Luke is describing in fuller detail the day, “burning like an oven,” that Malachi foretold (Mal. 4:1). He is saying that in that day of calamity, God will provide for his own, so that, even if they die, they will not perish (Luke 21:18).

Jesus’ words comforted his original hearers who would have feared for their lives and livelihood if they joined in the insurrection against Rome that they assumed he was planning. In our own day, the cost of discipleship remains high, but it gains for us two things: the opportunity to bear witness and eternal life.

Jesus is the “sun of righteousness” who brings healing to those who fear the LORD (c.f. Mal. 3:16-17, 4:2a). Just as the sun dispels the darkness of night, so too does Jesus dispel the darkness of gloom, oppression, and injustice. As disciples of Jesus, we must bear witnesses to this “sun” and speak Jesus’ very words to the evil powers of this world. By doing so we gain our lives.

Listen to the sermon. Read the transcript.

Readings from 26 Pentecost, Proper 28, Year C, Track 2. Malachi 4:1-2a; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19.

Preached on November 11, 2016 at Holy Trinity Church Inwood.

Luke 19:5 says, “I must stay at your house today.” It’s that coming of Jesus that finds Zacchaeus. It’s that coming of Jesus that undoes the lost cause of Israel. It’s that coming of Jesus that reconnects us to that whole, that integration, and that is a gift that comes by faith. We access it by faith.

Listen to the sermon. Read the transcript.

Readings from 24 Pentecost, Proper 26, Year C, Track 2. Isaiah 1:10-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12; Luke 19:1-10.

Preached on October 30, 2016 at Holy Trinity Church Inwood.

Genesis 32:22-31 and Luke 18:1-8 speak to the need for God’s chosen people to persevere in the face of fierce (and sometimes corrupt and evil) opponents. Both lessons tells us that however tough or prolonged the struggle is, God’s elect will prevail.

The disciples heard Jesus’ words as an encouragement to continue proclaiming the Kingdom of God (2 Tim 4:2), because the long-awaited reckoning and day of restoration was at hand. In our own day, we must carefully examine our own narratives to see if we’re “playing the victim.” If so, this text admonishes us to “pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1).

Christ takes our victim narratives and makes them effective. Hanging on our own crosses accomplishes nothing, but the Cross of Christ brings about justice and restoration, once and for all. Once freed from our own exhausting struggles with God or unjust judges, we can begin to truly live our lives.

Listen to the sermon. Read the transcript.

Readings from 22 Pentecost, Proper 24, Year C, Track 2. Genesis 32:22-31; 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8.

Preached on October 16, 2016 at Holy Trinity Church Inwood.

Habakkuk 1:1-4 and 2:1-4 speak to the prevalence of injustice and the need for faith in an unrighteous world. The prophet is saying that despite how frustrating it is to see the good suffer and the evil prosper, a day of reckoning will come (Hab. 2:3). Luke 17:5-10 is also talking about the need for faithful obedience to God. In it, Jesus is saying that it is enough for the righteous to remain faithful — they do not have to solve the world’s problems.

In a time of religious fanaticism, Jesus’ words cautioned against grand gestures, heroic acts, and, especially, any kind of holy war in the name of God. Instead, his followers, by whatever little faith they have, are to wait for the “appointed time” and go about their lives quietly, not trying to accomplish God’s will for God. In our own day, we can apply this warning by considering carefully how involved we get in the great “save-the-world” movements of the day, or, on a personal level, how much we try to “save” others or ourselves.

The act of saving the world — and of saving each one of us — has already been accomplished by Jesus Christ (c.f. 2 Tim. 1:8-10). By putting our faith and trust in him we are assured of our own salvation. We don’t have to save ourselves or the world. Paradoxically, our faith — even if we have less than a mustard seed — will transform the world.

Listen to the sermon. Read the transcript.

Readings from 20 Pentecost, Proper 22, Year C, Track 2. Habakkuk 1:1-4, 2:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10.

Preached on October 2, 2016 at Holy Trinity Church Inwood.

In 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Paul explains to Timothy that living an eternal life will make us more than happy — even if all we have is the clothing on our back and bread for the day. He goes so far as to say that this is “the life that really is life.” Paul is saying that Christians must flee from any other kind of way of life that is not the way of eternal life. This way is found in the teachings of Jesus.

Paul is warning against a worldly way of living that will kill the eternal life in a Christian. He reminds believers to be content with a godly lifestyle and with the basics: food and clothing. He urges the rich to share with the poor so that they might receive in their own day of need. In our own day, the greatest single indicator that we are living an eternal life is our treatment of others.

Jesus confesses before Pilate that he has come into the world to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37). Paul reminds Timothy that he made the very same “good confession” (v. 1 Tim 6:12). We have made the same “good confession” in our baptism. And just as Christ gave away eternal life (Rom. 6:23) from the riches of his eternal dominion (1 Tim. 6:16), so we can imitate Christ by giving from our own wealth.

Listen to the sermon. Read the transcript.

Readings from 19 Pentecost, Proper 21, Year C, Track 2. Amos 6:1a, 4-7; 1 Timothy 6:6-19; Luke 16:19-31.

Preached on September 25, 2016 at Holy Trinity Church Inwood.