Sermon, 22nd Sunday After Trinity, 2023
The Christian life is difficult. It takes effort to live our faith in this world with integrity. As we approach the end of the year, we are reminded to not become careless in the faith. We must not let down our guard in our pursuit of Christ. And we never get to the point where we can stop forgiving. Finish the year strongly in the faith. Finish your race strongly in the faith. Propers Sermon
Sermon, All Saints Day, 2023
Are our departed brothers and sisters in Jesus with Jesus or in purgatory? What is purgatory and what problems stemming from the doctrine of purgatory were corrected in the Reformation? Touching on these and some other topics connected with The Feast of All Saints Propers Reference Text: For All the Saints: Remembering the Christian Departed by N.T. Wright
Sermon, 19th Sunday after Trinity, 2023
In Christ we have been renewed. Jesus heals our inner man and this renewal works itself out into our entire lives. The world seems like it is falling to pieces right now, but as renewed followers of Jesus Christ, we do not have to live in discouragement. Change begins with each one of us. Let the renewal of the world begin with me. Propers Manuscript
Sermon, 18th After Trinity, 2023
What is temptation and what does it mean to be tempted by the world, the flesh, and the devil? How can we resist temptation? In our lives, what is the target upon which our spiritual disciplines should focus to help us better battle temptation? Propers Manuscript
Homily for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, 2023
Let us give thanks for the Angels, divinely appointed spiritual messengers of God who guard us and guide us so that we may eventually behold the Face of God Himself. Propers
Homily for the Feast of St. Matthew, 2023
The mercy of God for St. Matthew (and for St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians) is that his heart was opened to receive the Word of God, leading him to repentance. May we follow his good example by embodying repentance in our lives. Propers
Sermon, 17th after Trinity, 2023
Are we legalistic? In the gospel reading this morning, we see the Pharises imposing their interpretation of the Fourth Commandment upon other. Their interpretations became the lens through which they evaluated the piety of others. Their expectation even prevented others from loving their neighbors as themselves. Not only were they hypocritical in their applications, but this showed their great pride. Were their Sabbath regulations justified? Do we have areas of pride like the Pharisees? What is a practical means of learning humility? What is our motivation for being humble? Propers Manuscript
Sermon, 16th after Trinity, 2023
The gospel this morning tells us of the Widow of Nain who had lost both her husband and her son. She was therefore desperately needy and hopeless. Through Christ, her son was restored to her. Not only was he raised from the dead, but her life was also, in a sense, “resurrected”. For us, Jesus Himself, is the resurrected Son. We too find our present and our future life in His resurrected life. Propers Manuscript
Sermon, 15th Sunday after Trinity, 2023
We had a couple of baptisms today! In this sermon, we review some of the basics of baptism and draw connections to the lessons of the day. In Galatians, St. Paul argues that the Christians is not under the Mosaic Law and therefore circumcision is not to be required of the Christian who now is sealed and signed by baptism. And Christ instructs us in today’s gospel lesson from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6, that those who are sealed in baptism must follow Christ with a singleness of mind. “No man can serve two masters. … Seek first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall…
Sermon, 14th Sunday after Trinity
God’s goodness to us is evident in Creation. The heavens declare the glory of God. The earth is the Lord’s and all that therein is. And our consciences reveal the justice and mercy of God which is placed within each of our hearts. Will we respond to these good gifts of God by worshiping Christ and walking in His Spirit? Propers Manuscript