Charles Hawkins

Homily for Easter 2 Year C 2025 Revelation 1:4–8 Grace to you, and peace— peace from the One who is, and who was, and who is to come. [1] That’s how it begins. Not just a hello, not just a good morning, but a thunderclap of eternity. From the edge of empire, a voice is writing. Not from Rome. Not from the temple in Jerusalem. Not from a palace. But from exile. A man named John. Not John the Baptist. Not John the disciple. Just—John. Writing from Patmos, a rocky outcrop in the Aegean, a place where prophets get parked when the empire doesn’t like what they say. And John writes to seven churches—real places. Smyrna. Pergamum. Laodicea. Little gatherings of Jesus-followers, meeting behind closed doors, watching their backs. Because Rome was watching. And Rome didn’t like rivals. Now John writes what nobody dares to say aloud: Jesus—not Caesar—is Lord. [2] Not only that—Jesus is ruler of the kings of the earth. Did you hear it? Ruler. Of all of them. Of Nero. Of Domitian. Of the local gove...

“Charles Manson stole this song from the Beatles… and we’re stealing it back.” —Bono, before launching into  Helter Skelter For too long, the Book of Revelation has been misused—twisted into fear, fire, and fortune-telling. But this Easter season at St. John’s, we’re taking it back. Over six Sundays, we’ll walk through the lectionary’s readings from Revelation—not as a secret code, but as a defiant song of  hope . These are visions from the edge of empire, words of worship and resistance, written to strengthen the weary and comfort the oppressed. 📍 Join us as we rediscover: 🔹 A faithful God beyond time (Rev. 1:4–8) 🔹 A Lamb who conquers not with violence, but with mercy (Rev. 5:11–14) 🔹 A multitude, robed in grace, from every nation (Rev. 7:9–17) 🔹 A new heaven, new earth—and no more tears (Rev. 21:1–6) 🔹 A city radiant with healing and light (Rev. 21:10, 22–22:5) 🔹 A final call to come, to drink, to hope again (Rev. 22:12–21) 🕊️ This is not a book of escape. It is a b...

  “Gracious God, the Beyond in the midst of our life, you gave grace to your servant Dietrich Bonhoeffer to know and to teach the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, and to bear the cost of following him…” The life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a unity of faith, prayer, writing, and action. Born on February 4, 1906, Bonhoeffer’s path was one of deep commitment to the truth of the Gospel, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. From his early studies at the universities of Berlin and Tübingen, culminating in his doctoral thesis  Communio Sanctorum  in 1930, Bonhoeffer demonstrated a keen theological mind. Yet, it was not just his intellect that set him apart—it was his unwavering dedication to live out the teachings of Jesus Christ in every aspect of his life. When the shadows of Nazism began to spread over Germany in 1933, Bonhoeffer didn’t remain silent. He stood in protest against the regime from the very beginning. Even during his time pastoring two small congregations in...

Has anyone asked you this year:  “What have you given up for Lent?” As a sign of sacrifice and self-discipline, Christians often will “fast” (abstain) from something during the season of Lent.  We do so partly to imitate Jesus when he went into the desert to pray and fast for 40 days.  We read the story of Jesus going into the desert and being tempted by Satan on the first Sunday of Lent.  Inspired by the example of Jesus, some Christians therefore, fast for the 40 days of Lent. As you know, season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (better known to some as the day after Mardi Gras), and lasts 40 days (not counting Sundays, which are always feast days).   Fasting during Lent is not required of Episcopalians, though many do observe the season by fasting (giving something up for Lent).  Strictly speaking there are only two “fasts” on the Episcopal church calendar:  Ash Wednesday, and Good Friday. But, for our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ, a...

I'm thinking about my sermon for this coming Sunday.  The texts are: Jeremiah 17:5-10, Psalm 1, 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 6:17-26 **** You’ve built your life on what seemed like an unshakable foundation—your career, your family, your plans for the future. Everything feels solid, reliable—until suddenly, it begins to crack. You get the phone call you weren’t expecting. The doctor gives you the news you feared. The job you thought would last forever disappears overnight. You find yourself standing in the rubble of what used to be solid ground. This isn’t just a personal experience; we see it reflected in the world around us. Consider the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria, where thousands of lives were lost, and entire communities were reduced to rubble in a matter of moments. Homes, schools, and businesses—all the things people relied on for security—gone in an instant. News reports speak of survivors clinging to hope, waiting for rescue beneath the debris, their lives hanging...

Pollyanna sat in stillness, her gaze fixed on the crutches propped against the wall. They were far from the gift she had imagined, something playful or bright that might bring a smile to her face. Instead, they were these wooden supports—useless to her own healthy limbs and yet given to her as a present. Disappointment washed over her, and she made no attempt to hide it. Her father, noticing her downcast eyes, spoke softly. “My dear Pollyanna, it’s all right to feel disappointed. Even for people of faith, the first step is to name our feelings honestly. Yet remember that every gift—even one we don’t expect or understand—carries a meaning that gratitude can unveil.” Pollyanna tilted her head. “But Father, how can I be glad about something I don’t even need?” A gentle smile crossed his face. “Gratitude,” he replied, “is not just about what we want or what serves us. It’s about seeing the love of the giver and trusting that, in god’s providence, even an odd or unwanted gift can be part of...