselves against that plumb line we will not choose the easy ways and those that oppose God's will for us. It will give us the strength and faith to do the right thing, not the easy thing, and to rise to what God's love is challenging us to do today.

The Scripture references are Amos 7:7-15, Psalm 85:8-13, and Ephesians 1:3-14. The Gospel reference is Mark 6:14-29.

When Jesus sent the Disciples out with only the most basic items, He knew that the things we carry with us impact our spiritual lives and our ability to minister. What we carry with us every day, our mental, emotional and material "overpacking", is what can keep us from living a life close to God and to each other. The way of simplicity is the way of freedom, and Jesus calls us to that life. Let's heed His advice and choose carefully what we carry with us.

The Scripture references are Ezekiel 2:1-5, Psalm 123, and 2 Corinthians 12:2-10. The Gospel reference is Mark 6:1-13.

In today's Gospel both the woman in the crowd and Jairus, the leader of the synagogue, desire healing from Jesus. What they also suffer from is the isolation that often accompanies illness of any kind, be it physical or mental. Both find themselves healed of the physical ailments that troubled them, but more importantly they are restored to community and are no longer isolated and alone. We have a wonderful healer in Jesus, and just as the woman and Jairus reached out to Him we need to remember to reach out to God in faith.

The Scripture references are Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15, 2:23-24, Psalm130, and 2 Corinthians 8:7-15. The Gospel reference is Mark 5:21-43.

We have more in common with the followers of the early church than we might suppose. They too were faced with accepting new followers from the Gentile world, people with different languages, customs, races, and understandings of the world. It can be unsettling, and we may find our faith tested in ways we could not suppose. But as the Disciples found on the Sea of Galilee, in the middle of the storm Jesus is still with us. He never promises to fix our world, but he does promise to give us the strength and faith to cross safely over to the other side.

The Scripture references are Job 38:1-11, Psalm 107:1-3,23-22, and 2 Corinthians 6:1-13. The Gospel reference is Mark 4:35-41.

The parable of the mustard seed reminds us to have the patience to wait on God's plan to come to fruition. From the small beginnings in the Galilee it has spread throughout the world to find a home in the hearts of people the whole world over. As Julian of Norwich said, "All will be well."

The Scripture references are Ezekiel 17:22-24, Psalm 92:1-4, 11-14, and 2 Corinthians 5:6-10,14-17. The Gospel reference is Mark 4:26-34.

As people of faith we are called to look beyond our flesh and blood, and beyond social norms to see that we are all brought into being by God and that through God we are all related. It is how we look at the things that we all share as human beings, the hopes and desires and wishing for a good and happy life, as things that all of us aspire to. We must not look at the human family as "us versus them", but rather that we are all children of God. Spiritual gifts are not like material goods; when we share those gifts they grow and do not diminish.

The Scripture references are Genesis 3:8-15, Psalm 138, and 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1. The Gospel reference is Mark 3:20-35.

The over-arching thread of Jesus' ministry that we see in the Gospels is His sense of immediacy. Refusing to be bound by the opinions and rules of the Pharisees, He preaches and heals and shares the resurrection life that he lives with everyone he meets. His rules are those that bring us to His Father, and God is at work everywhere and at every moment.

The Scripture references are 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Psalm 139:1-5,12-17, and 2 Corinthians 4:5-12. The Gospel reference is Mark 2:23-3:6.

Jesus tells Nicodemus that letting go of the concerns of this earthly life is the only way to enter into the life animated by God, that is, animated by love. The message is meant for us too. Jesus does not mean to fix the earthly things that worry us the most, the things that trouble the false self, but sets us free to embrace the spirit life God means for us as our true selves.

The Scripture references are Isaiah 6:1-8, Canticle 13, and Romans 8:12-17. The Gospel reference is John 3:1-17.

We often approach our faith like one approaches a new recipe, carefully following prescribed rules and never varying the ingredients. As our faith grows, though, we should move outside our comfort zone just as great chefs try new innovations and techniques. God has asked to be faithful, not infallible. We must look for God's spirit within us, and trust in that Spirit to help us seek out the persons and references that will help us to truly examine our faith. We have to learn to speak our truth, and to not remain silent when we see God's message of love co-opted or corrupted. The Spirit will support us when we do, and we will not fail.

The Scripture references are Acts 2:1-21, Psalm 104:25-35,37, and Romans 8:22-27. The Gospel reference is John 15:26-27,16:4b-15.

What does it mean to live a holy life? Holiness should not be confused with perfection. It's not something we can achieve on our own, but is received from God. When Jesus prayed for His disciples, He was also praying for those who belong to God, and who is not created and loved by God? He has made us holy, completely and irrevocably. We can and should fully live lives of reverence, in the deep joy of knowing who we are in God.

The Scripture references are Acts 1:1-11, Psalm 1, and Ephesians 1:15-23. The Gospel reference is John 17:6-19.

When we hear or read something that sounds profound or helpful, it's often our first instinct to think of how much someone else needs to hear it. We can be so comfortable in our righteousness, so aware of the shortcomings of others, that we neglect to look in the mirror at our own lives. When we take Jesus' commandment to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves truly to heart, and honestly examine ourselves as well as those we know, then we can truly grow in God's love. Looking in the mirror we see ourselves made in God's image, created for the task of loving.

The Scripture references are Acts10:44-48, Psalm 98:5-10, and 1 John 5:1-6. The Gospel reference is John 15:9-17.

