Going DeeperWith Christ Episcopal Church
by Friends
These podcasts, drawn from sermons, Scripture readings and classes at Christ Episcopal Church in Canon City, Colorado, explore and support the depth of Christian experience and development. Our point of view is influenced by Fr. Richard Rohr, Fr. Thomas Keating, and other contemplative Christians as well as our own contemplative practice.
Episodes
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Thank You Father Mark
Father Mark Meyer retired from Christ Episcopal Church in Canon City, Colorado, on January 25, 2026. In this video, some of the many people who know and love him shared their stories.
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Shining Through Us All
Shining Through Us All Matthew 5:14-16 Father Mark reflects with deep gratitude on his 28 years of ministry at Christ Church, recognizing how profoundly the community has shaped his spiritual growth. He names his journey toward greater maturity, humility, compassion, and openness, crediting the...
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God-Shaped Hole
God-Shaped Hole John 1:29-42 John the Baptist points his disciples to Jesus as the Lamb of God, and they respond by leaving everything to follow him. When Jesus asks, “What are you looking for?” the sermon frames this as a profound spiritual question. The disciples were not seeking worldly…
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Named By God
Named by God Matthew 3:13-17 Father Mark reflects on Jesus’ baptism, where Jesus is publicly named by God as “my beloved Son,” and connects this moment to a personal story from seminary, when he was mistakenly accused of owing money on a Sears credit card. Though innocent, he was treated as a…
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What We Truly Worship
What We Truly Worship Matthew 2:1-12 Father Mark reflects on the Gospel of the Magi to proclaim that Christ’s birth is truly good news of great joy for all people—across politics, nations, cultures, religions, and identities. The wise men, likely Zoroastrian priests from Persia, encounter God not...
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Christ's Light is Stronger
Christ’s Light is Stronger John 1:1–18 The sermon begins by naming the weariness many people feel toward the constant stream of bad news in the world—violence, division, cruelty, and despair. Drawing on the Prologue of John’s Gospel, Father Mark contrasts this with the Christmas proclamation that...
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A Word Beyond Ourselves
A Word Beyond Ourselves Luke 2:1–20 Luke tells the story of Jesus’ birth like a wide-angle lens that slowly zooms in. It begins with the vast power of the Roman Empire and Emperor Augustus—who claimed divine status—and then narrows steadily to a vulnerable young couple, a long journey, and a...
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Do Not Be Afraid
Do Not Be Afraid Matthew 1:18-25 The sermon begins by noting that the familiar Advent and Christmas stories can lose their shock value, causing us to miss their radical message. Matthew’s account of Mary’s pregnancy is presented as a scandal—socially, religiously, and legally. What appears to be...
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Path to Our True Selves
Path to Our True Selves Matthew 3:1-12 Father Mark reflects on why crowds flocked to hear John the Baptist’s call to repent, despite the discomfort and challenge of his message. He explains that the word repent has been distorted over centuries into a threat, but John’s original call—metanoia—is…
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Strength in Surrender
Strength in Surrender Luke 23:33-43 Father Mark begins by reflecting on Christ the King Sunday, a day when the Church proclaims Jesus as King—yet the Gospel reading presents Jesus not enthroned in glory, but crucified in weakness. While earthly kings rule through domination and triumph, Jesus...
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Bearing the Beams of Love
Bearing the Beams of Love Luke 21:5-19 Jesus stands before the dazzling Temple built by Herod—a monument to power, wealth, and ego—and warns that even this glorious structure will crumble. Father Mark explains that biblical prophecy is not fortune-telling but a call to see the present clearly....
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The Quiet Center
The Quiet Center Luke 20:27-38 Father Mark begins with the Gospel passage where the Sadducees test Jesus with a question about resurrection, trying to trap him in a logical puzzle about marriage in the afterlife. Jesus, however, redirects them to a deeper understanding—resurrected life is not a...
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Our Nearest Neighbors
Our Nearest Neighbors Luke 6:20-31 Father Mark’s sermon reflects on Jesus’ teachings in Luke 6:20–31, where Christ presents the upside-down values of the Kingdom of God. The world often prizes wealth, power, and success, yet Jesus blesses the poor, the hungry, and those who weep. He calls his...
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Humbled and Justified
Humbled and Justified Luke 18:9-14 In this sermon, Father Mark reflects on Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, found in Luke’s Gospel. Jesus tells this story to those who “trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt.” The Pharisee stands...
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Pray and Not Lose Heart
Pray and Not Lose Heart Luke 18:1-8 In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge, urging his disciples to “pray always and not lose heart.” Father Mark reflects on how the widow—vulnerable and without worldly power—embodies both tenacity and faith....
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You Are My Child
You Are My Child Mark 1:9-11 Father Mark begins by reflecting on the baptism of Jesus, when the heavens opened and God declared, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” He connects this moment to the Disney film The Lion King, using it as a modern parable about baptism and...
