Mother Claire's Sermons

There are many debates that are ongoing in Episcopal preaching circles. One of those debates resurfaces every year: what to do with Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday, as I’m sure you have all noticed, is a long service. We’ve already been here for (checks watch) 40 minutes. We could have used a shorter Gospel, which would’ve started at Judas’ betrayal and ended before Joseph of Arimathea comes along. But it’s important for us to get the entire story. This is the only day every three years where we can hear the Passion according to St. Matthew, all the way through the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.. One of the solutions preachers sometimes arrive at is to nix the sermon altogether. To let the Gospel stand for itself. But, our Book of Common Prayer requires a sermon if there is to be a Eucharist. And, although the Palm Sunday service tends to be longer than usual, brevity in preaching can be impactful. A twenty minute homily isn't necessary, but it’s important to take a breath and break do...

On Saturday, October 26, 2013 Nebraska lost their afternoon game to Minnesota. In 2013, that was way worse than it is now. In the early evening, my phone rang. Now for those of you who might not have had cell phones in 2013, there are two things you need to know. First, the ringers on our phones were on. We answered phone calls in general. And second, our ringers were so on that we paid money for special ring tones. Different people had their own ringtones so you could tell who was calling without having to look. So while my phone, in general, rang to the tune of “Danger Zone” from the movie Top Gun , my brother had chosen his own ring tone on my phone. It was called “eagle’s call” and it came pre-downloaded on the phone. There were bells in the background followed by a ridiculous, loud caw. So back to that evening, my phone began to caw from its place on the sofa and I assumed my brother was calling to discuss that terrible, terrible football game. But when I answered the phone, it wa...

My first grade daughter has been learning about various habitats and the natural homes of various animals. From grasslands to savannahs to deserts, she will excitedly tell you all about what she’s been learning in school. We most often use the word habitat to describe the homes of animals, since human beings can live in almost any habitat. But the habitat of first century Jews and Samaritans is important to today’s lesson from John, which centers around a well. Wells in Jesus’ time served multiple purposes, both physical and social. Wells were hand-dug, stone-lined, and covered with heavy stones to prevent contamination and disputes. Located in the arid Near East, they were crucial for physical survival. Due to limited rainfall, wells were the primary water source for people and livestock, making them central to life. But equally important, wells served as community hubs, meeting places for major life events (like Rebekah and Rachel), and symbols of divine provision and blessing. Wells...