Preaching the Scriptures

The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Philippians 4:1-9   Worry in the World Grace, Cherry Valley   How could Paul say this?! And to you?!   Especially right now?!   “Do not worry about anything?”   Does he not understand that Fr. Kyle just retired?   And that you, Grace Church, also St. Mary’s, also a little bit St. John’s, just entered into a season of clergy transition?   As you know, I work with a lot of churches in transition.   And so I know that you know that I know transition time is an anxious time.   Paul telling you not to worry is probably not super helpful; it might not even be working.   Now in his defense, this morning in Cherry Valley, New York was likely not on Paul’s mind when he put ink to parchment almost two thousand years ago.   But it is still a striking phrase, of an impossible expectation – even after all these years.   It is difficult to imagine living in this world, in these times, with...

The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 21:33-46   A Stewardship Sermon Zion, Morris   The characters in the story severely misjudged the situation.   As the parable makes abundantly clear, they would never own the land, never take the vineyard.   The tenants had no right to it – even though they clearly thought they did, or should.   Their warped perspective, fueled by desperation and a wild sense of entitlement, hatched a plan to keep killing until they arrived at the front of the line; it did not work out.   Because the vineyard did not belong to them.   And it never would.   Today’s parable from Matthew is one of Jesus’ final parables.   It was told during his last week, Holy Week.   The crowds that gathered around his teaching were a complex stew of the society.   There were religious leaders – who unhappily take the brunt of this parable.   But there were also his disciples.   And there were the curi...