Sermons
This section houses the sermons given by Fr. Todd Young by week. Click on the date to download the full document. If you would like a printed copy, please be in touch with the office at 307-684-7529.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Trinity Sunday
We close out the liturgical season (Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost) with a day dedicated to, and specifically honoring, the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The Trinity, a word that is found nowhere in scripture, is a central doctrine of the Church. Various denominations have a variety of things they hold to as necessary for the faith, but when it comes right down to it, there are only a few things that are absolutely necessary.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
The Day of Pentecost
In her book Teaching a Stone to Talk, Annie Dillard (a prolific and award-winning author) has this to say about faith and worship:
Does anyone have the foggiest idea of what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it? The churches are children playing on the floor with their chemistry sets, mixing up a batch of TNT to kill a Sunday morning. It is madness to wear ladies' straw hats and velvet hats to church; we should all be wearing crash helmets! Ushers should issue life preservers and signal flares; they should lash us to our pews! For the sleeping God may awake someday and take offense, or the waking God may draw us to where we can never return.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter, the beginning of the last week of the Season, and the Sunday after the Ascension (which always falls on the Thursday before this Sunday because that's 40 days after Easter). I recently learned that some cultures celebrate the Feast of the Ascension by eating birds (can we get a KFC in Buffalo?) or feasting on flaky puff pastries, both things that symbolize rising up. Given the choice, I'd go with puff pastries.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fourth Sunday of Easter
The fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday because we get readings from John depicting Jesus as the Good Shepherd as well as the 23rd Psalm.
The first half of Chapter 10 in John is the Good Shepherd chapter. One of the reasons Jesus describes himself as a shepherd is because that metaphor is used for God in Hebrew scriptures. Ezekiel, Isaiah, and several psalms portray God as a shepherd caring for the flock. Jesus does the same here, which adds to John's overall agenda that Jesus and the Father are one. The shepherd metaphor makes sense in a society where sheep and shepherds were prevalent. And maybe it makes sense here in Wyoming where sheep and shepherds are part of the history.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Third Sunday of Easter
Today, like last week, we have another well-known and beloved gospel passage – the road to Emmaus. In the post-resurrection timeline, this story takes place on Easter, giving Jesus a very full schedule if you start to think about everything he does that day. As with all resurrection stories there is a lot to ponder, so I just want to focus on a couple of things.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Second Sunday of Easter
I was telling someone last week that I will have been ordained for 22 years this year, and this Second Sunday of Easter will be the 22nd time I've preached on this passage because we always get the story of Thomas on this Sunday.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Easter Day
We can't always trust our eyes.
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw the stone had been removed.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Maundy Thursday
Sometimes we can't believe what we are seeing.
Tonight we gather as friends to share a simple meal. We share good food with good friends in a special place. But there's a heaviness to this night.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fifth Sunday in Lent
Unbind him and let him go.
Lazarus has died. He died four days ago due to some unknown illness. After he died he was wrapped in sheets of linen as was the burial custom and placed in a tomb that was then sealed with a large stone. And then Jesus shows up and commands Lazarus to come out of the tomb.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fourth Sunday in Lent
There are two times a year when I prefer to use the contemporary version of the Lord's Prayer. The first is in the season of Advent when we've been saying the traditional version for so long that changing to the new shakes us up. All of a sudden we have to pay attention to the words. It's this shaking up and paying attention that becomes symbolic for an Advent season that is also designed to shake us up and make us pay attention.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Second Sunday in Lent
Today we have the Call of Abram and Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus, two seemingly unrelated stories.
The Call of Abram is pretty straightforward in the text we have, but there's a depth to it that you might miss, so I want to touch on this pivotal story.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
First Sunday in Lent
On this First Sunday in Lent we are looking at temptation and desire.
In our first lesson we have what has become known in Christianity as “the Fall.” The newly created man and woman are hanging out in the Garden of Eden by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil when a serpent strikes up a conversation with the woman. I imagine it went something like this, “Hey babe . . . you come here often?”
