Grace Anglican Church Gastonia, NC: Recent Episodes
Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
The Trinity is one of the most important doctrines in our understanding of God. The purpose of the doctrine is to enable us to better understand the relation between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The nature of God revealed to us reminds us that salvation is dependent upon all three persons being truly God, but being only one God. If God is only a singular person, salvation falls apart biblically. Salvation in Jesus Christ reveals to us that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three persons, but one being.
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On the first day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit swept down upon the Apostles, empowering them to share the good news of Jesus Christ raised from the dead for the forgiveness of sins. Who is this Spirit? What is he doing? And why does he come down upon the Apostles and all those who believe in Jesus? Harrison Northey answers these questions and leads us to know the Holy Spirit more deeply.
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On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he told his disciples that he was going to be glorified, that they could not go where he was going, and that they were to love one another just as he had loved them, all in quick succession. What does he mean by all of this? How does this help us walk in the faith he has betwoed upon us? Are we capable to receive such things?
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Jesus is the shepherd who calls his sheep by name. He is the one who has come down from heaven to find these sheep and make them his.
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When some of the disciples went out fishing, they didn’t expect to make such a great catch after toiling all night. And in that great catch, they meet Jesus once more, finding that he calls them back to other moments in their lives with him that they might discover the restoration that he brings to them.
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When Jesus appears to the disciples on the evening of his resurrection they are shocked and surprised, but Jesus quickly brings them peace and calling. However, Thomas was not there and he refuses to believe until he can see and touch Jesus himself. These events are shocking to us when we consider the unexpectedness of Jesus’ resurrection, but they teach us a great deal about where we can now meet Jesus.
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What is so important about Jesus’ resurrection? Why do we talk about it constantly and set aside one day a year in which to have a grand celebration? Father Jeremiah looks into these questions and helps all to see that Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is now the hinge upon which all the world turns.
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Jesus’ death is the final sacrifice. No others are needed because his is a truly perfect one. He embraces death that we might know life for eternity.
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At the Last Supper our Lord, Jesus established the Eucharist and washed his disciples’ feet. In the process of this, we are reminded that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. How does this connect to the establishing of the Passover so long ago? Father Jeremiah explores this and explains it in his Maundy Thursday sermon.
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What is so unique about Jesus’ death upon the cross? What makes this man’s death so important to all of history? St. Paul gives us a glimpse of this reality when he speaks of Jesus being in the form of God and yet taking on the likeness of man. We come to realize that Jesus is no ordinary man dying upon the cross, but God in the flesh dealing with our sin. And thus, Christmas and Good Friday come together for us on this Palm Sunday.
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When Jesus tells the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, he is confronting the wicked leaders of the Jewish people with the reality that they had neglected how they came to be in the vineyard in the first place. The tenants were chosen and brought into the vineyard by the owner that they might care for it while he was away, but they rejected him and wanted to keep everything for themselves. Father Jeremiah explains how this relates to our very salvaiton.
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When the younger son returns from his shameful life and the older son refuses to come to the party for his brother, the father chooses not to reject his sons, but instead bears their shameful actions upon himself so that they can be reconciled to him. The father in this parable is a picture of what Jesus does for us through the cross in his bearing of our sin to restore us to God the Father.
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When Jesus is questioned about terrible events that happened to others, he turned the question back on the questioners. He saw the heart of their question came out of presumption that they were not as bad as the others that these terrible things had happened to. How do his words lead us to know a path away from presumption and guide us into true salvation through Jesus?
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Jesus tells us that salvation is a narrow gate that we must strive through at the right time. To ignore the gate can be disastrous. Father Jeremiah leads us through this parable and Jesus’ words about Jerusalem and his desire to gather the people to himself in Luke 13.
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St. Paul speaks of the word being near to our hearts that we might not have to bring it down from Heaven or raise it up from the abyss. This word is Jesus himself and he is revealed as the one who resists temptation and sin for us that we might follow in his steps and receive him.
