This past weekend, two gatherings of Christians came together. One focused on dominion and domination, using religion to impose upon others. The other focused on the question of how we love our neighbor. Paul's letter to the church in Philippi reminds us that the Lord we serve emptied himself to love others, not dominate them. The sermon is based on Philippians 2:1-13.

Paul's letter to the Philippians is his most joyful letter in spite of his circumstances of being imprisoned. In some ways, Paul's world is like our alone - power arrangements designed to make you feel alone and that there is no hope. Yet, Paul reminds us that we are never alone, regardless of the circumstances. The sermon is in response to Philippians 1:1-18a.

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.