Sermons

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, ‘As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I

God’s plans for us are greater than our own hopes. Jesus’ healings care for human need and also point beyond themselves to a coming reign of God in which we are all partners by healing broken lives and a broken world.  As Peter’s mother-in-law was raised up to minister to the needs of others,

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you

After the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus begins his public ministry. Jesus announces that time has been fulfilled and began proclaiming the good news that the kingdom of God has come near. Along the Sea of Galilee Jesus called fishermen to become followers: Simon and his brother Andrew,

The day after Jesus is baptized by the Spirit, he begins inviting people to leave whatever they are doing behind and follow him. The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found

Unlike the nativity scenes of Matthew or Luke, Mark’s Gospel begins with the baptism of Jesus at the Jordan. Out of this seminal experience, the teaching, healing and feeding ministry of Jesus begins. The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children

To fulfill religious obligations Joseph and Mary take their child to Jerusalem where he is greeted by praise. First, from an old man and, second, from a woman of great age. Neither are the official priests but are among those untitled persons that Jesus will meet throughout his future ministry

Gabriel’s answer, “Nothing will be impossible with God,” echoes God’s response to Abraham when the declaration that he and Sarah would have a son was found laughable. It is also the foreshadowing of the sick being healed, forgiveness being granted, enemies reconciled, the dead raised and people

John the Baptist describes himself not as a Messiah or a forerunner or even as a prophet but as a “voice.” So too, every Christian is like John — called to point toward Christ with their lives. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ’, John the