Sermons from St. Francis
Listen to sermons and homilies from Sunday Mass at St. Francis.
Sermon for October 19, 2025
A reflection on St. Paul’s thanksgiving in 1 Corinthians 1: “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him.” October brought hopeful news of Anglican reunion alongside deep divisions in the wider Anglican world. Yet arguing over which church is right will not get anyone into heaven, and meanness, mockery, and disrespect toward others are not what Christ died to teach us. The world is watching how Christians treat one another, and we are called to hold fast to the faith while behaving as children of God, for the Church is the hope of the world.
Sermon for October 12, 2025
A reflection on Ephesians 4: “Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Like a demanding pharmacy professor who trained her students to give their very best, our careful and reverent style of worship asks every person to give their full attention and heart to God. We are not perfect people, but we desire to become more Christlike. The Mass may seem the same each week, yet each time we hear God’s message more clearly as we grow along the road to heaven.
Sermon for October 5, 2025
A reflection for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Mark 10, where a rich young man who has kept the commandments asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and told him to sell all he had, give to the poor, and follow Him, and the young man went away sorrowful. Jesus knew what was in his heart: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” St. Francis gave up his father’s wealth to follow Christ and found heavenly riches here on earth, and each of us must choose whom we will serve.
Sermon for September 28, 2025
A reflection on Revelation 12, where Michael and his angels fight against the dragon and Satan is cast out of heaven. For a child growing up in the Cold War, the thought of war even in heaven was frightening, but it reveals a God who gives His creatures the freedom to follow Him or to go their own way. The cleansing of evil that began in heaven continues on earth, and some will choose to turn back to God while others will not. Heaven will be a place of perfect joy and peace, and to all who receive Christ, He gives power to become the sons of God.
Sermon for September 21, 2025
A reflection on John 3:16 and 17: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.” If God is love, why does He allow those He loves to suffer? Even an artificial intelligence can describe why love is hard and offer sensible advice, but it misses what matters most: faith comes from the heart, not the head, and it carries us when knowledge fails. Like the Father who watched His Son suffer on the cross for a purpose, God sometimes lets us walk through hard times so that our faith can grow stronger, and His love for us never fails.
Sermon for September 14, 2025
A reflection on St. Paul’s words in Galatians that the law reveals our sin so that the promise of faith in Christ might be given to those who believe. Just as we improve at golf or flying by recognizing our mistakes, God’s plan helps us grow: the law shows us what not to do, Christ and the Holy Spirit show us what to do, and then it is up to us to live it. In the wake of a recent act of political violence and the anger that followed, Christ’s call in St. Luke to love our enemies and pray for those who hurt us stands out. Choosing Christ means choosing love over hatred.