Image: The Temptation of Christ, by Augustin Hirschvogel, public domain. Image location: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.39380.html
An important part of Jesus’ Transfiguration is that his divine glory is revealed to his disciples. Another aspect of that event is that in our union with Christ, we become partakers of that glory in the resurrection. We too will shine with the light of the glory of God through the grace of Christ to us.
Image: The Transfiguration, Giovanni Bellini, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The-Transfiguration-1480-xx-Giovanni-Bellini.JPG
Bishop Terrell Glenn joined us to preach on John 20, walking through the first evening after the resurrection. He directs us to recognize that Christ’s peace gives to us a new standing, his commands give us New purpose, and his breathing upon us gives us new creation.
Image: The Risen Christ Appears to His Apostles, photo taken by Lawrence OP. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/49780661251/in/pool-our_lord_and_savior_jesus_christ
In the lectionary for this Sunday, we heard from Jeremiah 17, Psalm 1, Luke 6, and 1 Corinthians 15. All of these passages over lap as they direct our eyes and hearts toward Jesus of Nazareth and the work he accomplishes for us upon the cross and through his resurrection. What do we treasure in our lives above all else? Is it Jesus and his word or what our own hearts tell us? Father Jeremiah brings all of this together in his sermon today.
Image: The Sermon on the Mount and the Healing of the Leper, by Cosimo Rosselli, picture taken by Frans Vanderwalle, license CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/snarfel/4287572119/
When Jesus was presented at the Temple, Simeon saw him for who he truly is, the Messiah that enlightens the nations and who is the glory of Israel. What does this mean? How is Jesus fulfilling prophecy with this action of being brought by his parents to the Temple? How does it affect us today?
Image: The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
When Jesus returned to Nazareth and went to the synagogue, the others there were angered by his words. What did he say? Why did he say it? How are we to be received by God the Father? Jesus’ confrontation is an important moment in his ministry for them and for us today.
Image: Jesus Unrolls the Book in the Synagogue, James Tissot, no known restrictions. Image Location: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/4471
When the wine ran out at the wedding in Cana, Jesus’ mother told him about it. She then left it up to him to act, and act he did! Sometimes our prayers can only be telling Jesus what the situation is and letting him act when he will, and trusting that he will transform what we are to be ready for where we are.
Image: Jesus makes wine out of water at the marriage at Cana, etching by B. Bertoccini, after J.F. Overbeck, public domain. image location: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/pbbenjm2/images?id=qbv9kwwp
Jesus went to John to be baptized in the wilderness. In that baptism, the Father spoke and the Holy Spirit descended. This signals a change, not only in Jesus’ life, but in the life of the world.
Image: Baptism of Jesus, Andrea del Verrocchio, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
What were the Magi following? Was it just an ordinary star? What were the Magi? How did the star lead them to the exact house where the Holy Family were? Father Jeremiah explores these questions in his sermon on Matthew 2:1-12
Image: Adoration of the Magi (detail), Gentile de Fabriano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
On the First Sunday of Christmas, Father Jeremiah read a sermon by St. Gregory of Nazianzus to explain the importance of the Incarnation of Jesus.
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Why are St. John’s words, “He became flesh and dwelt among us,” so important to us Christians? Father Jeremiah looks at this verse and how St. John leads us to this beautiful moment in John 1.
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At our Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols, we heard of the promises of God to his people throughout the Old Testament. Father Jeremiah explains that Jesus is the fulfillment of God the Father’s desire to make a people for himself and that he does so through forgiveness of sins.
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After the angel appeared to Mary, she went immediately to visit her relative Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s greeting and Mary’s response tell us a great deal about the reality of the babies in their wombs. We also learn a great deal about the God of promise that is bringing about his promises through them.
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In our Gospel lesson from Luke 3, we hear of John the Baptist’s preaching to the crowds and his calling them to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. How does this preaching of repentance bring to the joy of the Lord? Is joy something we create in ourselves or is it something that God brings to us?
