Preaching the Scriptures

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Mark 10:2-16 Talking Divorce We're gonna talk about divorce today. And I realize that for some of you, divorce is an uncomfortable topic; for some of you it drags up painful memories and hurt feelings – from your own divorce, or from your parents' divorce, or maybe from the broken marriage of a child, grandchild, or close friend.   And I understand, that the Church has a complicated history with the topic – which is why many priests and pastors will today preach Hebrews or hold a St. Francis’ Pet Blessing or focus on the second half of this Gospel, the part about children; and I get that.   In fact this very passage from Mark's Gospel has often been used to pulverize people in one of their most vulnerable moments.   This Gospel has been used by religious leaders to further victimize women in abusive marriage relationships.   For those unexpectedly abandoned by their spouse, this text has, at times, been used to cause ad...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29 Complaints and Miracles I know this is more of a rock concert thing than a Sunday morning pulpit thing, but I want to dedicate this sermon to our Bible Study groups – groups that are this week wrapping up a ten-week study of the book of Numbers.   It has been quite a ride.   We've witnessed the liberated slaves, the Israelites, come to the edge of the promised land.   As they journeyed through the desert an entire generation died – some from disease, some in battle, some were killed by snakes, some were swallowed by the ground and others consumed by fire.   The bodies really pile up in Numbers.   We heard divine instructions come from the mouth of a donkey and a pagan.   We've read stories both enlightening and terrible. And, we have heard many, many, many complaints; I should be clear, many complaints from the people in Numbers not from members of the parish – at least not during ...