Our Lord’s warning about good and corrupt trees reveals that evil is not something God created, but the corruption and misuse of what He made good. Sin can rot the human heart from within, even when a person appears respectable and religious on the outside. We cannot restore ourselves any more than a rotten tree can make itself healthy again. Only God can cleanse, justify, sanctify, and renew us through the Holy Ghost, enabling us to bear good fruit and become what He created us to be.

The miracle of the feeding of the four thousand reveals far more than Christ’s concern for physical hunger. It shows His divine compassion for fallen humanity and for every individual soul. The Son of God entered our condition, bore our sins upon the cross, and continues to nourish and strengthen us so that we will not “faint by the way.”

Left to ourselves, we repeatedly return to sins that we know will harm us. Yet Christ does not send us away to struggle alone. Through Baptism, His Sacred Word, His sanctifying grace, and especially His precious Body and Blood in the Holy Sacrament, He frees us from sin and brings forth in us the fruit of holiness.

Jesus Himself is the Bread we need for the journey. Apart from Him, we lose the way, the truth, and the life. But if we remain with Him and entrust ourselves to His grace, He will guide and sustain us until we are welcomed into the heavenly banquet and filled forever with His life-giving love.

This sermon reflects on Christ’s call to be the light of the world and to possess a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. True righteousness is not an achievement of our own, but the righteousness of Christ given to us by grace. Because we have been raised with Christ into new life, we are called to become instruments of His righteousness and bearers of His light. Even the smallest ray of Gospel hope can strengthen those who live in darkness, and through our witness Christ may be born in the hearts of others.

Confronted by the holiness of Christ, Simon Peter became painfully aware of his own sinfulness and cried, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Yet Jesus did not depart from him. Instead, He forgave him, called him to follow, and entrusted him with the apostolic ministry of bringing forgiveness and new life to others.

True confession requires an honest examination of conscience, sincere contrition, a firm purpose of amendment, and concrete acts of penance and reparation. Rather than hiding from God because of our sins, we are called to approach Christ in humility and faith, saying: “Lord, I am a sinful man. Forgive me, and give me new life.”

In the 250th year of American independence, this sermon reflects on Christ’s command, “Be ye therefore perfect,” and applies it to both personal Christian life and the life of the nation. America’s greatness has historically been found not in tearing down, but in building up—through the Declaration of Independence, reconciliation after the Civil War, and unity in times of crisis. Yet today’s growing division and hostility threaten that common purpose. The sermon calls Christians to resist hatred, love even their enemies, and work for reconciliation, trusting in divine Providence and seeking the rebuilding of society according to God’s will.

Christ calls us not to judge or condemn, but to be merciful as our Father is merciful. This requires real spiritual discipline: regular prayer, obedience to God’s Word, participation in the Church’s worship, Holy Communion, and Confession. As athletes train for victory, Christians must exercise themselves unto godliness, trusting that God will bring them through the sufferings of this present time into the glorious liberty of His children.

Christ, the Good Shepherd, seeks and saves every lost soul. Drawing on the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, the sermon reminds us that we are all sinners in need of rescue from pride, despair, and death. Through His precious blood, Christ redeems us and prepares for us the eternal joy of His heavenly Kingdom.

The Parable of the Great Supper reveals God's gracious invitation to salvation through Jesus Christ. While God has prepared everything necessary for our redemption, many place worldly concerns, possessions, or even good gifts above their relationship with Him. The message reminds us that salvation rests not on our worthiness but on God's grace, calling us to repentance, faith, and joyful acceptance of the eternal feast prepared for His redeemed people.

In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Jesus overturns the values by which people often judge one another. Wealth, status, and outward respectability do not determine a person's standing before God; what matters is the condition of the heart. The sermon exposes the subtle pride and self-sufficiency that can separate us from God, reminding us that salvation is received solely through His grace. Having been loved and carried by that grace, Christians are called to respond by loving others with humility and compassion.

The Holy Trinity is not an abstract doctrine reserved for theologians—it is the heart of the Christian faith and the foundation of our salvation. This sermon shows how the Father created us, the Son redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit brings us to new life through faith and Baptism. It reminds us that God does not stand far off from our struggles but comes to us in love, offering forgiveness, renewal, and eternal life. In response to such love, Christians are called to trust God, follow Christ, and live as His children.

