The Fourth Sunday of Lent - March 15, 2026 - Bishop William J. Barber, II

·39 min·3 clips

A Roman centurion tasked with executing Jesus becomes the first human to call him the Son of God.

Bishop William J. Barber II opens with a prayer and personal reflection on how the Episcopal Church and its Book of Common Prayer provided peace during a difficult seminary period. He reads from Mark 15:33-39, focusing on the centurion's declaration of Jesus as the Son of God. Barber introduces the theme of being 'scared to life,' contrasting it with 'scared straight' or 'scared to death,' as moments where God's word reshapes lives. He cites examples from scripture, including Moses at the burning bush, Esther, and Mary, and from history, such as Rosa Parks after Emmett Till's murder and Dr. King in the Delta. Barber explains the centurion's role in the Roman imperial cult, highlighting how witnessing Jesus' crucifixion led to a crisis of conversion. He argues that the church must be a 'thermostat' challenging societal norms, not a 'thermometer' measuring them. Barber critiques contemporary political actions, including a bill he says will cause deaths and hospital closures, and an 'immoral war' costing billions daily. He references the civil rights movement, including Bloody Sunday and the Little Rock Nine, to illustrate how witnessing injustice can inspire activism. Barber shares a recent example of a 51-mile walk in North Carolina to protest voting rights attacks, where participants reported being transformed. He concludes with a hymn and a call to 'look and live' by embracing Jesus' way of love, justice, and mercy.

As heard by us

A sermon weighs Jesus' love against Caesar's authority and asks what loyalty should become.

At Trinity, the preacher turns to the Roman centurion at the cross to ask how Jesus' love unsettles power. Caesar's claim to unquestioned authority is set beside the centurion's recognition of Jesus as the Son of God, and the sermon carries that contrast into a call to resist…

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Why you'd press play

You want a sermon that puts Jesus' love in direct tension with Caesar's unquestioned authority.

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