Thoughts on Faith

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Deeper Reflection

1. In what areas of my life do I feel a need for transformation or change? How can I invite God’s love into those areas?
2. How do I perceive God’s love in my life? Am I more focused on trying to deserve that love, or on receiving it fully?
3. What are some specific “fruits” I can bear in my daily actions and relationships that reflect God’s love and transformation?
4. Reflecting on the examples from John the Baptist, what does it mean for me to change the way I hold my possessions, engage in my work, or exercise my privilege?
5. How can I create space in my heart and life this Advent season to truly listen to the call for transformation, and what steps can I take to live into that change?

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Further Reflection

1. How do the “wilderness moments” in my own life allow me to hear and connect with God more deeply?
2. In what ways can I intentionally carve out time during this Advent season to step away from my daily distractions and enter into silence?
3. How can the message of John the Baptist challenge me this Advent season to prepare my heart for the coming of Christ amidst the busyness of holiday celebrations?

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Further Reflection

1. In what moments do you find yourself feeling weighed down by worry, and how might shifting your focus to the anticipation of Christ’s coming help alleviate those burdens?
2. What practices or habits can you implement to help raise your awareness of God’s presence throughout your day?
3. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by worry. How might the message of Advent reshape your understanding of that experience?

Resources for Further Reflection

Essay: “On Living in an Atomic Age” by C.S. Lewis
I came across this letter/ essay by C.S. Lewis this week that he wrote in response to a letter expressing fear and anxiety around the beginning of the atomic age (this essay was published in 1948). While the atomic age continues to be something very concerning, I thought C.S. Lewis’ somewhat direct response of realism was relevant for all fears and worries that weigh us down, atomic or otherwise. In it he writes,

“This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together. If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs. They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds.”

C.S. Lewis “On Living in an Atomic Age”

You may find the rest of the essay interesting and can find it at the link above.

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Further Reflection

1. In what ways can we identify moments in our own lives when fear feels overwhelming, and how might we apply the message of “do not be alarmed” to those situations?
2. What does the metaphor of Jesus as a cosmic midwife mean to you, and how can it encourage you during times of personal turmoil or fear?
3. How can we cultivate trust in our lives, as described in the homily, amidst the uncertainties and challenges we face in today’s world?
4. In what practical ways can we support others who may be feeling like their world is ending, reflecting the calm and steady presence of the midwife as portrayed in this message?

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Further Reflection

1. In what areas of my life do I often feel inadequate or overwhelmed, and how can I shift my perspective to see that even my small contributions can hold great value when offered in love?
2. How do I define “enough” when it comes to my time, resources, and energy? Am I too focused on what I lack rather than what I can offer?
3. What specific actions can I take this week to practice giving what I have—whether it’s time, support, or resources—with intention and love?

Find the full text here.

Questions for Personal Reflection

1. If I could share a meal with anyone, either living or deceased, who would it be and why do they hold such significance for me?
2. Reflect on a time when I felt the weight of loss. How did that experience shape my understanding of death and resurrection?
3. In what ways can I cultivate a deeper sense of communion with those who have gone before me, acknowledging their presence in my life today?

Find the full text of the homily here.

Questions for Deeper Reflection

1. In what ways have I approached my faith community as a consumer rather than as a member of the community? How might I shift this perspective?
2. How do I typically respond when my needs are not met within my church or faith community? What does this reveal about my mindset?
3. What specific roles or actions can I take to contribute to the loving, serving community that St. Peter’s calls us to embody?

A homily for the Transitus of St. Francis. Find the full text of the homily here.

In this Sacred Story, Fr. Derek tells us about St. Francis, Matthew 11:25, and the special job children have at church.

Sacred Stories with Fr. Derek is a collection of short children’s homilies by the Rev. Derek Larson, TSSF, priest at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Plant City, FL. The homilies are given live on the last Sunday of the month at our family service at 10:30am.

You can find out more about our community here: www.StPetersPlantCity.com.