Image: Christ with the Winnowing Fan, photo taken by Lawrence OP, license: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/52541480597
Advent is a season of repentant waiting for our Lord to come. The process of repentance is one that leads to us knowing the peace and refining work of God through Jesus for us.
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As we consider ‘hope’ in Advent, Father Jeremiah points out how it looks to the future while being rooted in the past that we might be sustained in the present. Advent helps us continue forward in this world knowing that God the Father will fulfill his promises.
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When Jesus stood before Pilate, he confessed that his kingdom, and thus his kingship, was not from this world. What did he mean by this? Is his kingdom and kingship utterly separate from this world? Or do they overlap and interlock together, such that this world will be changed when Jesus returns?
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When Jesus speaks during the Olivet Discourse about the destruction of the Temple, he was showing mercy with regard to the coming judgment of Jerusalem. He warns his disciples and those who follow them to flee when the time comes. How are we to understand this prophecy today? Is it about the future, or is it here to help us understand God’s desire to bring mercy and salvation in the midst of judgment against sin?
Image: The Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, Francesco Hayez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Father John Riebe reminds us that as Christians we are called to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This life is revealed fully through the act of the widow whose gift isn’t measured physically, but spiritually before the Lord.
Image: Le denier de la veuve (The Widow’s Mite), James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Widow%27s_Mite_(Le_denier_de_la_veuve)_-_James_Tissot.jpg
As we reflect upon the meaning of All Saints’ Day, we remember that the saints are the holy ones of God. The holiness they have though is not a holiness they create, but one that is given to them by the work of Christ.
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When Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus, we get to see something new about discipleship, but also a juxtaposition between this blind man and James and John in the previous passage. Jesus asks both, “What do you want me to do for you?” How we each answer that question gives shape to our walk with Jesus.
Image: Christ Healing a Blind Man, by Eustache Le Sueur, public domain. Image location: https://www.wikiart.org/en/eustache-le-sueur/christ-healing-the-blind-man
When James and John ask Jesus to sit at his right and left hand, he confronts them with the reality of suffering that must come before glory. What does that mean for us today? Does suffering come before glroy? Father Jeremiah considers Jesus’ words in response to James and John and the other apostles.
Image: Fra Angelico, frescoes, San Marco, picture posted by Frans Vandewalle, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/snarfel/4120035206/
The Reverend Harold Vandeveer filled in this Sunday for Fr Jeremiah. What good are the things of the world, when we have eternal salvation offered to us through Jesus? How are we going to respond to this reality?
Image: Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, by Heinrich Hofmann, public domain. Image Location: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Hoffman-ChristAndTheRichYoungRuler.jpg
When Jesus speaks of marriage and children, he sets out to correct his time’s misuse and misunderstanding of these things. Likewise today, we must hear his words and take them to heart as we approach these most holy of subjects.
Image: Portrait of a Married Couple with a Child, by Peter Paul Rubens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
We don’t often talk about angels, but they are important creatures in creation. Sunday was the Feast of Holy Michael and All Angels. Father Jeremiah reminded us about their importance and role in our lives and that they are but a pray to God the Father away from for our defense.
Image: St. Michael Triumph, by Johann M. Rottmayr. Public Domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rottmayr-Engelsturz.jpg
Jesus’ teaching about his own pending death to the disciples connected with his teaching on who is the greatest, reminds us that only by dying to self can we discover the greatness that God the Father intends for us.
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When Jesus comes down from the mountain after his transfiguration, he and the three disciples are confronted with a scene of chaos. The other disciples are arguing with the scribes about casting out a demon and healing a boy. The father of boy explains to Jesus what is happening and confesses his own unbelief mixed into his faith. What are we to make of such a story from the Bible? Is this a reminder to us that even small faith with unbelief can help us to grow in faith? Can that very unbelief be transformed?