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday. The day we fast, pray, confess, and begin whatever discipline we have chosen to adopt. As we begin this solemn season, I want to point out two things.
The first is to notice what Jesus says about giving alms, praying, and fasting. He doesn't say IF you do those things. He doesn't say, “If you feel called” to do those things. He says, “When you give alms,” and, “When you pray,” and, “When you fast” There is an understanding there that these things are not optional. There is an understanding that these things are not reliant on being called to do them. There is an understanding that these are things which faithful people engage in on a regular basis because they are faithful people.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Today is the Last Sunday after the Epiphany. One of the problems with a short Epiphany season like this year is that we don't get as much of the Sermon on the Mount as we should. We heard the Beatitudes and the call to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and that was it. So if you aren't participating in the Lenten book discussion and are looking for something in particular to “read and meditate upon” this Lent, I recommend Matthew 5-7.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
The Sermon on the Mount continues today with Jesus talking about function and the place of the Law. The sermon opened last week with the Beatitudes. I said then that this was the beginning of the fulfillment of the words from Jeremiah when God said there would come a time when he would write his law on our hearts. Those words of Christ get at the heart of the law and the prophets, and they are the foundation which this Jesus community is built on.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
As I’ve been saying, the Gospel of Matthew brings to mind the Hebrew scriptures more than any other gospel – especially if you are familiar with those scriptures, as Matthew’s original audience surely was.
Matthew’s opening genealogy recalls the genealogies of Genesis and Numbers. The Holy Family’s flight to Egypt and return to their homeland recalls the story of the Exodus. Within that story, the slaughter of the innocents recalls Pharaoh’s edict to kill all male Hebrew children. Jesus’ 40-day wilderness experience recalls the Israelite’s 40-years in the wilderness. These examples, and more, tie Matthew’s gospel deeply to those ancient scriptures.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
It can be hard, sometimes, especially if you aren’t in the habit of following the gospel lectionary at home, to have a mental picture of the overall story or context. Two weeks ago we had the story of Jesus’ baptism in the Gospel of Matthew. Last week we had the calling of Andrew and his brother from the Gospel of John. Today we’re going to ignore last week because today we are back in Matthew with the calling of Simon & Andrew and James & John.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
First Sunday after the Epiphany
Today is the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. In a few minutes we will once again renew our own baptismal vows. We will once again make promises that we should take seriously and that we should strive to uphold in every aspect of our personal lives. Will we resist evil? Will we make worship and fellowship a priority? Will we seek and serve Christ in all persons? Will we proclaim the good news? Will we strive for justice and respect the dignity of every human being?
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fourth Sunday of Advent
We’ve been taking a close look at the themes of Advent – those of Hope, Peace, and Joy. The theme of this Fourth Sunday of Advent is Love.
Love is an interesting word in our language. We use love to describe deep emotions, as a synonym for like, as a term of respect, and in a bunch of other ways too numerous to mention. I love my wife. I loved how my three previous bishops handled business. I loved the pizza we used to get from a particular restaurant when we were in Montana. I love it when the Dallas Cowboys lose. I love the Episcopal church. I love white chocolate raspberry ice cream from Tillamook. I love my daughter.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Third Sunday of Advent
As I’ve been leading off each Sunday, every Sunday in Advent has a theme. The themes of the first two Sundays were Hope and Peace, respectively. This Third Sunday of Advent is the Sunday of Joy. It’s the Sunday of the rose candle and, in some years, the Sunday we hear the Magnificat. And like on those previous Sundays of Hope and Peace, we can see the theme of Joy in today’s lessons, especially in the reading from Isaiah and the Gospel.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Second Sunday of Advent
As I said last week, each Sunday of Advent has a particular theme. Last week’s theme was Hope. That hope was reflected in the Collect as we prayed for grace to cast away the works of darkness. It was reflected in Isaiah’s vision of beating swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. And it was reflective of the hope we place in living out our convictions and working to make God’s kingdom present here on earth as it is in heaven.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
First Sunday of Advent
Happy New Year!
