Preaching the Scriptures

The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Exodus 3:1-15   A Burning Bush St. John’s, Essex   It was a pin prick in the universe.   It was a lonely ember in the ashes of an exhausted fire.   It was a single star pushing through the cloudy cover.   And it was God.   Such a subtle turn in the career of the Creator.   Once before a time, God spoke and worlds were created, planets in their courses; whales filled the salty seas of this island home; comets crossed the skies; velvety blackness dominated the edge of everything.   With a word, so much, much more than a human mind could ever comprehend.   And now, that God: the size of a cozy campfire.     In a world that needed much bigger.   Moses was, at this point, a husband and a father, and a shepherd.   Also a fugitive.   His story was captivating.   He was born under a death threat.   Set sail in a tiny ark on a big river.   Found salvation ...

The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 14:22-33   Why Did You Doubt? St. Mary’s, Springfield Center   As he thrashed around in the tumultuous sea, the answer to Jesus’ query seemed rather obvious.   And the doubt in Peter’s mind justified.   And yet, it was in that chaotic moment in which Jesus posed his question.   Because, after all, who doesn’t enjoy a deep philosophical discussion when one is pre-occupied with drowning?   Jesus asked Peter the “why” question.   And I don’t know if that was advisable.   As a parent, I can tell you, experts work very hard to talk that question out of the parental vocabulary.   In books and blogs, they claim it causes shame or fear.   Sometimes a cognitive block.   Often defensiveness.   In the Gospel text, Peter’s response to Jesus’ “why” is not recorded – if there even was one.   It is difficult to talk when one is terrified and choking on water.   Still in th...

The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 14:13-21   Too Much St. Hubert’s, Lake Pleasant   At the end of the day, it was simply far too much bread.   It is, admittedly, difficult to calculate the necessary allotment for a crowd numbered in the thousands.   And certainly, you don’t want to run out in the middle of the meal.   But as the satisfied masses dissipated, there was somehow still bread everywhere.   It was like standing in a vast field of wheat, but with no assembly required.   In the most mundane of times, life can be pretty unpredictable.   But this was an extreme version of that.   As the disciples collected the bread, five loaves and two fish must have felt like a distant memory.   All their early evening worries, like a silly dream.   By all accounts, it was a good day.   People were cured.   People were fed.   The crowds that circled the lake, on foot, left satisfied.   The expec...