Image: Jesus casting out demons, photo taken by Nick Thompson, mosiac located in Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna. License: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0(No Changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pelegrino/4670683038
When Jesus heals a deaf and mute man, he uses some ordinary things in the process. What does this mean about the ordinary and mundane? Are they important? Can Jesus work through simple things to bring forth praise? Father Jeremiah explores this in his sermon on Mark 7:31-37
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When the Pharisees and Scribes confront Jesus about his disciples not ritually washing hands before eating, Jesus confronts them with their ability to sacrifice the rules of God with man-made traditions in order to justify themselves. In what ways do we do this today? How are we to overcome this desire?
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After Jesus finished his teaching on feeding on him, many of his followers began leaving him. Jesus even question his own immediate twelve disciples about what they were going to do. How does this come to us today? Why would Jesus challenge even the Twelve on following him? Are we challenged in our following of Jesus?
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As Jesus continues teaching about his being the bread of life that is necessary to salvation, he goes so far as to say that his flesh is true food and his blood is true drink! What does this mean? How does it relate to communion? Where can we find Jesus that we might feed on him always?
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Jesus continues teaching the crowds after feeding them with bread and fish. He gives attention to the reality that coming and believing Jesus are connected to being given and drawn to Jesus by the Father and that he will receive all who come because he is the bread of life that gives his flesh to the world.
Image: The Lord’s Supper, taken by Lawrence OP, used under license: CC BY-NC-ND 2 (no changes made). Image Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/25915485262
Jesus confronts the crowds after feeding them with the reality that they are seeking him, not for the life that he can bring, but simply because he gave them an abundance of bread. How often do we do the same? How should we respond to this one who can give to us the bread of life through himself?
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When Jesus sends the disciples out to cross the Sea of Galilee, they find themselves struggling against a strong headwind. Why does Jesus come to them walking upon the sea? How does this reveal who Jesus is? How do we respond to Jesus in the middle of our own crises?
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Christ’s feeding of the five thousand reveals to us the mercy of God toward us in our deepest needs. God has promised throughout Scripture that he will show forth his mercy and he does so such that it is right to say that his almighty power is chiefly declared through his mercy.
Image: Christ Feeding the Five Thousand, Public Domain. Image locaiton: https://picryl.com/media/christ-feeding-the-five-thousand-from-bl-royal-16-g-iii-f-86-5b38ed
In Psalm 85, we hear of the the graciousness of God toward Israel, and then a confession for a continual need for that grace and kindness from God. How does this reveal our need for Christ and his work? Where does salvations start? Does it start with me or does it start with the foundation laid by Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection?
Image: Adoration of the Lamb from the Ghent Altarpiece,Hubert van Eyck, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
When Jesus returns to his hometown, he finds a not very friendly welcome. What does this tell us about our response to rejection. What does it tell us about our own rejections of Jesus in our daily lives?
Image: Christ Healing a Leper, by Rembrandt van Rijn. Public Domain. Image location: https://picryl.com/media/christ-healing-a-leper-fdbefe
When Jesus encounters the results of chaos from the inside of us, what does he do? Does he scoff or ignore it? Or does he act against it in order to bring to us inward and outward healing? Father Jeremiah looks at Mark 5 and a story with two healings dealing with chaos from the inside.
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Jesus calms the storm and casts out a legion of demons in our Gospel lesson today. How do these reveal the power of Jesus over creation and his power over the chaos that has invaded creation? Father Jeremiah shows us that there is more that a mere calming of the storm and casting out of demons in his sermon from Sunday.
Image: Christus bedaart de storm, by James Ensor, Public Domain (no changes made). Image location: https://www.muzee.be/nl/collectie-1/christus-bedaart-de-storm-1
Jesus told many parables to the people. In these two parables he speaks of seeds growing and birds finding homes amongst the mustard plant. What does this mean about the kingdom? How do we participate in this if God is the one who causes the growth? Father Jeremiah helps us to see the glory of God’s work and us being part of the work.
