Sermons From Grace Cathedral

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco The Fourth Sunday in Easter, Mother's Day May 11, 2025   Acts 9:36-43 Psalm 23 Revelation 7:9-17 John 10:22-30

Th​is sermon explores what makes a true movement leader, building from the gospel passage from John 21 and scholarship of Raymond Brown. Love, vicarious authority, and sacrifice emerge as the Christlike qualities needed—not only in the church but in social movements today. From Occupy to Black Lives Matter, we see the power and risk of decentralized movements. Our call as people of faith is to recognize, support, and embody leadership that is loving, accountable, and willing to sacrifice for the common good.   Easter 3C RCL: • Acts 9:1-6,(7-20) • Psalm 30 • Revelation 5:11-14 • John 21:1-19

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA 2F13 Easter Sunday (Year C) 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Eucharist Sunday 20 April 2025   Acts 10:34-43 Psalm 118:1,2,14-24 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 Luke 24:1-12

In this sermon, the Rev. Canon Anna E. Rossi explores the profound theological and emotional struggle to find meaning and God's presence amid suffering and atrocity, using the lens of the aftermath of the Shoah (Holocaust.) In all circumstances, even in the face of overwhelming evil, there is a human impulse to seek understanding through faith. The message affirms God's presence not in power or escape, but in solidarity with suffering —  applying Jewish feminist theologian Melissa Rafael’s assertion that God is in the ashes.” Through the crucifixion, it portrays divine compassion and calls the faithful to witness, serve, and love amid injustice, embodying Christ’s presence in a wounded world.

The Rev. Canon Mary Carter Greene Grace Cathedral, San Francisco   Exodus 12:1-14 Psalm 116:1, 10-17  1 Corinthians 1:23-26 John 13:1-17,31b-35

Clergy and laity of the diocese gather to renew their vows of ordination and services in a beautiful Holy Week liturgy with the Rt. Rev. Austin Keith Rios, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, preaching and presiding. This year, we will joyfully install the Very Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge as Dean of the San Francisco Deanery. Further, Oil of Chrism is consecrated in the midst of the liturgy, and healing oil blessed. Oils will be made available to the congregations of the diocese, and containers will be provided.

In her Palm Sunday homily, Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde reflects on the tension between purposeful action and humble acceptance, using Jesus’ journey to the cross as a model of courageous surrender. She draws on Scripture, the Serenity Prayer, and personal experience to explore how we are called to live with intention even when faced with hardship or circumstances beyond our control. Jesus' deliberate path into Jerusalem and his ultimate acceptance of suffering illustrate a profound trust in God—not passivity, but a love-rooted surrender that brings strength and freedom. Budde invites listeners to open their hearts during Holy Week, to name their struggles honestly, and to find grace in the stillness, the silence, and the shared journey with Christ through whatever cannot be changed.

The intensive sensory experience of today’s Gospel might obscure the context of a meal. This is especially poignant in a gospel that has no institution narrative, but offers a rich Eucharistic interpretation through themes of memory, community, and ethics. Mary’s act of anointing Jesus symbolizes memory, recalling Jesus’ command to remember Him. The community aspect is highlighted by Mary’s role as a full disciple, reversing social hierarchies. The ethical message challenges Judas’ insincere concern for the poor, urging the community to embody Christ’s love in service to the world. Isaiah 43:16-21 Philippians 3:4b-14 John 12:1-8 Psalm 126 Lent 5C

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco March 30, 2025   Joshua 5:9-12 Psalm 32 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Luke15:1-3, 11b-32

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA 2F12 3 Lent (Year C) 11:00 a.m. Eucharist Sunday 23 March 2025   Exodus 3:1-15 Psalm 63:1-8 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Luke 13:1-9   The time has come to change your life. Alex Ross writes about a sound and light installation by the composer John Luther Adams (1953-) at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. It is called The Place Where You Go to Listen. The title refers to Naalagiagvik, a beach on the Arctic Ocean, where a particular Inupiaq woman could hear and understand the voices of whales, birds, other creatures and even the whole planet around her.   “O God… my soul clings to you; your right hand holds me fast” (Ps. 63).

March 16, 2025 The Second Sunday in Lent   Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 Psalm 27 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 13:31-35

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA 2F10                                            1 Lent (Year C) 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Eucharist                                      Sunday 9 March 2025 | Litany of Penitence                                          Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 Romans 10:8b-13 Luke 4:1-13   Are you living your real life? Or are you merely trying to avoid or dull the pain of existing? So much is at stake these days. And because we are involved there is no simple answer.   We give this holy instant to you O God. Guide us as we follow, certain your direction will lead us into peace. Amen. [i] [i] Based on Norwood Pratt’s prayer. “This holy instant I would give to you. Be you in charge this day. I would follow you certain your direction gives me peace. Create in me a clean heart O Lord and renew a right spirit within me” 6 March 2025.

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA 2F9 Ash Wednesday 12:00 p.m. Eucharist Isaiah 58:1-12 Psalm 103:8-14 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

The Last Sunday After the Epiphany Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA   “Enter eagerly into the treasure house that is within you, and you will see the things that are in heaven.”Amen   Exodus 34: 29-35 Psalm 99 2 Corinthians 3: 12-4: 2 Luke 9: 28-36

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA 2F7 7 Epiphany (Year C) 8:30 and 11 a.m. Eucharist Sunday 23 February 2025   Genesis 45:3-11, 15 Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42 1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-50 Luke 6:27-38   In these days of enmity how shall we live? This sermon is about the good news that even today we can live with grace and joy.   “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Lk. 6).

Cathedral , San Francisco, CA 16 February 2025   Jeremiah 17:5-10 Psalm 1 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Luke 6:17-25

Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA 2F5 5 Epiphany (Year C) 11:00 a.m. Eucharist Sunday 9 February 2025   ​Isaiah 6:1-8 ​Psalm 138 ​1 Corinthians 15:1-11 ​Luke 5:1-11 “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets… do not be afraid (Lk. 5).” This week with great emotion my friend Erin said to a group of us, “What do I do?” I take this to mean, “In the midst of unprecedented political turmoil (for instance, when USAID has ceased to exist), how do we respond to the fear surrounding us?”    

​Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA 2F4​ The Feast of the Presentation 11 a.m. Eucharist​ Sunday 2 February 2025 | Displacing 4 Epiphany ​ Malachi 3:1-4 Psalm 24:7-10 Hebrews 2:14-18 Luke 2:22-40   What exactly is a sermon? What are we doing together and what do we hope happens? This might seem like an unimportant question to ask. In the last two weeks 1500 January 6 rioters were pardoned or had their sentences commuted and many wonder if right-wing militias now regard themselves as immune to prosecution. $3 trillion dollars in federal grants were frozen and then unfrozen. A letter went out to 2 million federal employees (twice) asking them to resign. Hundreds of other government employees including civil servants at the highest level of our justice system have been fired. 25% tariffs are being imposed on our closest neighbors and trading partners. We see preparations for mass deportations. We hear ominously repeated phrases like,“defending women from gender ideology extremism,” and, “restoring biological tru