Today is the First Sunday of Advent and the first day of the new liturgical year
Each Sunday of Advent has a particular theme, and this first Sunday’s theme is Hope. This hope is reflected in the opening Collect: We hope for grace to cast away the works of darkness; we have hope that Christ will come again in glory; we have hope that we will rise to life immortal. Isaiah offers an image of hope when he proclaims people will beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. Isaiah offers hope when he envisions a time when nations will not learn war anymore. And Paul proclaims hope when he says salvation is nearer to you now than when we first became believers.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Christ the King
Today is the Last Sunday after Pentecost, also known as Christ the King, or, the Reign of Christ. As Church feasts and celebrations go, this one is relatively new. Only 100 years old, it was created in 1925 by Pope Pius XI for two reasons. First, 1925 was a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church. These years mainly consist of universal pardons, and he wanted something special to celebrate the end of that year. Second, he saw the rise of secularism and ultra-nationalism in Europe and wanted something to remind people of where their loyalties should truly lie.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
We remember from last week that Jesus is in Jerusalem in what we call Holy Week. He’s taken on Pharisees, Sadducees, High Priests, scribes, and elders. And now he’s talking to some people about the temple, the last days, and signs of the times.
Just as Jesus is in Jerusalem and preparing for his last days before his crucifixion, we are approaching Advent, the season of preparation and a season with its own end-times focus. This is why the lectionary gives us apocalyptic passages at the end of Ordinary Time as Advent approaches.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost
Last Sunday was All Saints’ Sunday. We not only baptized Astrid and welcomed her into the household of God, but we were also reminded that on that day, particularly, we are joined with the myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands who are gathered around the throne of God. In actuality, that happens every Sunday; but we are particularly aware of it on All Saints’ Sunday when we remember all those who have gone before, who are now, and who are yet to come. All the saints of God, those we know and those known only to God, are gathered together in one glorious and eternal moment around the Great I AM. In that eternal moment, we am.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
All Saints' Sunday
Today is All Saints’ Sunday. Today, November 2, is also the Feast of All Faithful Departed. And this day is also one of four set aside as “especially appropriate for baptism,” which we will administer shortly.
There’s a certain mystery around these days that I find appealing. Friday was Halloween. Despite what some people or paranoid Christians think, Halloween is not a day of devil worship. It is, technically, All Hallow’s Eve, the night before All Saints’ Day. One way to think about this is to think about the Lord’s Prayer. In that prayer we say, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” Halloween is the eve of the day when we celebrate those who are hallowed in the faith – the saints who have gone before, the saints who are now, and the saints who are yet to come.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Today’s passage comes during Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. Remember, this journey began back at Chapter 9, verse 51, when Jesus “set his face to Jerusalem.” We are now at Chapter 18. It’s a long journey and we might experience some . . . drift . . . during the trip. We may not intend to make wrong choices, or wrong decisions, but if we don’t make course corrections here and there we could find ourselves in trouble.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Our Vision Statement is to “Proclaim the Love of God and Extend Hope to All People.” After working through the annual meeting exercise, praying, considering, and discussing, this is what the Vestry concluded fit our parish at this time. And, believe it or not, this new Vision Statement aligns rather well with our reading from 2 Timothy.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
After a couple weeks of long gospel stories, today we have a relatively short passage. After those two long parables about wealth and priorities addressed to the disciples and then to the Pharisees, Jesus turns his attention to the apostles. The Lectionary committee really should have included the four verses before this passage starts because we pick up in the middle of what should be a unified section.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
