15th Sunday After Pentecost, September 13, 2020- Matthew 18:15-35- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - In ancient times and throughout the history of Christianity, the act of forgiving and reconciling oneself with another has often been expressed through the hospitality of a shared meal, by which former adversaries are treated as members of one’s… Continue reading The Sacred Act of Showing Up
Sermons Archive
The Silent Satisfaction of Divine Payback
13th Sunday After Pentecost, August 30, 2020- Romans 12:9-21, Matthew 16:21-28- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - The disturbing element of any faith tradition is its desire for divine payback, the need for vengeance against callous injustice and heartless brutality inflicted on innocent lives. We wonder where the God of righteousness is when such… Continue reading The Silent Satisfaction of Divine Payback
Who Do You Say that I Am?
12th Sunday After Pentecost, August 23, 2020- Matthew 16:13-25- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - The reading from Matthew’s gospel doesn’t convey the full story. After Jesus commends Peter for his confession that he is “the Messiah, Son of the living God,” and then instructs his followers to tell no one, we quickly understand… Continue reading Who Do You Say that I Am?
Where Is the Heart of Your Faith?
11th Sunday After Pentecost, August 16, 2020- Isaiah 56:1, 6-8, Matthew 15:10-28- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Jesus most certainly knew that food improperly prepared could be harmful to one’s body and life but, as often if the case, Christ did not have a spin doctor to interpret his words in less offensive… Continue reading Where Is the Heart of Your Faith?
What Are You Doing Here?
10th Sunday After Pentecost, August 9, 2020- 1st Kings 19:9-18, Matthew 14:22-33- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - The Prophet Elijah, in fear for his life, fled the wrath of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and wound up in a cave on Mount Horeb, where God confronted him with a question: “What are you… Continue reading What Are You Doing Here?
Dinner!
9th Sunday After Pentecost, August 2nd, 2020- Isaiah 55:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Not long ago, I was invited to the home of two former parishioners of a church I served. They are retired and spend half of the year in Florida and the other half at their home with… Continue reading Dinner!
Wheat and Weeds within Us
7th Sunday After Pentecost, July 19, 2020- Roman 8:12-15, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Each of us, in some way, is motivated by spiritual aspirations you cannot fully comprehend. Allow me, therefore, to ask you a question of spiritual inquiry. “If there are individuals you know who regard themselves as… Continue reading Wheat and Weeds within Us
Holy Shit!
6th Sunday After Pentecost, July 12, 2020- Isaiah 55:10-13, Matthew 13:1-13- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - The Parable of the Sower and the Seeds is sometimes hard to grasp because Jesus throws a lot of images at us all at once – sower, seeds, good and bad soil, weeds, rocks and thorns; and… Continue reading Holy Shit!
Bearing Bad Tidings of Great Joy
4th Sunday After Pentecost, June 28, 2020- Jeremiah 28:5-9, Matthew 10:40-42- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Sisters and Brothers in Christ, this is a unique and unprecedented time to be a Christian in the world today. So much is happening within our faith community and world, both personally and publicly, that demands our… Continue reading Bearing Bad Tidings of Great Joy
Avoiding Gentiles and Samaritans
2nd Sunday After Pentecost, June 14, 2020- Matthew 9:35-10:23- The Reverend Dr. Arnold Isidore Thomas - Why did Jesus tell his disciples not to minister among the Gentiles or Samaritans? Some biblical scholars like to think he was simply prioritizing the scope of his outreach, which would eventually include Gentiles and Samaritans, but would start… Continue reading Avoiding Gentiles and Samaritans
