Sermons from August 2021

14 Pentecost, Proper 17 – August 29, 2021 Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Sometimes our insight into Scripture can be enhanced by hearing a story from another source. In considering today’s Gospel, let’s look at the message through a Zen Buddhist story told about Nan-in, a teacher who was active a hundred years ago in Japan. It seems that one day, Nan-in received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.  Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full,…

Proper 16 – August 22, 2021 Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18 and John 6:56-59           Today marks the end of John’s long discourse on the bread of life.  I have to admit that this year, after having just discovered that I am gluten intolerant, the concept of bread takes on whole new meaning. So, this year more than any other, I “get” the spiritual meaning behind what Jesus is saying. Bread was considered daily sustenance, and the physical body needed bread to…

11 Pentecost, Proper 14 -August 8, 2021 1 Kings 19:4-8 and John 6:35; 41-51           Jesus tell us “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”  We heard about Jesus as bread, as manna, last week too and it is Jesus’ metaphor for daily sustenance. We talked about the need for our spiritual bread,…

10 Pentecost, Proper 13 – August 1, 2021 John 6:24-35         Last week we talked about the feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus’ view of opportunity or abundance, rather than scarcity. The disciples had viewed the situation as impossible, and Jesus suggested possibility. The crowds then ate the multiplied bread and their physical hunger was satisfied, but they were apparently so focused on feeling full that they missed what was really happening at that free lunch. Jesus, in today’s story,…