Laura Giffin

Christopher Thomas Sermon for Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B, Proper 23 – 10/10/21 Job 23:1-9, 16-17 Psalm 22:1-15 Hebrews 4:12-16 Mark 10:17-31 “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Not murdering, check; no adultery, check; no stealing, check; not bearing false witness, meh; not defrauding folks; honoring the parents, pretty good; showing up for church every few weeks or so; I think I’m even on a committee, but I’m not really sure.  I got this!  I know I have this.  I must have this.  Look how God has blessed me! “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?  I’ve obviously already done it.” “I want to hear you say it.  Please, say the words I want to hear!” “Why, my son, isn’t it obvious, you have all the markers of success.  You drive a great car, you live in a great house.  Your 401k…

Stephen Waller Homily for the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B-10/03/2021 Job 1:1, 2:1-10 Psalm 26 Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12 Mark 10:2-16 THEN HIS WIFE SAID TO HIM, “DO YOU STILL PERSIST IN YOUR INTEGRITY? CURSE GOD, AND DIE.”  I BELIEVE SHE SAID THESE WORDS BECAUSE SHE LOVED HER SPOUSE AND DID NOT WANT TO SEE HIM SUFFER. NONE OF US LIKES WITNESSING THE SUFFERING OF ANYONE, UNLESS WE ARE DEMENTED.  SUFFERING IS A PART OF EVERY LIFE PRESENT IN THIS CHURCH THIS MORNING.  IF WE HAVE NOT ALREADY SUFFERED, BE CERTAIN THAT YOUR TIME WILL COME.  IT IS PART OF LIFE…TOO OFTEN A LARGE PART OF LIFE. AND NONE OF US LIKES TO TALK ABOUT IT.  WE WOULD RATHER FOCUS ONLY ON THE GOOD THINGS GOING IN LIFE AND DISMISS OUR SUFFERING AS SOME SORT OF MISTAKE.  SURELY GOD HAS NOT INTENDED FOR ANY OF US TO SUFFER.  SURELY GOD…