If you remember, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem. Ever since Chapter 9, verse 51 “when the days drew near for him to be taken up,” Jesus has set his face to Jerusalem, his Passion, Resurrection, and Ascension, everything in Luke from that point forward will lead us to Holy Week and beyond. The overall context of this long section in Luke is to prepare the followers of Jesus (including us) for both Holy Week and life beyond.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
I love the Gospel of Luke. He might be the best writer in the New Testament and his gospel is peppered with endearing stories – Mary singing the Magnificat, the Benedictus and Nunc Dimittis, the manger and shepherds, young Jesus in the temple, and the parables of the Good Samaritan and Prodigal Son to name a few. He seems to be the most egalitarian, as he presents a generally favorable view of women. But within that beautiful writing and those lovely stories lie some very hard truths.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Holy Cross Day
Today is the Feast of the Holy Cross. The short story is that Empress Helena, Emperor Constantine’s mother, oversaw the building of a church on the site of what is now the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. During the excavation she supposedly found a relic of the cross of Jesus’ crucifixion. The building was dedicated on September 14, 335, what was then the seventh month of the Roman calendar, and coinciding with Solomon’s temple being dedicated in the seventh month of the Jewish calendar.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Last week I said that Jesus had made quite a name for himself. He has fed 5000 people. He has cast out demons. He has healed lepers, raised people from the dead, and debated Pharisees. He is, in today’s terms, an influencer. His popularity is what led the Pharisee in last week’s gospel to invite him to dinner. And last week’s discourse abut humility and inviting the marginalized to your banquet was addressed to that small dinner party.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
By now Jesus has made a name for himself. He has fed 5000 people, he has cast out demons, healed lepers, raised people from the dead, and debated Pharisees. His popularity is such that even Pharisees who oppose him invite him to their house for a meal. And this is where we find Jesus today, invited to the home of a Pharisee for a meal.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Well THAT was an interesting set of readings. If you ever had the idea that being a follower of God somehow made everything okay and ensured your safety and security in this world, these readings should put an end to that.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Last week we had the parable of the rich fool who, after an unexpected windfall of abundance, decided to build new barns for himself to store all the excess. Today we have Jesus telling us to sell our possessions, give alms, focus on heavenly treasures, and do the work of the kingdom.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Today we have someone trying to draw Jesus into a family dispute, but he’s having none of it. Instead, Jesus goes off on the insignificance of riches; or, if not the insignificance, then certainly the importance of proper balance. He takes this opportunity to tell a parable of a rich man whose land produces even more abundantly than originally planned, making him even richer. With that unexpected windfall, the man decides to build new, bigger barns to store it all for himself. In the end, he dies, just like everyone else eventually will.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Today we hear Jesus’ disciples ask him to teach them how to pray. It seems people all through the ages want to know the “correct” way to pray. It seems that in spending time with God, we want to make sure to get it right.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fifth Sunday after Trinity
Today’s gospel tells the story of the calling of Simon Peter (and maybe Andrew), James, and John to become disciples of Jesus. It seems that the impetus for these men to follow Jesus was the miraculous catch of fish after a night of catching nothing. No matter the hows or whys, we get one of Jesus’ most famous lines: “From now on you will be catching men/people.”
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fourth Sunday after Trinity
Last week I preached on the “lost” parables of Jesus – that is, the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin.
