Sermons and Reflections
from Bishop Wright
from Bishop Wright
- Click here to watch Reflection for March 22, 2020
- Click here to watch Reflection for March 29, 2020
- Click here to watch Bishop Wright's Sermon for Easter Sunday April 12, 2020
Click here to watch more sermons from Bishop Wright's parish visits
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Reflections
Reflections
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May 29, 2020
The Holy Spirit showed up dramatically we’re told. There was fire, and speaking of tongues. This whirlwind connected people across their divisions, if only briefly. Some responded with a question, “what does this mean?” Some responded with an answer, “they’re drunk.” They were wrong. Better questions are more helpful than quick and shallow answers. A rush to answer usually is a manifestation of fear or arrogance or both. I think about this a lot these days. Jesus was a master question maker. He stood steady enough, long enough, to find the question that unlocked faith and growth.
May 22, 2020
Amos Wilder wrote, “be instructed at the null point, the zero breeds new algebra.” Wilder was commending the very nature of God. When things come down to the zero, when there’s suffering and “fiery ordeals” as St. Peter would say, if we can linger long enough nurtured by our faith, our tradition, and one another we will see God’s new algebra! And get this, the word Algebra means “the reunion and balancing of broken parts!” This pandemic has brought so many of us to a near zero place and some are tempted to numbness or despair, but hold on beloved, there’s reason to hope, God is doing God’s new math even now.
May 15, 2020
Think in terms of readiness and response when it comes to following Jesus. St. Peter certainly does. Here is St. Peter's checklist: “Be eager to do what is right though it may cause you trouble. Sanctify Christ as Lord. ” Don't just believe in him, set him apart, make him your North Star. Let his teaching and example have the last word. Know your hope and have it on the tip of your tongue. Share hope with gentleness. Keep your conscience clear. Do all the good you can and let the chips fall wherever they fail.
May 1, 2020
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April 17, 2020
“And so, we are fortunate this year to proclaim an Easter that stands on the shoulders of two thousand Easters. Knowing that each Easter past was a defiant response to the two thousand years of Good Fridays we’ve suffered. Each Easter supplied by the inexhaustible power released that first Easter. You see, there’s an exponentially compounding benefit of remembering Easter past. Because, it enables Easter trust now and endows Easter trust for the future. My lawyer friends call that the power of precedent. My scholarly friends say, “…we must nurture the prospect of God’s fresh historical intervention in the midst of despair inducing situations.” My feisty senior friends just say, “…hold on to God’s unchanging hands baby.” But our friend Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” What I’m trying to say here is we’re so fortunate, we have both an Easter consolation and an Easter courage.”
An excerpt from Bishop Wright’s Easter Sermon.
To see watch the full video of Bishop Wright's Easter Sermon,
For additional "For Faith Messages:"
HELP
April 10, 2020
Good Friday is about God deciding to be God in a very particular way. God doesn't use God's Almighty-ness to rescue Jesus from fearful clergy, betraying friends, cruel soldiers or even the lynching tree. Rather than rescue and spare, God more often shows up in and goes through situations with God's people. Through indignity. Through infirmity. Through death. Let us be reintroduced to the “in” and “through” God. ” When we renew our vows to live as baptized people, we respond at each invitation, “I will with God's help.” Maybe this Friday take some time to reflect on exactly how this God prefers to help. Always along side. Always going through with us. Preferring faith over certainty. Always exerting Almighty-ness as quiet and as intriguing as a whisper.
"Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful."
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