This sermon, delivered by Rev. Jordan Rippy at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, October 26th, the nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost, reflects on the significance of the Nobel Prize and its winners as a testament to human perseverance, ingenuity, and the importance of community. Through anecdotes, such as Fred Ramsdale’s unexpected Nobel Prize in Medicine and Wangari Maathai’s influential environmental work in Kenya, Rev. Rippy highlights the indispensable role of collaboration and mutual support in achieving greatness. The sermon draws parallels with the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector from the Bible, emphasizing the modern-day epidemic of loneliness and the intrinsic human need for community. The message underscores that to live a Christ-like life involves striving for humility, loving one’s neighbor, and continuously working towards spiritual growth in unison with others.
00:00 Introduction and Invocation
00:09 Nobel Prize Winners: Celebrating Human Achievement
01:12 Humorous Nobel Prize Anecdotes
03:02 Inspiring Stories of Nobel Laureates
04:19 The Parable of Humility and Isolation
05:16 The Epidemic of Loneliness
07:48 The Importance of Community in Faith
08:37 The Role of the Church and Community
09:21 The Aspirational Journey of Christianity
10:22 The Greatest Commandments