The question of who the Holy Ghost is is far more important than many people realize. To know God as He truly is is not only a matter of truth but of life itself, for our relationship with Him shapes both our present existence and our eternal destiny. The Holy Ghost is the third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Lord and Giver of Life, who brings us into communion with God and pours His love into our hearts. Through Him we receive forgiveness, renewal, spiritual gifts, and the grace to grow in holiness.

In an age dominated by misinformation, fear, and division, one question echoes more urgently than ever: What is truth? Beginning with Pilate’s question to Jesus, this message explores how modern society has lost confidence in truth itself—and why only Christ can restore it. Through reflections on repentance, humility, courage, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Christians are called to reject falsehood and live boldly in the light of eternal truth.

On the Feast of the Ascension, this sermon asks a profound question: Where is God? Drawing from Solomon’s prayer and the words of Christ, it proclaims that God is not distant or absent, but near to His people in every moment of life. Through Jesus’ incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension, the way to heaven has been opened, and believers are invited to live in the presence of God both now and forever.

What does it take for civilized people to forget compassion, humility, and conscience? This sermon confronts the uncomfortable truth that even those who consider themselves “good” are far closer to spiritual collapse than they imagine. Set in the joy of Easter yet grounded in the reality of human weakness, it explores why repentance is not only for notorious sinners, but for every soul that falls short of divine love. Through Scripture, personal reflection, and a striking real-life story of people unraveling under pressure, the message points to the only true hope for humanity: the mercy of God revealed in the crucified and risen Jesus Christ.

In this thoughtful sermon for the Fourth Sunday after Easter, Bishop Robert Hammond reflects on the Book of Common Prayer’s petition that God would “teach our unruly wills” to love what He loves and direct our affections toward the true joys found only in Christ. The sermon emphasizes that the ultimate purpose of the Church is to draw people into Christ and make them more Christ-like. Amid the “sundry changes” and uncertainties of life, believers are reminded that God alone remains constant and faithful. Bishop Hammond also points to the coming celebrations of Ascension Day and Pentecost, reminding believers of Christ’s promise to send the Holy Spirit—the Comforter and Spirit of Truth—to guide and strengthen His people.

Christ did not die and rise for Himself, but for us—so that our sins might be forgiven and we might share in eternal life. Through faith and baptism, we are united with Him: we die to sin and begin a new life in righteousness.

For now, we live in the “little while” between Christ’s ascension and His return. This life includes struggle, sorrow, and opposition, yet it is marked by hope. Jesus promises that our sorrow will be turned into joy, and that the glory ahead is greater than anything we can imagine.

This hope calls us to live faithfully. Our choices matter—not only for ourselves, but for others who may come to know God through us. Though we do not yet see Christ, He has not left us. He will return, and when He does, our joy will be complete and everlasting.

Humanity often forgets God and trusts in its own power, like people who, after mastering nature, forget their dependence on it. Like sheep without a shepherd, people who turn away from God risk confusion, danger, and spiritual emptiness.

Yet God is the Good Shepherd, not a tyrant. He cares for His people, sustains them, and in Christ gives His life to save them. True wisdom is recognizing our need for Him rather than chasing temporary things that cannot give lasting life.

The call is to turn back to God, trust in His care, and follow Him, knowing that in Him alone are true life, beauty, and salvation.

Jesus calls His disciples to bear witness to Him and share the message of salvation with the world. The Church is not a social group but God’s instrument, belonging to the Lord and sent to proclaim His unchanging truth.

As a congregation, believers are called out of sin and gathered together as one body—no one can live the Christian life alone. The Church is like a family, where members support one another rather than abandon each other, following Christ’s example of patience and mercy.

Through the parish, God continues to care for His people by giving His Word, the sacraments, forgiveness of sins, and many blessings. All of this is part of the rich grace entrusted to the Church, which believers are called to receive with gratitude and share with others, so that all may come to eternal life in Christ.

Mary Magdalene believed she had lost everything when Jesus died—He had given her new life, and without Him, nothing seemed to remain. Even the thought of His lifeless body was a last comfort, and when it was gone, her grief felt complete and hopeless.

Yet her despair reflects a deeper truth about humanity: we feel lost without God. But unlike us, God never loses hope. Out of His love, He sent His Son to restore us—not only to forgive, but to give us new and greater life.

The resurrection of Jesus transforms everything. What seemed like the end becomes a new beginning: death is not the final word, and in Christ, hope is never lost. What Mary thought was the loss of everything was, in truth, the beginning of eternal life—for her and for all who believe.