Sermons by The Very Rev. Kathleen Murray (Page 14)
Be Ready For Jesus’s Return: Pentecost 23
Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost: November 8, 2020 Year A, Proper 27: Psalm 78:1-7; Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25; Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13 CLICK HERE to view the video recording of this Morning Prayer service and sermon on Facebook. Available service bulletins. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ “The kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise”.[i] As I pondered this Gospel, I found myself laughing just a little…
Our Daily Decision: Pentecost 21
Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost: October 25, 2020 Year A, Proper 25: Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17; Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Thessalonians 2:1-8; Matthew 22:34-46 CLICK HERE to view the video recording of this Morning Prayer service and sermon on Facebook. Available service bulletins. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Today’s Gospel is part of the series of debates that Jesus engages in with religious opponents in the Jerusalem temple during the last week of his life. For the last several weeks we have heard Jesus’ authority questioned, the…
Our Invitation To The Great Feast: Pentecost 19
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: October 11, 2020 Year A, Proper 23: Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Exodus 32:1-14, 7-9, 12-20; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14 CLICK HERE to view the video recording of this Morning Prayer service and sermon on Facebook. Available service bulletins. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ We often talk a lot about the differences in context and culture between first-century Palestine and 21st- – century America. There were different expectations around marriage back then, but some of the trappings were very much the same.…
Tragedy Is No Match For God’s Love: Pentecost 18
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: October 4, 2020 Year A, Psalm 19; Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20; Philippians 3:4b-14; Matthew 21:33-46 CLICK HERE to view the video recording of this Morning Prayer service and sermon on Facebook. Our young people led the readings today. Available service bulletins. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ This parable begins with a landowner who plants a vineyard, puts a fence around it, digs a winepress in it, builds a watchtower, entrusts that watchtower, that vineyard, that winepress to tenants, and departs…
Who Is Really In Charge? Pentecost 17
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: September 27, 2020 Year A, Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16; Exodus 17:1-7; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32 This service was outdoors at Shrine Mont, so there was no recording. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Authority is an age-old issue of power dynamics. There’s the authority that comes with power and dominance; there’s authority that comes with true leadership, authority that has come about because a leader cares about the people and causes they lead. Anyone who’s ever had a brother or sisters, or…
Embracing God’s Divine Economy: Pentecost 16
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost: September 20, 2020 Year A, Proper 20: Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45; Exodus 16:2-15; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 20:1-16 CLICK HERE to view the video recording of this Morning Prayer service and sermon on Facebook. Our young people led the readings today. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Our gospel today begins with Jesus telling a parable. It’s fair to say that many of us struggle to understand the parables of Jesus, because somehow they just don’t seem to make sense. We need to…
Jesus Shows Us The Way: Pentecost 13
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: August 30, 2020 Year A, Proper 17: Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c; Exodus 3:1-15; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28 CLICK HERE to view the video recording of this Morning Prayer service and sermon on Facebook. Our young people led the readings today. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Last week I indicated that the gospel lesson was sort of a prelude or introduction to this week’s gospel. Jesus had asked his disciples to reflect on who he is, what his significance is. “But…
How Can We Proclaim Christ Today? Pentecost 12
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: August 23, 2020 Year A, Proper 16: Psalm 124, 16-22, 45b; Exodus 1:8-2:10; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20 CLICK HERE to view the video recording of this Morning Prayer service and sermon on Facebook. Our young people led the readings today. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ In our gospel reading from Matthew today, perhaps the teachers among us noticed a subtle shift in the teaching technique Jesus used to make his disciples understand. Instead of preaching to them or telling them…
We Are Called To Live Into The Truth of God’s Love: Pentecost 11
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost: August 16, 2020 Year A, Proper 15: Psalm 133, 16-22, 45b; Genesis 45:1-15, 12-28; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 CLICK HERE to view the video recording of this Spiritual Communion service and sermon on Facebook. Our young people led the readings today. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I had a difficult time deciding which lesson to choose to preach about this morning. The story from Genesis about Joseph reuniting with his brothers was heart-wrenching for me as I…
God Shows Up In Unexpected Ways: Pentecost 10
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost: August 9, 2020 Year A, Proper 14: Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b; Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 CLICK HERE to view the video recording of this Spiritual Communion service on Facebook. Our young people led the readings today. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Today’s gospel is set in the aftermath of last week’s lesson. Jesus had received the heart-breaking news that John the Baptist has been killed at the direction of Herod. As you know the story unfolds and…
KIDS CHURCH: Abandon Fear; Live in Generosity: Pentecost 9
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: August 2, 2020 Kids Church! Year A, Proper 13: Psalm 23; Genesis 32:22-31;Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21 CLICK HERE to view the video recording of this Spiritual Communion service on Facebook. Our young people led the readings today. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ That’s one of the most famous stories of the Gospel – it’s one of the miracles that we always hear. Jesus fed 5,000 people. It is one of Jesus’ great miracles, maybe THE great miracle. Jesus has taken…
God Will Use Us: Pentecost 7
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: July 19, 2020 Year A, Proper 11: Psalm 139:1-11, 22-23; Genesis 28:10-19a; Romans 8:11-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 CLICK HERE to view the video recording on Facebook. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The scene in today’s Gospel is the same as last week’s gospel. Jesus is still out on the boat, talking to the same people he was talking to on the beach about seeds. As the story continues, the field is planted, and inexplicably, there are all sorts of weeds…