PODCAST · religion
Preaching among the Palms
by Fr. Jeffrey Hanson
Founded in 1885, St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Fort Myers, Florida, is the oldest parish in the diocese of Southwest Florida and a historic bastion of the Anglo-Catholic tradition. We preach the Word of God with conviction and clarity, teaching how the Gospel is lived out in liturgy and service. Listen for informative and inspiring sermons every Sunday in the City of Palms.
Episodes
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Proper 23 Sermon—October 11, 2026
Yet another parable from Matthew provides both food for thought and the basis of a classic joke. Fr. Jeff serves up both. The parable of the man who throws a wedding feast for his son teaches yet another aspect of life in the kingdom of God. The unworthy spurn the father's invitation, and instead...
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Proper 22 Sermon—October 4, 2026
Today's Gospel passage tells yet another parable, this time of a landowner whose servants rebel against him. Canon Lester returns us to the catechism to remind us of the foundational ministry of the laity. Among those who are baptized we find many spiritual gifts that flow from the power and...
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Proper 21 Sermon—September 27, 2026
Today's brief parable in the Gospel of Matthew stages a collision between two themes that have been important to Matthew from the beginning: authority and hypocrisy. Fr. Jeff provides some background on both of these ideas. The Gospels emphasize that people respond to the teaching of Jesus…
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Proper 20 Sermon—September 20, 2026
On this Sunday the lectionary pairs the end of the book of Jonah and a parable of Christ from Matthew about a householder who hires laborers multiple times in one day. It's not clear at first what the connection might be, but Fr. Jeff has a theory: Jonah's story ends with him spitefully…
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Proper 19 Sermon—September 13, 2026
Fr. Grady connects today's Gospel to the teaching of Jesus about the church community in this chapter. Peter has already suggested that sinners should be forgiven far more than they deserve, but Jesus responds that in effect forgiveness should be infinite in scope. The parable that follows...
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Proper 18—September 6, 2026
Today's Gospel reading contains some tough teachings on church discipline. Fr. Jeff points out that Jesus gives his disciples authority to teach and lead the nascent church he founds on the rock of faith. That's a weighty responsibility, and while the whole witness of Scripture is clear that we...
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Proper 17—August 30, 2026
Last week we heard about how Peter rightly confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah. No sooner does he make this breakthrough realization, which Jesus says comes from God and is the rock on which he will build his church, than Jesus is condemning him as a hindrance to his further mission.…
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Proper 16—August 23, 2026
At the center of today's Gospel reading is a crucial question that everyone must answer for themselves. Jesus asks his disciples: "Who do you say I am?" The answer matters a great deal. Throughout human history many people of great spiritual insight and depth have made all kinds of claims about...
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Proper 15—August 16, 2026
In today's Gospel reading Jesus ventures among outsiders, where he meets a woman in desperate need. Fr. Grady speculates that this Canaanite woman may have even heard about Jesus and is anticipating her encounter with him. She may have heard the stories of God's saving actions in history and…
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Proper 14—August 9, 2025
In today's Gospel reading the disciples are being buffeted by winds and waves, an episode that is hard to see in any other way than as a parable for our own lives, which are beset by difficulties. Fr. Jeff decodes three uses of the word "immediately" in this passage to signal what Jesus is trying...
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Proper 13—August 2, 2026
All four Gospels report the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Matthew's account particularly emphasizes the festal dimensions of this miracle, in which Fr. Jeff argues that we glimpse an anticipation of the Eucharistic meal. Matthew underscores the actions of taking, blessing, breaking…
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Proper 12 Sermon—July 26, 2026
Matthew's Gospel continues to furnish parable after parable for our consideration. Fr. Jeff interprets four parables at the end of chapter 13 in light of Matthew's own commentary on Jesus's use of parables. Matthew connects Jesus's use of parables to the prophetic content of Psalm 78. Psalm 78 it...
