Author: Rev. Jeffrey Tooke

  • Advent 4C – Mary, the Prophet of Disruption

    Rev. Jeffrey Tooke

    Our readings today at Trinity Buffalo were from Advent 4C: Micah 5:2-5a, the poem “God Says Yes to Me” by Kaylin Haught, and Luke 1:39-55 in which we hear about Mary being the prophet of disruption and we explore what it means for God to say “yes” to us and for us to respond to… Read more

  • Advent 2C – John: The Real Nowhere Man

    Rev. Jeffrey Tooke

    Our readings today at St. Paul’s in Lewiston, NY, and St. Andrew’s in Burt, NY, are Baruch 5:1-9, The Song of Zechariah, Philippians 1:3-11, and Luke 3:1-6 in which we hear that the Word of God came to John, a nobody in the desert, and we explore how John’s proclamation of a baptism of repentance… Read more

  • Proper 29-B – What do we say that this reign of Jesus is like?

    Rev. Jeffrey Tooke

    Today, our readings at St. John’s Grace, Buffalo, NY, are 2 Samuel 23: 1-7, Psalm 132: 1-13 (14-19), Revelation 1:4b-8 and John 18: 33-37. We hear about the challenge of this reign of servanthood, a reign unlike any others, and ask ourselves how we can response to our call to embody this reign in our… Read more

  • Proper 27B – The Widow’s Lesson of Stewardship: Who do we say that we are?

    Rev. Jeffrey Tooke

    Our readings today at St. Paul’s in Lewiston, NY, and St. Andrew’s in Burt, NY, were 1 Kings 17:8-16. Psalm 146, Hebrews 9:24-28 and Mark 12:38-44. We look at the lesson of stewardship through the story of the widow, learning that perhaps stewardship has much to do with who we say that we are. Proper… Read more

  • Proper 25B – Adjusting our lens with Bartimaeus

    Rev. Jeffrey Tooke

    Our readings today at St. Martin-in-the Fields on Grand Island, NY, were Jeremiah 31:7-9, Psalm 126, Hebrews 7:23-28 and Mark 10:46-52. We learn that by adjusting our lens to see as God sees can help us to throw off our cloak and follow Jesus. Proper 25B – Adjusting our lens with Bartimaeus Read more

  • Are we Preaching to the Birds?

    Rev. Jeffrey Tooke

    Our readings today at Trinity Buffalo bring us to our end of the new Season of Creation and celebrating St. Francis with Jeremiah 22:13-16, a quote from “Our Relationship with Creation” by Brother Keith Nelson, SSJE, and Luke 12:22-32. We hear about God’s dream of our oneness with Him, Creation and one another, and whether… Read more

  • Proper 20B – Yes, Jesus Loves Me

    Rev. Jeffrey Tooke

    Our readings today at St. Mark’s and All Saints, Buffalo, NY, are Proverbs 31: 10-31, Psalm 1, James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a, and Mark9:30-37. We hear about how Jesus responds when his disciples are more concerned about greatness than the journey ahead. We learn that despite missing the mark, God wants our “yes” to Him and Beloved… Read more

  • Proper 18B – Some Truth Telling for Jesus

    Rev. Jeffrey Tooke

    Our readings at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church were Proverbs 22: 1-2, 8-9, 22-23; Psalm 125; Isaiah 35: 4-7a; Psalm 146; James 2: 1-10, [11-13], 14-17 and Mark 7: 24-37 using the Vanderbilt Lectionary presentation for today. We hear of truth telling for Jesus about his mission being beyond the House of Israel and the ramifications for… Read more

  • Proper 16B – Yuck!? What is Jesus saying?

    Rev. Jeffrey Tooke

    Today, our readings are 1 Kings 8:(1,6,10-11), 22-30, 41-43, Psalm 84, Ephesians 6:10-20 John 6:56-69. We hear Jesus use imagery that was sure to upset and disgust his listeners, but if we try to understand through a clearer lens, it seems that he is expressing the desire to be our everything and to have us… Read more

  • Proper 14B – Master Chef of the Universe

    Rev. Jeffrey Tooke

    Today, our readings were 1 Kings 19:4-8, “Daily Communion at the MiniMart on Rte 31” by Brooke James, and John 6:35, 41-51. Everyone is hungry for something, and everyone has something to offer. We are bread for one another if we embrace vulnerability with our self and others. Read more