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How is Jesus the Lord of the Sabbath? What does this mean for our pursuit of sabbath? Fr. John takes us through the Mark 2:23-28 and connects to our other readings from the day.
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On Trinity Sunday, Jonathan Wells, a member of Grace Anglican, gave us a teaching on the Trinity as revealed throughout Scripture and the importance of how God has revealed himself to our salvation.
Image: Holy Trinity, picture by Lawrence OP. License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 DEED Image Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/3600731119
The Spirit’s coming was the fulfillment of Jesus’ promises to his disciples and a fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecy. His work sets believers in Jesus apart from the world and changes them from the inside out. He unites us to one another and to Jesus himself that we might know the redemption that has been accomplished for us.
Image: Descent of the Holy Spirit, by Paul Gustave Dore’s for La Grande Bible de Tours. Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons. For more info on this and other illustrations see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Dor%C3%A9%27s_illustrations_for_La_Grande_Bible_de_Tours#The_New_Testament Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Bible_panorama,_or_The_Holy_Scriptures_in_picture_and_story_(1891)_(14598407958).jpg
Jesus spent time in deep prayer for his disciples and all those who will come to believe in Christ through their word. What does this prayer reveal to us about he work of Jesus after his ascension? We see through his words that he knew he would ascend and that he would continue to present us to the Father that we might be washed and sanctified in the truth of God.
Image: The Ascension of Christ, Pietro Perugino, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
As Jesus continued to teach the disciples on the night he was betrayed, he told them to abide in his love that he had from them that flowed out of the love of the Father for himself. When we do this, we will discover that we want to keep his commandments and when we keep his commandments, we discover that we are more deeply abiding in his love.
Image: Patchy Grass by Andrew. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nez/2428875105/in/photostream/.
Jesus tells us that if we love him, we will keep his commandments. What are we to make of this statement of his? Does it mean that our salvation is because of our good deeds? Or are these words his way of showing us how to realign and calibrate our lives to the salvation we have received by faith? Father Jeremiah helps us understand Jesus’ calling today.
Image: By Tobias Aeppli. Free to use. image location: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-compass-in-forest-1125272/
Jesus calls himself the good shepherd. What kind of claim is this? How does he reflect an earthly shepherd and how does he surpass that to be something greater by the same name?
Image: The Parable of the Good Shepherd, Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Public Domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Parable_of_the_Good_Shepherd_MET_DP818250.jpg
Jesus’ body was transformed through His resurrection and he appeared to his disciples in that glorified physical body. We too will be transformed in the final resurrection because Jesus has gone ahead of us. In the here and now, though, we have new life in us that also comes through Jesus’ resurrection to us that we might be made ready for the final resurrection ahead of us.
Image: The Risen Christ appears to his Apostles, photo taken by Lawrence OP. License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed (no changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/49780661251.
Jesus appeared to his disciples multiple times after his resurrection. In the first appearance, they were not sure what to think save for the peace given to them by him and revelation of the scars upon body. After this he gives to them the Holy Spirit that they might be sent out in faith to make forgiveness known through Jesus.
Image: St Thomas touches the Risen Lord, picture taken by Lawrence OP. License CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (no changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/14036502503/in/photostream/
Jesus’ death and resurrection is God’s way of swallowing up death and removing the veil of it from over the people. His resurrection is the acceptance of his sacrifice that brings forgiveness and rejoicing to all people. Find out more from Father Jeremiah now.
The Death of Jesus was a fulfilling of God the Father’s covenant faithfulness. He had promised Abraham that all the people’s of the earth would be blessed through him and it is through Jesus’ death that that blessing comes. God completes his promise and we are given the gift of life as God’s people.
