April 16, 2023 Acts 2:14a, 22-32; John 20:19-31 But [Thomas] said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Thomas is the apostle known for his disbelief, “Doubting Thomas” being a common reference for him. How did…
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 by Rev. Mark J.T. Caggiano (Page 6)
March 19, 2023 1 Samuel 16:7-13, John 9:1-7 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Who sinned? The man, who was born blind? Or his parents, whose sin was to be passed along to their son? Jesus rejects that line of…
March 12, 2023 Exodus 17:1-7; John 4:31-38 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” This is a common Biblical metaphor. You reap what you have sown. That is a more accusatory version of the metaphor, however.…
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 15, 2023 Isaiah 49:1-7; John 1:29-42 He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” This weekend we turn our minds toward a servant…