June 4, 2023 Genesis 1:1-5; Matthew 28:16-20 In the beginning there was darkness. In the beginning there was a formless void. In the beginning there was chaos. And then, that changed. Light came into being. Light which was good, light which broke open the darkness. Imagine the very beginning. Prior to that moment, there was no beginning, at least no beginning in…
A Christian Unitarian Church Serving Newton, Brookline, and the Boston Area since 1861
Sunday Service at 10:30am
Rev. Mark J.T. Caggiano
26 Suffolk Road
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Sermons on Matthew
February 26, 2023 Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7; Matthew 4:1-11 In the Book of Genesis, the first man and woman are offered paradise with one condition; that they not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. And yet they are tempted to do so by the serpent. God cautioned that the man and woman would die if they ate from the…
February 19, 2023 Exodus 24:12-18; Matthew 17:1-9 And [Jesus] was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Today is Transfiguration Sunday. It recalls the transfiguration of both Moses and Jesus. What does it mean to be transfigured? One becomes enshrouded in light, with the face and body and even clothing shining brightly. This…
February 12, 2023 Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Matthew 5:21-37 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering…
February 5, 2023 Isaiah 58:1-9a; Matthew 5:13-20 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. This is not intended as practical advice about illuminating one’s home. It is about how we are to act in this world. Not only to follow the ways of Jesus,…
January 29, 2023 Micah 6:1-8; Matthew 5:1-12 [W]hat does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? This is a familiar phrase, one from our prayerbook. One that often opens our service. And it is an important phrase, a keystone of ethical teachings. Do justice, love kindness, walk humbly. What…
January 22, 2023 Isaiah 9:1-4; Matthew 4:12-23 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. The Book of Isaiah anticipates a change. Darkness is interrupted by light. And people shrouded in darkness, upon them light has shined. We might ask, what did they see? What…
January 8, 2023 Isaiah 42:1-9, Matthew 3:13-17 He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. Cornell West once said that justice is what love looks like in public. Which sounds catchy, but…