Sermons from September 2009

By The Very Rev. Sherry Crompton September 27, 2009 Read: Mark 9:38-50 “Whoever is not against us is for us”, Jesus tells us. Mark’s gospel then goes on to talk about what it means for us to be stumbling blocks to new believers. And the cutting off of a foot, the tearing out of an eye. Even though we are quite sure Jesus did not mean this literally, the words remain uncomfortable. And our gospel reading today ends with fire…

By The Very Rev. Sherry Crompton September 13, 2009 Read: Mark 8:27-38 “But who do you say that I am?” Jesus asks his disciples as they make their way to another village. “But who do you say that I am?”. When strangers meet, there is a fairly standard ritual followed as they seek to get acquainted. It begins with names, of course. Then follow the questions: where do you live? Are you married and do you have a family? Where…

By The Very Rev. Sherry Crompton September 6, 2009 Read: Mark 7:24-37 and James 2:1-17 The story of the Syrophoenician woman is one of my favorites. I appreciate her “hutzpah,” her courage, in speaking boldly to Jesus. And this story is one that has no easy answers when it comes to interpreting the meaning. It involves assumptions about different cultural experiences, socio-economic experiences, etc. We aren’t sure if this was an instance of Jesus caught without compassion when he rudely…