There are two points from that sermon that carry over well to this week. The first is that this place is not a resort for the righteous but a hospital for the sick. The job of the Church is to offer forgiveness and absolution. The Church should be a place where sinners are healed, the lonely are welcomed, the hungry fed, and people of all sorts and conditions are offered shelter from the storm.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Third Sunday after Trinity
Who among us has not lost something valuable – either financial or sentimental or even practical? Our house has a three-car garage, which means it came with three garage-door openers. One of those goes in my car. One of those goes in Joelene’s car. And we use the third for our house sitter or when we take our bikes out for a ride. We keep that third one in a very special and safe place. So special and safe that we couldn’t find it the last time we took out our bikes. We tore the house apart looking for that thing, finally giving up and using one from a car. I found it when we got back from our ride on the backside of the laundry room door. For me to find it though, I needed a different perspective.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Third Sunday after Pentecost/Proper 8
In last week’s sermon I pointed out that we were now in the long green season of learning to be better disciples of Jesus. I said that if we were going to do that, we would need to find time to listen . . . listen for God and listen to what Jesus has to say to us today. In that listening, though, we find some harsh realities.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Second Sunday in Pentecost/Proper 7
We have entered that long, green Season after Pentecost, also known as Ordinary Time because the Sundays are counted with ordinal, sequential numbers. Whereas Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Holy Week, and Easter focus on the major events of Jesus’ life, this season focuses on the life of Jesus and what we can learn to inform us and become better disciples. Which, again, is why this season is green – because that color symbolizes growth.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Trinity Sunday
Welcome to Trinity Sunday. This is the day dedicated to the Triune God, Three-in-One and One-in-Three, distinct in Persons and unified in Substance. This is the day that strikes terror into preachers because the more you talk about the Trinity, the more likely you are to fall into some form of heresy. So this is also the day when clergy look for guest preachers or assign seminarians to preach. But since neither of those are an option, here I am. So let’s jump right into this theological mystery, shall we.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
The Day of Pentecost
Today is the Day of Pentecost, the day when the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles giving them the ability to speak in other languages. This is the day when the apostles began to preach the good news of Jesus Christ to a wide audience and they baptized about 3000 people. This is also the day many people celebrate as “the birth of the Church,” although that is not technically correct.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Seventh Sunday of Easter
We are coming to the end of the Easter season. The resurrected Christ who, according to Luke’s account in Acts, has spent 40 days with his disciples before ascending to the Father last Thursday, left us with his command to love others as he has loved us. And on this last Sunday of Easter we are given passages from the end of Revelation and from the end of the Farewell Discourse. Those two readings give us an image of Christus Victor and a spiritual unity between God the Father, God the Son, and us. And on this last Sunday of Easter, I want to focus on Revelation.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Sixth Sunday of Easter
We are coming to the end of the Easter season. This is often the second-longest season of the Church year, right after the long, green Season after Pentecost. And while the Season after Pentecost focuses on the life of Jesus and growing in our faith and discipleship (hence the green color), the Easter season is focused on the joy of the resurrection and the new life that brings. But we only have a handful of resurrection stories, so this is a harder season to maintain. For instance, have you noticed the Alleluias, which were enthusiastically said on Easter have dwindled in enthusiasm to where it’s now something we say routinely? It’s hard to maintain the happiness and enthusiasm of Easter over seven weeks.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Over time we have been told, and have come to believe, certain things about God. We’ve been told and believe things like: God is love; God is patient; God is merciful; God is forgiving; God is welcoming; and probably some other definitions and descriptions. We’ve been told, and have come to believe, that God created all things, that Jesus was the embodiment of God in human form, and that the Holy Spirit speaks to and directs the Church.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Today is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. On this Fourth Sunday of Easter we always get gospel passages relating Jesus to being the good shepherd. Whether that’s Jesus as the gatekeeper who calls the sheep by name, or Jesus as the good shepherd who protects his sheep, or today with Jesus as the voice whom the sheep follow to eternal life, this Fourth Sunday of Easter is all about Jesus as the unifying force (the shepherd) of various people and communities (the sheep).
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Third Sunday of Easter
We have now entered the post-resurrection period of Easter. Easter Day was all about resurrection, the empty tomb, and the surprise of that day. Last week we revisited the Day of Resurrection (and the following Sunday) with Jesus appearing to the ten, and then eleven, disciples in that locked room. Today is a time “after these things.” Today we are firmly in the time between Resurrection and Ascension.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Easter Day
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Today is Easter Day, the Day of Resurrection. It is the eighth day of the week, the day of a new creation. On this day Jesus rose from the dead defeating sin and death. This is our triumphant holy day and on this day we sing to all creation of the victory of our King.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Holy Saturday
The other night we shared a final meal with Jesus and watched as he was arrested and taken away to a trial with a predetermined verdict. Yesterday we watched from a safe distance as he was hung on a cross, died, and buried. And today . . . today we aren’t sure of anything. Today we feel shocked about what happened. Maybe we feel grief. Maybe we have some self-loathing for not doing more – or anything – to prevent his arrest and crucifixion. Maybe we want to scream at the world, “Look what you’ve done!”