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Increase Our Faith
Increase Our Faith Luke 17:5-10 Father Mark’s sermon begins with the apostles’ plea, “Increase our faith,” a request born from their fear that Jesus’s call to endless forgiveness and compassion was too difficult to live out. In a world that prizes revenge and retaliation, Jesus’s teaching seems...
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A Different Lens
A Different Lens Luke 16:1-13 Father Mark begins with Jesus’ parable of the dishonest manager, which at first glance seems puzzling. Looking through a purely worldly lens, the parable appears to commend dishonesty and cunning, suggesting that worldly people are more shrewd than spiritual people....
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Seeking the Lost
Seeking the Lost Luke 15:1-10 The sermon contrasts the Pharisees’ fixation on righteousness with Jesus’ mission to seek and restore the lost. The Pharisees equated righteousness with strict obedience to the law, which excluded tax collectors and sinners from fellowship. Jesus, however, welcomed...
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Above All Else
Above All Else Luke 14:25-33 Jesus’ words in Luke’s Gospel confront the crowd with the hard truth of discipleship. He warns that following him requires radical reordering of allegiances, even above family ties and personal identity. In the first-century world, family defined one’s very being, and...
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Deep Within the Heart
Deep Within the Heart Luke 13:10-17 Jesus heals a woman bent over for eighteen years on the Sabbath. The synagogue leader objects, citing the commandment. Jesus exposes the gap between the law’s outer form and its inner purpose, saying the Sabbath serves human need and liberation. Scripture gives...
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Peacekeeping?
Peacekeeping? Luke 12:49-56 Father Mark’s sermon explores the challenging words of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke, where He declares He has come not to bring peace, but division. Father Mark emphasizes that this division is not the purpose of Jesus’ message, but a predictable reaction to the…
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Open-Handed Waiting
Open-Handed Waiting Luke 12:32-40 Jesus’ words in Luke 12 call us to fearless trust and ready hearts: “Do not be afraid… it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” We’re told to place our treasure in heaven, keep our lamps lit, and stay alert for the Master who may arrive at an...
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Rich Toward God
Rich Toward God Luke 12:13-21 Father Mark’s sermon reflects on Jesus’ parable of the rich fool, reminding us that true life is not found in possessions but in the abundance of God’s grace and generosity. He begins by highlighting how nature, with its volunteer plants springing up unbidden…
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Prayer, Relationship and Transformation
Prayer, Relationship and Transformation Luke 11:1-13 Father Mark reflects on Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer, emphasizing that Jesus teaches his disciples not just how to ask for things, but how to enter into deeper relationship with God. Unlike the transactional model of prayer many...
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Restored to Self
Restored to Self Luke 8:26-39 In today’s Gospel, Father Mark reflects on Jesus’ healing of the man possessed by demons in the country of the Gerasenes. This man, isolated and tormented, becomes a mirror of the community’s unspoken fears and brokenness. His possession is not just a personal...
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Eye of the Heart
Eye of the Heart John 14:8-17 (25-27) Father Mark reflects on the underappreciated significance of Pentecost, contrasting it with culturally embraced holidays like Christmas and Easter. He suggests that Pentecost’s focus on the Holy Spirit—something unseen and internal—makes it difficult for…
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United in Love
United in Love John 17:20-26 Father Mark begins with a story of a tow truck driver who refused to help a disabled woman because of her political affiliation. Claiming divine justification, the driver prioritized his ideological identity over compassion. Father Mark highlights this incident as a...
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Little Christs
Little Christs John 14:23-29 Father Mark begins his sermon by drawing a parallel between the bittersweet experience of high school graduation and the disciples’ experience during Jesus’ farewell in the Gospel of John. Just as graduates feel a mixture of pride and uncertainty about their future…
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Love Like Christ
Love Like Christ John 13:31-35 At the Last Supper, with betrayal looming and his crucifixion near, Jesus gives his disciples a new commandment: to love one another just as he has loved them. This command is not about feelings or beliefs but about a way of living—a radical, self-giving,...
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Resurrection in Action
Resurrection in Action John 10:22-30 Father Mark opens by highlighting the powerful shepherd imagery found throughout the day’s readings, especially in the Gospel of John where Jesus declares Himself the Good Shepherd. He draws a parallel between the failed shepherds—leaders of ancient Israel who...
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Feed My Sheep
Feed My Sheep John 21:1-19 In this sermon, Father Mark reflects on the rich symbolism and spiritual metaphors of John’s Gospel, particularly the story of the risen Christ appearing to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. The sermon begins by highlighting the contrast between Peter’s ego-driven...
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From Doubt to Faith
From Doubt to Faith John 20:19-31 The sermon reflects on the Gospel story of Jesus’ resurrection appearance to the disciples, especially the encounter with Thomas, often remembered as “Doubting Thomas.” The preacher shares how Thomas’ desire for concrete proof resonates with human nature: a need...
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Overview of Christ Church Teachings
This podcast was produced by an AI overview of 48 sermons by Fr. Mark Meyer of Christ Episcopal Church in Canon City, CO.
