Preaching the Scriptures

  The Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew’s Passion [26:14-27:66]   A Reflection on the Passion Gospel St. Thomas, Tupper Lake   Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?   Today we heard a story of unfathomable tragedy.   It is the story of an innocent man captured by the tremendous momentum of human violence.   It is the story of the one Roman crucifixion that is still worn around our necks.   And it occurred so long ago.   And so you, of course, were not there.   Because this tale transpired almost two thousand years ago, in a place far from here, a place still too familiar with violence and death.   The events of our Gospel took place long before St. Thomas Episcopal Church was founded.   Long before the Episcopal Church held its first Convention.  ...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Luke 22:39-23:56   An Introduction to the Passion according to Luke   I am very sorry to tell you that the story you are about hear does not have a happy ending.   Not yet.   I don’t fault you if you expected better.   The Gospel story you heard just minutes ago, outside, in the garden, set, I suppose, unrealistic expectations.   You will soon hear the rest of that story.   And I feel I should warn you: it does take a shocking and horrific turn.   It all takes place on what feels like an impossibly small timeline. The entire story, beginning with the colt ride through Jerusalem, ending with the mysteriously vacant tomb, takes place over the course of just one week. The time between Jesus’ celebrated entry into the Holy City and his arrest is just a few days. And the arrest, trial, sentencing, and crucifixion: well, they all take place in just a matter of hours, before the earth can even make one complete ...