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Good Friday
Last night we had our final meal with Jesus. Last night we watched, hidden in the shadows, as an innocent man was taken away to be executed. Last night we were too scared to stand up against the authorities. And faced with the shock-troops of the religious and political regime who seek out and crush any dissent, we opted to keep a safe distance, out of sight, and quiet.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Maundy Thursday
It’s the beginning of the end. Jesus has been making a name for himself and his popularity is rising. One of the most pivotal things he has done was to raise Lazarus from the dead. This act caused a number of people to follow him, thereby upsetting the Pharisees and other religious leaders. They were concerned that if this Jesus movement grew, the Romans would come in and wipe them all out. Lazarus was also a problem, because he was the living symbol of the power of Jesus. Because of him, even more people were flocking to Jesus. This led the religious leaders to plot to execute both of them.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fifth Sunday in Lent
If you haven’t noticed, the Gospel of John is . . . different. Unlike the other three, John only records five obvious miracles. Jesus is given to long monologues. The interplay between light and dark is an important theme. Where creation begins in the Garden and God calls out to Adam by name because he doesn’t want to be found, on Easter morning Mary is in the Garden and Jesus calls to her by name because she is looking for him. The gospel has a cosmic beginning and there is a deep sense of the mystical.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fourth Sunday in Lent
In today’s gospel, the religious leaders are griping about Jesus mingling with the wrong people. In particular, they are outraged that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. We are not immune to such criticisms today. Whenever “the wrong people” are welcomed into a place deemed inappropriate for them, the “right people” begin to gripe. People who smell badly. People who don’t dress appropriately. People whose children can’t be controlled. People who are a little too enthusiastic. People who are the wrong color. Or the wrong gender. Or the wrong nationality. Or the wrong religion. These are just some of the wrong people whom the right people want to limit or keep out altogether. When we begin allowing the wrong people into places not meant for them, there will be a group of right people complaining about it.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Third Sunday in Lent
“Unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.” So Jesus answers when asked if the people killed by Pilate were worse sinners than other people. And he basically says the same thing about 18 people who were killed when a tower collapsed on them.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Second Sunday in Lent
In the context of the whole gospel today’s passage comes not quite halfway between when Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem” and his arrival on what has come to be known as Palm Sunday. Within this timeframe of Jesus’ deliberate and steady move to Jerusalem, he rebukes disciples for wanting to destroy a town, teaches about what true discipleship looks like, sends out seventy missionaries, heals a number of people, tells a bunch of parables, and does some other stuff. In other words, he is really starting to make a name for himself.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
First Sunday in Lent
Welcome to Lent, that penitential season of self-inflicted misery and austerity. That season of giving up chocolate and fun. Or so popular culture tells us. But as I’ve said, Lent isn’t about 40 days of misery, austerity, and no fun. Lent is really about making lasting changes that benefit ourselves and our relationship with God.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Last Sunday after the Epiphany
One of the things we know about God is that God is unknowable completely. We can describe who and what God is positively: as in, God is love or God is sacrificial or God is creative. We can also describe who and what God is negatively: as in, God is not hateful or God is not selfish or God is not destructive. We cannot know God completely, but being willing to live with and into God’s mystery is an important spiritual step.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Ash Wednesday
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them.”
