Preaching among the Palms

Easter 4 Sermon—April 26, 2026

Fr. Grady honors the Daughters of the King and their history of prayer, service, and evangelism. The readings for today also teach us about prayer, service, and evangelism. The Acts passage talks about how in the first days of the church powerful prayer led to humble service, which in turn led to dynamic and effective evangelism.

Easter 3 Sermon—April 19, 2026

Fr. Jeff recalls how a professor at the theological school where he studied used to challenge his students with the question: "When and where was the first Eucharist celebrated?" You can make a convincing argument that it happens on the road to Emmaus, which is the subject of today's Gospel reading from Luke 24. The church today is much like the disciples on the road who encounter Jesus without recognizing him. Today the church still practices the ministry of preaching, which Jesus himself did for the two disciples; and we still administer the Eucharist, which Jesus also does for the first time with the two disciples.

Easter 2 Sermon—April 12, 2026

Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection and gives them parting commands and gifts that will help them fulfill his commands. Thomas misses out on the first encounter and claims he will not believe unless he can probe the risen Lord's bodily wounds. Fr. Jeff accounts for doubt as being potentially related to Thomas's moniker: the Twin. To doubt is not to be less than sure; to doubt is to be double-minded, to place a constraint on our willingness to believe. But God has a way of tearing away our excuses...

Easter Sunday—April 5, 2026

Fr. Grady recapitulates the events of Holy Week and reminds us how differently Jesus died from the thieves with whom he was crucified and how he alone rose from the dead, achieving victory over sin and death. The disorder of the previous several days has given way to a totally new order and new reality for all who believe in the risen one.

Easter Vigil—April 4, 2026

Fr. Jeff breaks down the Gospel of Matthew's resurrection appearance of Jesus to the two Marys into two simple ideas: see and go. Throughout this passage, again and again, the command to see and go is repeated, until the very end of the chapter, when Jesus commands his disciples to go to all nations baptizing the converted and see that he will be with them always, even unto the end of the age.