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We Are Risen
We Are Risen John 20:1-18 Father Mark began by reflecting on the Gospel account of Mary Magdalene encountering the risen Jesus at the tomb. Despite being one of Jesus’ closest followers, she did not recognize him until he called her by name. Father Mark emphasized that this recognition wasn’t…
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El Hogar
El Hogar John 12:1-8 Christi James from Christ Church in Denver shares the inspiring story of Elo Gardee, now known as El Hogar, in Honduras, a long-supported ministry that began in 1979 by the Episcopal Church to help homeless boys. Moved by an early presentation, Christi visited Honduras and...
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Stories We Tell
Stories We Tell Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Father Mark began by recounting the familiar parable of the prodigal son, highlighting the boldness of the younger son’s request and the immense grace of the father who grants it. After squandering his inheritance, the son returns in shame, expecting rejection,...
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Nourish a Broken World
Nourish a Broken World Luke 13:1-9 Father Mark reflects on a moment in the Gospel of Luke when Jesus is told about recent tragedies—the slaughter of Galileans by Pilate and the collapse of a tower in Siloam. Rather than affirming that the victims suffered because they were worse sinners, Jesus...
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Embrace Vulnerability
Embrace Vulnerability Luke 13:31-35 Father Mark’s sermon focuses on the contrasting images of a fox and a hen in the Gospel of Luke. He interprets Jesus’ response to the Pharisees warning about Herod as a metaphor for two different approaches to life: Herod, the fox representing cunning and...
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Whom Do You Worship?
Whom Do You Worship? Luke 4:1-13 Father Mark’s sermon centers on the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness and their relevance to modern life. He emphasizes that temptations often involve choosing between our primary relationship with God and worldly distractions or desires. Jesus, despite his...
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Shine Like the Sun
Shine Like the Sun Luke 9:28-36 Father Mark's sermon focuses on the transfiguration of Jesus as described in the Gospel of Luke. Jesus, accompanied by Peter, James, and John, goes up a mountain to pray. While praying, Jesus' appearance changes, his clothes become dazzling white, and Moses and...
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Love Your Enemies
Love Your Enemies Luke 6:27-38 Father Mark’s sermon focuses on Jesus’ teachings from the Gospel of Luke, particularly on loving and doing good to one’s enemies. He emphasizes that these teachings are not about passivity but about embodying the love and mercy of God. Jesus’ instructions to turn…
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Steeped in God
Steeped in God Luke 6:17-26 Jesus’ time spent in prayer is transformative. Luke’s Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ deep prayer life, showing that being steeped in God’s presence shapes one’s vision of the world. Just as dye saturates an Easter egg, prayer changes a person’s heart, aligning it with God’s...
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Called By Grace
Called By Grace Luke 5:1-11 The sermon highlights a common theme across the stories of Isaiah, Paul, and Peter: an overwhelming encounter with God’s presence, a deep sense of personal inadequacy, and ultimately, transformation through God’s grace. Isaiah, struck by awe in the temple, first felt...
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Inclusive Love
Inclusive Love Luke 4:21-30 Father Mark's sermon focuses on Jesus' visit to the synagogue in Nazareth. Initially, the townspeople are amazed by Jesus' words but quickly turn against him when he reminds them that prophets are not accepted in their hometowns. Jesus cites examples from the Old...
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Kingdom of Love
Kingdom of Love John 18:33-37 On this Feast of Christ the King, Father Mark reflects on the unique nature of Christ’s kingship, contrasting it with earthly kingdoms. In John’s Gospel, Jesus tells Pilate, “My kingdom is not from this world,” emphasizing that his reign is not about dominance but...
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Faith in Midair
Faith in Midair Mark 13:1-8 In today’s sermon, Father Mark reflects on the transience of worldly things and the importance of a firm spiritual foundation, especially in uncertain times. He draws from Jesus’ prediction of the Temple’s destruction and the tumultuous historical context of Mark’s...
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Center in God
Center in God Mark 12:38-44 Father Mark’s sermon reflects on the recent presidential election and the role of Christians in times of political upheaval. Drawing from the teachings of Jesus, particularly the story of the widow’s offering, he emphasizes the importance of centering one’s heart in…
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Fully Human Love
Fully Human Love Mark 12:28-34 Father Mark’s sermon on the story of Lazarus emphasizes the compassionate, incarnational nature of Jesus, who does not remain distant from human suffering but fully embraces it. In his encounter with Mary and Martha, Jesus is deeply moved, disturbed, and even weeps...
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To See
To See Mark 10:46-52 In today’s Gospel, Father Mark reflects on the story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, who calls out to Jesus, asking for mercy and the ability to see. Bartimaeus's plea is met initially with scorn by the crowd, who view him only as a sinner and an unworthy presence. However,...
About this show
These podcasts, drawn from sermons, Scripture readings and classes at Christ Episcopal Church in Canon City, Colorado, explore and support the depth of Christian experience and development. Our point of view is influenced by Fr. Richard Rohr, Fr. Thomas Keating, and other contemplative Christians as well as our own contemplative practice.
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Friends
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