The news cycle, the tragedies of the world, and the Covid pandemic do not, cannot, and will not have the last word: the last word belongs to the Suffering Servant who has redeemed his people. Continue reading Sermon for Advent 1C
When Christ is King, the lame walk, the mute talk, the deaf hear, the blind see, the sick are healed, the lepers are cleansed, the demons are cast out, the dead are raised, and broken lives are made new. Continue reading Sermon for Christ the King Sunday
Jesus is greater than the sacrifices of Israel
Jesus is greater than the angels
Jesus is greater than Moses, Abraham, Aaron, and Melchizedek
Jesus is greater than Israel’s high priests
One could argue, in contemporary language, that Jesus is the Greatest of All Time. Our image, painted by James Tissot, shows Israel’s “all stars” welcoming Jesus into heaven after the crucifixion. Jesus is the GOAT. Continue reading Jesus, Greatest Of All Time
nature of a covenant. No wonder Jesus is a priest in the line of Melchizedek forever and that he will reign on David’s throne, forever. Continue reading Stay Salty, My Friends
This sermon is from Sunday, September 5, 2021 and it was originally preached at St. David’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Cocoa Beach, FL. where I serve as Rector. The lessons were Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23, Psalm 125, James 2:1-17, and Mark 7:24-37. From the ages of 9-17, I attended a Christian summer camp … Continue reading Boasting of God’s Mercy
Lessons: Psalm 28, 1 Kings 8:65-9:9, James 2:1-14, Mark 14:66-72 (NRSV) Our Gospel text today is one of those “difficult” passages with almost no words of hope or comfort. I say almost because I actually think there is a great deal of comfort to be found in the final verse, but we don’t get the … Continue reading Peter’s Contrition – Tuesday Homily
John isn’t here to simply immerse people in water…he’s here as a herald of the eschaton; he baptizes in the Jordan as a proclamation that YHWH is on the move once more. Continue reading The Baptism of our Lord – Sermon
There will be a time when darkness is replaced by light, when death is replaced by joy, when oppression is replaced by deliverance.
There will be a day when peace will reign over the throne of David and his kingdom.
There will be a day when the yoke of burden, the rod of the oppressor, and the bar across their shoulders are broken. Continue reading Christmas Eve Sermon: Questions and Answers
This was written and preached for the people of St. David’s by the Sea Episcopal Church for the Third Sunday in Advent, December 13, 2020. The lectionary texts were Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, Psalm 126, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, and John 1:6-8, 19-28. I’d like to begin with a quote from two great 20th century philosophers, Simon … Continue reading Advent 3 Sermon – Year B
This was originally published in 2018 for our (then) parish blog. It has been altered and updated for St. David’s by the Sea Episcopal Church where I now serve as Rector. Memory and thanksgiving. They are part and parcel of the Christian life, friends. One could sum up the whole of Israel’s life in the … Continue reading All Saints and All Souls
Porter C. Taylor 