Sunday’s Sermon with the Rev. Michael Mayor - Christ Episcopal Church of Puyallup

In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus teaches forgiveness through a parable of a master forgiving a slave’s debt, only for the slave to refuse forgiveness to another. In this sermon Fr. Mike points out that this highlights, among other things, the importance of forgiveness and accountability within the community of faith, and that forgiveness should create space for repentance and renewal, while also holding one another accountable.

Read beyond the call for discipline, Matthew 18:15-20 emphasizes the importance of community and the call to be a community of care and love. It highlights the need for patience, forgiveness, and engagement, even when it is difficult, to build a strong and loving community. In this sermon Fr. Mike reminds us that community is where we encounter God, and through our willingness to love and serve, we can grow into the image of God and the community of Christ.

Jesus’ call for self-denial and taking up one’s cross is a challenge to live in the world in a different way. In this sermon Fr. Mike invites us to see this challenge as an invitation to embrace a radical realignment of values, recognizing the impermanence of worldly things and practicing non-attachment. Through this often difficult journey we are lead to a profound transformation, that results in nothing less than the discovery of the sacred in our lives.

Peter’s proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, highlights the importance of faith and faithfulness in building the community of the faithful. Fr. Mike explores how the flaws of Peter are of less importance than his faith in Jesus and how the Church is called to be a community of authenticity, love, and reconciliation, transforming lives and embodying God’s redemption.

In Matthew 15, the great faith of the Canaanite woman in the face of Jesus rebuke invites us to explore the role of faith as an agent for change in ourselves and others. In this sermon, Fr. Mike invites us to explore how faith and persistence teach us something about the universal nature of God’s mercy and the need to transcend cultural biases.

In Gospel of Matthew’s account of Jesus walking on the water Peter faces a challenge of faith in the midst of the storm. All of us face stormy times even as we try to live a life of faith. Fr. Mike invites us in this sermon to consider how we might be agents of change and transformation even when faced with overwhelming circumstances.

In this Sermon based on Matthew 14:13-21, Fr. Mike invites us to explore the story of Jesus feeding of the five thousand; a miracle that is about scarcity and abundance. How might we live in the reality of abundance and not scarcity, while acknowledging the truth of what we have? It is in an invitation to discovering nothing less than the Kingdom of God.

In this sermon Fr. Mike emphasizes that while many feel burdened by expectations of perfection and fear of divine judgment, Jesus offers a different way rooted in God’s unconditional love. By embracing this love and living in its reality, followers in the way of Jesus can find transformation, compassion, and true rest for their souls.

Jesus words in Matthew 10:40-42 are all about hospitality. In this sermon we explore the hospitality to which each of us is called and the challenges we face in doing so. How might we live into the radical hospitality of God and overcome the fears that keep us from receiving the rewards of doing so? 

In this sermon, Fr. Mike explores Jesus' challenging words about discipleship, fear, and divided loyalties. He reminds us that following Christ means more than admiring his teachings—it means shaping our lives after his example, even when doing so creates tension or discomfort. Jesus calls his followers to place their trust in God above their fears and to make the Kingdom of God their highest priority, even above family ties when conflicts arise. Ultimately, the sermon invites us to embrace courageous, wholehearted discipleship and discover the deeper life and freedom found in following Christ.