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Proper 11 Sermon—July 19, 2026
St. Paul enigmatically refers to the eager awaiting of all creation for glorification, which Fr. Jeff interprets as an extension of the biblical promise that the saints in glory will become in the presence of God like heavenly beings. Jesus himself says that the righteous will shine like the sun…
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Proper 10 Sermon—July 12, 2026
The parable of the sower is found in all the Gospels, and it is therefore a great opportunity to learn about the kingdom of heaven, not just by studying the content of the parable but by understanding the form of all parables. Why does Jesus teach with parables at all? Fr. Jeff demonstrates why...
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Proper 9 Sermon—July 5, 2026
In today's Gospel reading Jesus doesn't condemn his present generation and their disbelief so much as make fun of them. He ridicules his audience's lack of response to the message of the kingdom of God: John the Baptist and Jesus both preached repentance and the kingdom of God, but they did so in...
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Proper 8 Sermon—June 28, 2026
Every Sunday we ask God in the prayer of consecration to “grant that, by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we, and all thy whole Church, may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion.” What then are the other benefits of…
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Proper 7/Father's Day—June 21, 2026
Fr. Grady confronts the reality of persecution, first the persecution of the prophet Jeremiah, and then of the disciples of Christ. Nevertheless, Jesus encourages his followers that they should have no fear. Like the disciples, godly fathers are also charged to proclaim the truth of God from the...
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Proper 6 Sermon—June 14, 2026
Today is a turning point in the Gospel of Matthew. Fr. Jeff reads the drama of the Gospel as unfolding along two parallel tracks: on the one hand, it becomes more and more clear who Jesus is; on the other hand, people's reaction to who Jesus is becomes more and more polarized. Jesus sends out the...
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Corpus Christi—June 7, 2026
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Corpus Christi, which has been a universal commemoration of the real presence of Christ in the sacramental bread and wine since 1264. Fr. Jeff guides us through John chapter 6, which contains numerous scandalous utterances by Jesus, including his assertion...
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Feast of the Ascension—May 17, 2026
We affirm the reality of the Ascension every week in the Nicene Creed, but the Ascension is probably the most neglected and misunderstood part of the incarnate life of Jesus. Fr. Jeff accounts for how Jesus can be going back to his Father at the Ascension despite having never been separated from...
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Easter 6 Sermon—May 10, 2026
The Gospel reading for today features the New Testament's only reference to the Holy Spirit as an "advocate," or literally someone who is called alongside another. Fr. Jeff distinguishes between the ways John uses different terms for the Holy Spirit, and even refers to different works of the Holy...
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Easter 5 Sermon—May 3, 2026
In today's Gospel reading we hear a famous declaration from Our Lord Jesus, who proclaims that he is "the way, the truth, and the life." But what does this mean? Fr. Jeff explains the context, the mood, and the setting of this famous passage in order to clarify in what way Jesus is the way to…
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Easter 4 Sermon—April 26, 2026
Fr. Grady honors the Daughters of the King and their history of prayer, service, and evangelism. The readings for today also teach us about prayer, service, and evangelism. The Acts passage talks about how in the first days of the church powerful prayer led to humble service, which in turn led to...
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Easter 3 Sermon—April 19, 2026
Fr. Jeff recalls how a professor at the theological school where he studied used to challenge his students with the question: "When and where was the first Eucharist celebrated?" You can make a convincing argument that it happens on the road to Emmaus, which is the subject of today's Gospel…
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Easter 2 Sermon—April 12, 2026
Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection and gives them parting commands and gifts that will help them fulfill his commands. Thomas misses out on the first encounter and claims he will not believe unless he can probe the risen Lord's bodily wounds. Fr. Jeff accounts for doubt as…
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Easter Sunday—April 5, 2026
Fr. Grady recapitulates the events of Holy Week and reminds us how differently Jesus died from the thieves with whom he was crucified and how he alone rose from the dead, achieving victory over sin and death. The disorder of the previous several days has given way to a totally new order and new...
