In our reading we hear about the calling of Saul to proclaim the Gospel. There's plenty of pre-call Saul energy in the world right now. It's the reliance on certainty and control. And it is destructive. And Jesus interrupts this, offering Saul a new path forward. And he does the same for each of us. The sermon is based on Acts 9:1-19.

The Resurrected Jesus shows up in spite of locked doors. He offers peace. And he still has wounds. But those wounds don't get the final say. Jesus shows up in spite of our own locked doors, bearing wounds because he knows our wounds too. And offers a different path forward. The sermon is based on John 20:19-31.

Everyone's in the dark on Easter morning. Even when the witnesses see the empty tomb, they still don't really get it. Until Jesus says Mary's name. Then she can actually see Jesus. Jesus calls us by name too so that we can also see him where we are. The Gospel is based on John 20:1-18.

On the first Palm Sunday, two processions came into Jerusalem with conflicting understandings of power. One believed in the peace of Rome of peace through strength. The other was embodied by Jesus of peace through presence. The Passion narrative puts those two understandings on full display - a peace through violence, and a peace in spite of violence. The sermon is based on John 18-19.

The world tries to tell us that everything is fine. But it isn't. The Narrative Lectionary takes us to John 19 and the condemning of Jesus for crucifixion. No one looks good in the story. The cross doesn't expose Jesus. The cross exposes everyone else and all the arrangements of power that exist. Jesus is a mirror and the people didn't like what they saw reflected back. The sermon is based on John 19:1-16a.

The world says one thing and does another. It will even use religion to get what it wants. It will cloak itself in talk about purity and holiness, all while plotting to kill. Jesus' way is different from that. There's no hiding with Jesus. No spin. Just the truth. The sermon is based on John 18:28-40.

John's Gospel moves us to the Last Supper. Jesus washes the disciples' feet. That includes Judas who will betray him. He doesn't attack Judas preemptively. He washes his feet instead in an act of love. Because it's not about changing his enemy's heart or mind. Jesus does it to remain who he is. The sermon is based on John 13:1-17

The story of the raising of Lazarus is full of waiting, mourning, and resurrection. And we can't get to resurrection, until we go through the waiting and the mourning. The sermon is based on John 11:1-44.