Have you ever wondered why we pray for the dead? Or what are the sacraments? The Episcopal Catechism speaks to these and many more foundational aspects of the faith. You can listen to it here, or read it on page 845 of the Book of Common Prayer.

In John's Gospel Jesus invites us to abide in Him and to share in the love of God. He asks us to make our home in God's love, the one place we are always safe and loved. Why would we want to dwell anywhere else? We do though, when we let our doubts and fears move us away from God's love. When we doubt our worthiness to be loved, or how others see us, or our failures in things we attempt, we build a home in fear. We don't have to be afraid. Our being loved has already been freely given to us by God and he has made us worthy, and no one can take that away from us unless we let them. We can live in fear or live in love, but not both. Where will you choose to live?

The Scripture references are Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 22:24-30, and 1 John 4:16-21. The Gospel reference is John 15:1-8.

In John's Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples that He has other sheep besides the children of Israel, and that He must gather them also. This passage may not refer only to the Gentiles, but to all of us who seek comfort by segregating ourselves away with others who think, act, and look like we do. This does not bring us comfort or joy, but to the contrary brings more sadness and misery to our lives. Making a conscious choice to engage with those who are different from ourselves, to seek the subtle opportunities to grow by accepting our own limitations and vulnerabilities, this is living His reality. Jesus said He would make us all one, not all the same; but we are all loved by the same God.

Influential Source: Brené Brown, Braving the Wilderness

The Scripture references are Acts 4:5-12, Psalm 23, and 1 John 3:16-24. The Gospel reference is John 10:11-18.

We crave peace in our lives, but too often the things the world offers as solutions depend on many things all happening at the right time. Jesus taught of a peace that comes from God, not the world, and he wanted us to have it as he did for his disciples: "My peace I leave with you." This peace will not feel like the temporary respite the world gives, but a deeper and more satisfying peace that only God can give. God wants us to have it, and it is through asking God for it that it becomes real to us.

The Scripture references are Acts 3:12-19, Psalm 4, and 1 John 3:1-7. The Gospel reference is Luke 24:36b-48.

When Thomas said that he would not believe in the Lord's resurrection unless he could see and touch the wounds of Jesus, he was only asking to have that which the other disciples had already received. Not content to follow blindly, he wanted to really know and to be sure of this miracle, this risen Messiah. Doubt is not the absence of faith, indeed it is very much a part of our faith journey. By asking questions, by examining what we believe and why, our faith is ever strengthened and our ability to act as God's own in the world is strengthened, too.
The teens who are leading the campaign against gun violence in our schools know that these horrific killings are but a symptom of a greater evil, and are asking us to help. We should not doubt their dedication, but support them in bringing positive change to our society. Thomas saw and believed; let us do the same.

The Scripture references are Acts 4:32-35, Psalm 133, and 1 John 1:1-2:2. The Gospel reference is John 20:19-31.

How can we know we can trust the empty tomb, the resurrection, even God? It is so hard for us to trust at all, faced as we are with all the disappointments and tensions of daily life. We have an example of how to trust in the person of Jesus, who had to trust God the most. Through it all, His life and Passion, he never stopped trusting; even His last words were "into Your hands I commit my spirit." Faith allows us to trust in the things we cannot know; it allows us to experience joy when it seems fear and suspicion will win the day. Jesus trusted God in His life and with His life. Mary trusted God and stayed by the tomb, and her faith made her the first to see the risen Christ. Let us trust God like they did, and our trust will not be in vain.

The Scripture references are Isaiah 25:6-9, Psalm 118:14-24, and Acts 10:34-43. The Gospel reference is John 20:1-18.

We spend Good Friday mired in the sadness and the harsh realities of this earthly life. We see our Lord, a good man, son, teacher, and friend taken too soon and suffering at the hands of those who would not know Him. It is hard to see, and it should be. But Jesus has shown us that we are not made for suffering, for helpless surrender to the vicissitudes of the world. He shows us that God made us for eternity, for perfect love. For that we are made, and with Him we will be where we are meant to be.

The Scripture references are Isaiah 52:13-53:12 and Hebrews 10:16-25. The Gospel reference is the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John, John 19:1-37.

Our liturgy for Palm Sunday starts with the triumphal joy of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem and ends with his death on the cross, abandoned and alone. From the highest of highs to the lowest low we see the events of that last week of HIs life. It's important to remember that His entrance wasn't a victory parade, but an intentional protest against Roman occupation, against injustice to the poor and the unwelcome, and against death itself. Jesus' death on the cross was part of God's redemptive plan from the beginning; His incarnation in His Son and His love for us existed since before the world was made. God doesn't react but acts supremely and freely. Knowing that the presence of this complete and unquestioning love coming in human form would be rejected violently by the world, He came anyway. Those who did not reject Jesus and witnessed the resurrection lived to share the story of the Passion with others so that they too could know that perfect love, just as so many young people are bearing witness today for the benefit of those who will come after them. This Holy Week, remember that we are loved and are witnesses too.

The Scripture reference is Zechariah 9:9-12. The Gospel reference is Mark11:1-11.

Christ's ministry as recorded in the gospel of John is bookended by a wedding, at Cana, and a funeral, of Lazarus. Just as we see on that first Easter morning where the grief and pain of death is interrupted and replaced by the unimaginable new life to come, the pain of the losses we have seen from gun violence in our schools is being replaced with the call to action driven by the voices of young people calling for change. This is the hour where a change for the good of all can come, where the status quo will no longer suffice, and where we can act.

The Scripture references are Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-2,9-113, and Hebrews 5:5-10. The Gospel reference is John 12:20-33.