Sermons from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
Mar 19, 2023 |
Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 19, 2023
| The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 19, 2023
John’s Gospel writer shares a story of Jesus’ healing a man blind from birth—an outsider. No one could believe it. Religious authorities questioned what happened. The man’s parents were questioned. The disciples questioned. Jesus and the now-sighted blind man call us to see the inequities of our day and to see how we can live as children of light, knowing Jesus walks with us every step.
Mar 05, 2023 |
The Second Sunday in Lent: March 5, 2023.
| The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
The Second Sunday in Lent: March 5, 2023.
Abram and Nicodemus were both invited to new life. In Genesis God calls Abram to go to a place where he had never been before, and Abram faithfully goes. Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the dark of night with curiosity and openness, and Jesus invites him to let God work in his life in a new way through a challenging dialogue. Both Abram and Nicodemus experienced voices unlike their own and remind us to be open to voices unlike ours. How might you notice and listen to the differing voices around you as a Lenten practice?
Feb 22, 2023 |
Ash Wednesday: February 22, 2023.
| The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
Ash Wednesday: February 22, 2023.
Jesus calls his first four disciples (Peter, Andrew, James and John) and gathers crowds, teaching them and healing them. He lays out a whole new way of living and teaches the traditions of Jewish piety—almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. Ash Wednesday ushers us into the season of Lent and invites us to keep a holy Lent—to consider new ways of living. How might you be open to God’s creating in you a clean heart?
Feb 19, 2023 |
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany: February 19, 2023.
| The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany: February 19, 2023.
Peter and James and John followed Jesus up the mountain, and they witnessed a life-changing event with Jesus being transformed right before their eyes. Out of a cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” (Mat 17:5). On this Last Sunday of Epiphany, we’re called to listen. Listen with the ear of your heart as you continue to follow Jesus, and especially as you enter into Lent. See what happens.
Feb 12, 2023 |
The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
| The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Paul tells the people of Corinth and us, “For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.” In the midst of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and modern-day divisions in our churches and the challenges of daily life, Paul reminds us to strive to live a life that looks like Jesus. How do we continue as disciples searching for teachers that speak to us and living as God’s field, God’s building?
Feb 05, 2023 |
The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
| The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
On the Feast of Candlemas we hear the story of Jesus being presented in the Temple. The aging Simeon launches into the words we know today as the Nunc Dimittis. He rejoices that Jesus brings light to “shine on nations trapped in darkest night.” Aging Prophet Anna prays unceasingly while she awaits this child who brings redemption for all. They had both waited to see this child Jesus. For what are you waiting and yearning right now as we all rejoice in having seen the Light that enlightens our world?
Jan 29, 2023 |
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: January 29, 2023.
| The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany: January 29, 2023.
The prophet Micah calls his hearers to understand what the Lord required of them: “…to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” In the Beatitudes, Jesus turns the world upside down and calls the disciples to a new way of living. How do we embrace these teachings and ways of living in our time, especially in light of the horrific death of Tyre Nichols?
Jan 22, 2023 |
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany: January 22, 2023.
| The Rev. Dr. Linda Spiers
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany: January 22, 2023.
In Matthew 4:12-23, Jesus calls his first disciples with some of them dropping everything to follow Jesus. At baptism we are all called to follow Jesus, which is a lifelong journey of listening to God’s voice. Through a story Episcopal Diocese of Missouri’s Bishop Deon Johnson shared, comes a provocative question from a six-year-old: “What am I to do with a piece of Christ?” God listens, invites us to listen, and calls us to follow.
Jan 15, 2023 |
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany: January 15, 2023.
| The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany: January 15, 2023.
On the Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Marissa reflects on the first part of the Gospel where we hear about Jesus and John the Baptist. We've traveled with John a lot in the last few weeks, and today we get an important puzzle piece. What drives John the Baptist? What should drive us?
Dec 11, 2022 |
The Third Sunday in Advent: December 11, 2022.
| The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach
The Third Sunday in Advent: December 11, 2022.
On the third Sunday in Advent, Marissa explores Isaiah's highway image and puts together a couple of puzzle pieces about the Gospel and the season. What do the texts have to tell us along with this season of "magic"? Where can we find hope for us and for everyone around us?
Nov 27, 2022 |
The First Sunday in Advent: "Look what I did with your love."
| The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach
The First Sunday in Advent: "Look what I did with your love."
On the first Sunday in Advent, Marissa wonders about the story we tell in this season, a story that has been passed down from generation to generation. How are we connected to the people who come before and after us? What will we do with the love that's been given to us? What is Advent all about?
Oct 09, 2022 |
The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
| The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach
The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
On the 18th Sunday after Pentecost, the Gospel of Luke gives us a story about Jesus healing ten lepers. He asks them to do something really hard, and amazingly they all do it. But then only one of them does the right thing and comes back to say thank you. What can we learn about this story, where Jesus is, what he asks them to do, and how we can respond in gratitude?
Sep 25, 2022 |
The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
| The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach
The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
On the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, the Gospel of Luke serves up a challenging story about difference. He tells a story about a rich man and a poor man, the differences between them, and how those differences play out in the long run. There is a lot to wrestle with in this text, a lot to be challenged by. What does it have to say to us in this moment in time? What are the questions Jesus would ask us if he were talking to us directly today?
Sep 18, 2022 |
Sunday, September 18, 2022: Soft Hearts
| The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach
Sunday, September 18, 2022: Soft Hearts
On this day when we celebrate and remember the story of St. Matthew, Marissa reflects on the first part of our passage from Proverbs. What does it mean to hold God's commandments in our hearts? What does scripture have to say about our hearts? And what does that have to do with St. Matthew and our life together in this new program year?
Sep 11, 2022 |
The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
| The Rev. Marissa S. Rohrbach
The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost.
We all love the image of Jesus, the good shepherd, who comes looking for us in the dark. It's a powerful image. And a true image, of the Savior who loves you so much that he will always come for you, no matter how lost you are, no matter how dark the night. And yet, there's more to this Gospel than just the comfort of that image. What else does Jesus have to say to us? And what can we learn about flock mentality?
