Homilies and bulletins

Psalm 139:1-11, 22-23; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 8th Sunday after Pentecost A; 07.19.26; G. Miles Smith+ Sometimes it can be difficult to know what to do with scripture…even when the language is clear. We effectively talked about that a lot this past Wednesday in the Bible study on the Gospel of Mark which Matteo is leading so very well. Even when the words of scripture are familiar…there can still be a disconnect such that they do not affect us much. Fo

We all have a friend or relative who loves plants, loves gardening, can’t stay away from the soil. For me that person was my paternal grandmother, Fern Abbott, of blessed memory, from whom I got my middle name, and because of whom I gave my son the same middle name. She had a honey-sweet voice, handwriting so beautiful it looked like effortless calligraphy, and she taught me how to do crossword puzzles, which I do every day and so I think of her every day. My point here is th

Gen. 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67; Song of Songs 2:8-13; Romans 7:15-25a; Mt. 11:16-19, 25-30 6th Sunday after Pentecost A; 07.05.26; G. Miles Smith+ Let me begin this morning by calling your attention to an important distinction…about how Episcopalians observe this Sunday and its implications for our Christian responsibility. And then a few more words about the scripture today. + The Book of Common Prayer (p.16-17) identifies only two national holidays in its liturgical calendar—

Matthew 10:24-39 4th Sunday after Pentecost A; 06.21.26; G. Miles Smith+ Jesus said: “…I have come to set a man against his father…” And “whoever loves father more than me is not worthy of me…” Happy Father’s Day!? It is a fairly rare occasion when this gospel text, which comes back around every three years, actually falls on Father’s Day. But this is one of those years. And it is especially jarring to hear Jesus’ words like this…on Father’s Day. + If w