Preaching the Scriptures

  The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Acts 6:8-7:2a, 51c-60   The saint we have chosen to haunt us   Today is a martyr feast, our martyr feast – a perpetual day of mourning.   As red as the blood that stained that ancient stone and dust.   As red as the blood that stains our history.   We are called Grace and St. Stephen’s: we have adopted this feast, the one we celebrate today.   We have adopted this martyr.   We are the ones who keep his death alive.   Stephen is our ghost.   He is the saint we have chosen to haunt us.   His story is our story; his life our possession.   It is 2000 years later and we are sitting in the shadow of his shrine, listening to the shadow of his story – or at least what is left of his story.   Time is polishing him down so that he fits nicely into a couple of chapters – chapters still too long to read in one church service.   Even his truncation has been truncated.     ...

  The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Isaiah 51:1-6   Quarry Who are you?   When the Zoom meetings end, when the screen goes black, when the lights go out and the night wraps you in silence, when everything else fades and your eyes close for the night: who are you? It is a question for all times, but one that feels especially pressing during these times.   During these pandemic days so much has been stripped away, put away – so much has passed away.   So many things upon which we have established our identity are gone; so many things in which we have grounded our sense of self have proved impermanent; so many foundations have cracked and crumbled.   I have found myself wondering: what is a priest without an altar?   Or a pastor without the ability to visit?   Or a member of the Body of Christ without the opportunity to be nourished by the Body of Christ?   The existential questions of this time are relentless – and far too often uneasi...

  The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 14:22-33   In the Chaos   Jesus is probably not the most intriguing character in today’s Gospel story.   Peter, I think, is far more interesting.   Sure, Jesus successfully traverses the surface of a large and angry lake.   But, at this point in Matthew’s Gospel, at this point in your church-going life, are you really surprised that Jesus can accomplish the impossible?   Jesus has already healed the sick, cured the maimed; in the previous Gospel story, Jesus fed 5,000 men – plus women and children – with what amounted to a single Lunchable.   His birth was announced by angels and marked by the temporary appearance of a star.   Those of us familiar with the end of the Gospel know that this same Jesus will eventually rise from the dead, walk through walls to meet his disciples, and bodily ascend into Heaven.   Walking on the water is impressive, but it is far from the most impressive Jesus m...