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Easter Vigil—April 4, 2026
Fr. Jeff breaks down the Gospel of Matthew's resurrection appearance of Jesus to the two Marys into two simple ideas: see and go. Throughout this passage, again and again, the command to see and go is repeated, until the very end of the chapter, when Jesus commands his disciples to go to all...
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Good Friday—April 3, 2026
Today we meditate on the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Fr. Jeff explains that "passion" in Latin means "suffering" and is also the root word of our term "passive." While Jesus suffers of course on the cross, he is by no means passive. Christ is in complete control of what happens to him this...
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Maundy Thursday—April 2, 2026
Maundy Thursday commemorates the institution of Christ's new commandment, or "mandatum" in Latin, to love one another as Christ has loved us. That love is demonstrated by Christ when he washes the feet of his disciples. John's Gospel tells us that "having loved his own in the world, he loved them...
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Palm Sunday Sermon—March 29, 2026
Palm Sunday celebrates what is often called the "triumphal entry" of Jesus into the city of Jerusalem. But what is a triumphal entry, and how did it function in the world of Ancient Rome? Fr. Jeff explains how Jesus thoughtfully subverts this pagan show of ostentatious power, showing just what…
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Lent 4—March 15, 2026
In today's Gospel Jesus restores the sight of a man who was born blind. Fr. Grady explains how the biblical tradition points toward the action of God in the world to bring light to the world and illumination to the world.
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Lent 3 Sermon—March 8, 2026
Today's long reading from John 4 recounts the conversation between Jesus and a Samaritan woman at the well of Jacob. Their exchange of questions guides three transitions: from the humanity to the divinity of Jesus; from earthly thirst to spiritual thirst; and from the past worship of the…
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Lent 2 Sermon—March 1, 2026
In the third chapter of John's Gospel we meet Nicodemus, a secret follower of Jesus. In their conversation Jesus makes many mysterious pronouncements, including arguably the most famous verse in the Bible: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in…
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Lent 1/Black History—February 22, 2026
Fr. Grady discusses the temptation of Christ and how when the devil is confounded angels attend Jesus in the wilderness. This is still true for us today when by the power of the Word of God evil is routed help from heaven arrives. It was also powerfully true for Absalom Jones, abolitionist and…
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Last Epiphany—February 15, 2026
Canon Lester presents us with four questions and one answer: Each is to do with stewardship, because today we bless the pledges collected by the parish for the upcoming year. Our giving is meant to be a response to God's gifts to us. The Bible teaches that everything is God's in the first place,...
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Epiphany 5—February 8, 2026
In today's reading from Matthew Jesus tells his disciples they are the salt of the earth, and he warns them that if salt loses its flavor it is good for nothing. But he literally says salt is worthless if it becomes foolish. Fr. Jeff explains what the ancient connection is between having flavor…
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Epiphany 4—February 1, 2026
The celebrated Beatitudes of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew proclaim radical truths about who is "blessed." But what does it mean to be blessed? Hebrew, Greek, and Latin all use two different words that we translate as "blessed." Fr. Jeff accounts for which of these meanings is at the heart of...
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Epiphany 3—January 25, 2026
Fr. Jeff revisits Matthew's use of prophecy to explain how prophecy works in his Gospel generally. Tracing out the historic background to the reading from Isaiah helps us understand better how Matthew regards the unique mission of Jesus Christ and the dawning of new light upon all those who sit…
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Epiphany 2—January 18, 2026
Fr. Grady considers the first encounter between Jesus and his first disciples in the Gospel of John. The eagerness of St. Andrew to share the good news of the manifestation of the Messiah is the model for our own stewardship: Disciples of Jesus give up everything that they have to bless other...
