Sermon Reflections

On May 4th—affectionately known to some as Star Wars Sunday—Father Bob Wismer delivered a sermon that probed far deeper than its playful opening might suggest. Drawing from the Gospel of John (21:1–19), Revelation, and the story of Saul’s conversion, the sermon titled “Who Are You?” invited listeners to reflect on the nature of identity, recognition, and what it truly means to follow Jesus.

Through a rich blend of Scripture, theology, and cultural reference, Father Bob explored how the risen Christ reveals himself not only in moments of divine power, but in the midst of our everyday failures, fears, and questions. As the disciples encountered Jesus on the shore after a fruitless night of fishing, we too are invited to recognize him—sometimes only after he blesses what seemed like a misguided endeavor.

This reflection offers a deeper look at the themes of the sermon and encourages readers to consider: Who is Jesus, really—and in discovering that, who are we?

Watch the Sermon here.

Fear is a deeply human, embodied experience—and the disciples knew it well. Locked behind closed doors after the crucifixion, their bodies held the weight of trauma. And yet, when Jesus appeared among them, his first word was not judgment, but peace.

This peace was more than a feeling—it was presence. Jesus showed them his scars, not to reopen wounds, but to reveal a love that outlasts death. Then, with breath and Spirit, he filled them with the very peace he carried.

Rev. Katie reminded us that we, too, are offered this indwelling peace. Even when we cannot see him, we can feel him—deep in our bones, in our breath, in our being. And we are called to carry that peace into a world aching with fear.

Show up.

Be present.

Let peace live through you.

Watch the sermon here.

On Easter morning, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb expecting grief, silence, and a dead body. What she found instead shattered her expectations and rewrote reality.

Mother Emily Hylden reminded us that we, like Mary, often approach God through the lens of past experiences and assumptions. But Jesus isn’t bound by what we expect. When he calls Mary by name, she recognizes him—not as a memory, but as the Risen Christ who changes everything.

This resurrection isn’t like Lazarus’s return to ordinary life. It is, as Mother Emily says, “the central event of all time—the fulcrum of reality.” It doesn’t restore the old—it remakes the world. It obliterates the belief that death, brokenness, or addiction have the final word.

Each Sunday, we return to this truth: Christ is risen. And in his rising, we are called not to cling to the past, but to live in a transformed present—one where grace breaks in and nothing can ever be the same.

Watch the sermon here.

Palm Sunday is more than a parade—it is the beginning of a divine revolution. In his sermon, Father Bob Wismer reminds us that Jesus didn’t enter Jerusalem to be crowned by the crowd, but to transform the very way we meet God.

His destination wasn’t a throne—it was the temple. And there, through his death and resurrection, Jesus didn’t destroy the old system. He became its fulfillment. The temple curtain tore. Access to God opened. The Holy of Holies now walks among us, and we meet him at the Communion table—the new table of presence.

The stones of the temple may fall, but we are called to become living stones, shaped by grace and built into a spiritual house. As Holy Week unfolds, we remember: the same Jesus who entered Jerusalem in triumph is the one who shatters death and invites all creation to sing.

Watch the sermon here.

What does it mean to live with an abundance mindset? Rev. Katie Gould invites us to reflect on this through the story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet—an extravagant act of love and gratitude. While Judas reacts from fear and practicality, Mary responds with bold generosity, pouring out what may have been her most valuable possession.

Scarcity tells us to hold back. Abundance trusts there will be enough. Rev. Katie reminded us that God’s grace is not finite, and the blessings we receive are meant to be shared.

At St. Francis, we are already a people shaped by generosity. But the invitation is ongoing: to live with open hands, to give from the heart, and to let every act of service become worship.

Gratitude. Generosity. Trust.

That’s how abundance takes root.

Watch the sermon here.

In his sermon on the Parable of the Lost Sons, Father Stuart Bates reminded us that the true heart of the story isn’t just about rebellion or resentment—it’s about the nature of God as our compassionate, merciful, and loving Father.

Both sons in the story were lost in different ways: one ran far from home; the other stayed close but lived in resentment. Yet neither truly knew their father’s heart. The tragedy of the parable, Father Bates says, is not just the brokenness of the sons—but that they didn’t realize how deeply they were loved.

God invites us not to relate to him from fear or duty, but from love—a love rooted in grace. The Father’s embrace is wide enough for both the rebellious and the righteous. The call is simple and profound: Arise and go to the Father. His heart is waiting.

Watch the Sermon here.