This directive by Jesus instructs us to not wear our faith or religion on our sleeves. In other words, PDRs – public displays of religion – have more to do with being noticed by others than with our relationship with God. Normally this is pretty easy for Episcopalians – really, how many times have you talked with anyone about your faith, let alone invite them to church? But on Ash Wednesday this becomes a little more difficult when we all leave here with ash crosses on our foreheads.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
Today we get the second part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain; which, again, isn’t so much a sermon as it is a collection of sayings. And if you thought last week’s blessings and woes were problematic, wait until we look at this one. Today Jesus says to love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, pray for those who abuse you, turn the other cheek, give to everyone who begs, don’t ask for your stolen goods to be returned, and do unto others as you would have them do to you. He wraps up by saying to be merciful, don’t judge or condemn, and forgive.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
Today we have the beginning of the Sermon on the Plain, which really isn’t a sermon as much as it is a collection of sayings. This particular scene comes immediately after Jesus chooses the twelve apostles and a few chapters before sending them out on their mission to proclaim the good news and heal people. With his choosing the twelve by name, Jesus elevates them to a place where they will pay more attention. They are no longer just disciples, they are in a place where they might be called on to lead in Jesus name. But that’s down the road a little bit.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Epiphany is the season of manifestation and revelation. From the wise men to the baptism, from the wedding wine to the fulfillment of Isaiah, Jesus is revealed and manifested as the Son of God and Messiah. And today we have the miraculous catch of fish, revealing Jesus to have other-worldly powers. Even though this is yet another gospel passage revealing who Jesus is, there’s another aspect to this passage I want to focus on, and that is us.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Feast of the Presentation
Today is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, which happens 40 days after Christmas. It is also known as the Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin, Candlemas, and (in the Eastern Church) the Meeting of Christ with Simeon. Today is the day when Jesus was dedicated to God because he is Mary’s firstborn child (Ex. 13:2). According to Jewish law, it’s the day of purification for the mother of a son (Lev. 12:1-4). It is the meeting of the old (Simeon) and the new (Jesus). And when we recognize the lengthening of days and light, both spiritual and physical, taking hold, candles are blessed in some churches to symbolize that light. There is a lot going on today. And with everything happening on this day, I want to focus on the interaction of Simeon with the Holy Family and how that impacts us.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Third Sunday after the Epiphany
One of the problems with the Lectionary, any lectionary really, is that sometimes you get plopped down in the middle of a story without any context. For instance, can anyone give me the context for today’s gospel? Where was Jesus immediately before this passage? Immediately before today’s gospel story, he was in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. And now he’s returned to familiar territory – Galilee and Nazareth.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Second Sunday after the Epiphany
This year, on this Second Sunday after the Epiphany, we get the story of Jesus at the wedding in Cana. In Year A we have John the Baptist pointing out Jesus to some of his disciples and Andrew bringing his brother, Peter, to Jesus. And in Year B we have the encounter between Jesus and Nathanael. So in all three years of the lectionary on the Second Sunday after the Epiphany we hear from early in the Gospel of John. All three years are designed to set the tone for the season.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
First Sunday after the Epiphany - Baptism of Our Lord
I have redeemed you. I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. – Is. 43:1-2
On the First Sunday after the Epiphany, we commemorate the baptism of Jesus. This is also one of the days “especially appropriate for baptisms,” and is one of the days we renew our own baptismal vows. We renew our vows because it is too easy for us to get caught up in life. It is too easy for us to forget the promises and vows we have made.
by The Rev. Todd Young, Rector
Second Sunday after Christmas
Merry Christmas! And welcome to the 12th Day of Christmas. Today is the day of 12 drummers drumming and 12th Night Parties – which, by the way, is tonight at 5:00 with a potluck dinner followed by a gift exchange/thievery event. Tomorrow is the Feast of the Epiphany.
On Christmas we commemorate the birth of Jesus to Mary, a Jewish mother, and Joseph his Jewish guardian, in the Jewish town of Bethlehem. His birth was announced to a group of Jewish shepherds by angels.