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Epiphany 1 Sermon—January 11, 2026
This Sunday the church asks us to meditate upon the baptism of Jesus. It is something of a puzzle why Jesus seeks out baptism at the hands of John the Baptist, but Matthew's account asserts that he does this to "fulfill all righteousness." In Peter's preaching from the epistle reading in Acts he...
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Second Sunday of Christmas—January 4, 2026
The Christmas season celebrates the birth of Christ, about which we know a great deal from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Obviously we also know a lot about Jesus's mature ministry and mission. But we know almost nothing about the childhood of Jesus--except what we read in today's passage from...
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Holy Innocents Sermon—December 28, 2025
The church has for centuries commemorated the Holy Innocents, those unnumbered boys under the age of two who were slaughtered by Herod in the vicinity of Bethlehem in a failed attempt at murdering the newborn Christ. How can we understand this terrible evil and how it nevertheless fulfilled...
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Christmas Day Sermon—December 25, 2025
The Prologue to the Gospel of St. John is profound and mysterious, but it has a pastoral message that we need to hear at Christmas. Fr. Jeff grapples with some translation issues and explains how the light of Christ shines today, not just at the Incarnation, and he shows why the Incarnation is...
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Christmas Eve Sermon—December 24, 2025
Everyone knows the Christmas story—or at least everyone thinks they do. The angels who announce the birth of Christ to the shepherds in the vicinity of Bethlehem say they have "good news" for the whole world. But most people don't know what "good news" really means. Fr. Jeff explains the…
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Advent 4—December 21, 2025
Fr. Grady explains the promise and proclamation of the advent season. The prophets have pointed the way toward Christ, and today's reading from Isaiah sets the stage for his virgin birth.
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Advent 3—December 14, 2025
John the Baptist is a major figure in the Advent season, but we don't think about his unique role in history often enough. Fr. Jeff encourages us to emulate his example of pointing the way to Jesus.
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Advent 2—December 7, 2025
John the Baptist preached a baptism of repentance and promised that Christ would baptize believers with the Holy Spirit. What is this baptism and how is it possible today? Canon Lester ministers the Word this Sunday.
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Advent 1—November 30, 2025
Today's baffling Gospel likens the Son of Man to a burglar and speaks of disappearing people and the judgment of the world in the days of Noah. Fr. Jeff situates this passage in the whole lectionary sequence for the first Sunday of Advent and argues that this passage is less about the "when" of...
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Christ the King—November 23, 2025
Fr. Grady breaks down the kingship of Christ, showing how in him the promises of God proclaimed through the prophets come to fulfillment. The kingship of Christ is most clearly seen on the cross, where Jesus once again refuses the temptation of any shortcut to glory but makes it possible for us…
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Proper 28 Sermon—November 16, 2025
After a long journey Jesus arrives at the temple in Jerusalem. He praises the generosity of the widow who gives two copper coins to the treasury and foretells the destruction of the temple. Fr. Jeff applies the lessons of this passage from Luke's Gospel to the church today.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Founded in 1885, St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Fort Myers, Florida, is the oldest parish in the diocese of Southwest Florida and a historic bastion of the Anglo-Catholic tradition. We preach the Word of God with conviction and clarity, teaching how the Gospel is lived out in liturgy and service. Listen for informative and inspiring sermons every Sunday in the City of Palms.
HOSTED BY
Fr. Jeffrey Hanson
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How many episodes does Preaching among the Palms have?
Preaching among the Palms currently has 66 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Preaching among the Palms about?
Founded in 1885, St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Fort Myers, Florida, is the oldest parish in the diocese of Southwest Florida and a historic bastion of the Anglo-Catholic tradition. We preach the Word of God with conviction and clarity, teaching how the Gospel is lived out in liturgy and service....
How often does Preaching among the Palms release new episodes?
Preaching among the Palms has 66 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Preaching among the Palms on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Preaching among the Palms?
Preaching among the Palms is created and hosted by Fr. Jeffrey Hanson.
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