Image: The Crucifixion by Pietro Lorenzetti. Public Domain. Image location: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/438605
Image: The Last Supper of Jesus Christ, by Roman Zacharij, licensed under CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, no changes made. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Last_Supper.JPG
When Jesus entered Jerusalem upon the back of a donkey, the people cried out “Hosanna!” What was the meaning of this cry and what do we realize about it today? Father Jeremiah brings forward the impact of this entrance with palms and how it reveals the reality of the work of Jesus for us.
Image: Palm Sunday Icon, Picture taken by Ted. Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/12801075263
Jesus spoke of a grain of wheat that must die to bring forth a harvest. Jesus himself is that grain of wheat, and yet, we too are grains of wheat that have come from Jesus falling into the earth and dying. We too must continually die to ourselves in order to bring forth the harvest that God the Father desires.
Image: The Veteran in a New Field, by Winslow Homer. Public Domain. Image Location: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/11145
The destruction of the Temple by Babylon and the exile of God’s people was a devastating moment. Yet, God remained faithful to bring them back and re-establish them. After this return, God continued to fulfill his promises by sending the Messiah to make his people his new Temple that we might carry God with us throughout to the ends of the earth.
Image: Christ Feeds the 5000, photo by LawrenceOP, Detail from a medieval stained glass window in the Victoria & Albert Museum, London. License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. No Changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/7667661950
When Jesus cleansed the Temple, he was pointing toward himself as the true and pure Temple. We, as his people through faith and baptism, are also the Temple which needs continual cleansing because of our sinfulness. Father Jeremiah explains this and how it affects out lives day in and day out.
Image: Theodoor Rombouts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Theodoor_Rombouts_-_Christ_Driving_the_Money-changers_from_the_Temple.jpg
As Jesus begins teaching his disciples directly about his crucifixion, St. Peter rebukes Jesus for thinking that the Messiah must suffer. However, Jesus turns the tables on St. Peter and points out to him and all that we all must suffer and die in light of his own death and resurrection. Through this, we come to know more deeply the love of Christ for us.
Image: The Crucifixion, unknown artist, public domain, from the J. Paul Getty Museum. Image location: https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/107TX5#full-artwork-details
When Jesus receive the Holy Spirit in his baptism, that very Spirit drove him into the wilderness. There Jesus resists Satan for his people and brings to us who trust in him, deliverance from temptation and, ultimately, sin itself through his death and resurrection.
Image: The Temptation by the Devil by Gustave Dore, engraving, 1865. Public Domain. Image location: https://www.artbible.info/art/large/18.html
The sin and death that is within us is something that must be dealt with on Earth. It is the problem of Earth and not that of Heaven. Thus, Jesus comes to deal with it here on Earth that we might be saved from sin and death by his death and resurrection. On Ash Wednesday, we embrace that reality and enter the season of Lent recognizing that we can’t deal with death without Jesus.
Image: The story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:King_Hezekiah,_clouthed_in_sackcloth,_spreads_open_the_letter_before_the_Lord.jpg
What does Elijah meeting the Lord at Mt. Sinai and Jesus’ transfiguration have in common? Why is it important that the Lord isn’t in the wind, the earthquake, the fire? Why is it a low whisper? Father Jeremiah reflects on these questions
Photo by form PxHere. Public Domain.
On World Mission Sunday in the Anglican Church in North America, we step back to understand the grand calling upon the church to make disciples of all nations. What does this mean for us? How is it to be accomplished? How do we walk in this reality? Father Jeremiah teaches through the last few verses of Matthew 28 and shows how Jesus is the cornerstone of this grand work given to the church.
Image: Christ Great Commission Icon, photo taken by Ted. Used under license CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED. No changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/6849430658
In Mark 1:21-28, Jesus enters a synagogue to teach and then rebukes and casts out a demon. What does this mean for his day and what does it mean for us today? Father Jeremiah considers that Jesus’ authority is one that enables us to rebuke ourselves and embrace the transformation that he brings to us through the Holy Spirit.
Image: Die Bibel in Bildern [Picture Bible] von Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld. Leipzig: Georg Wigands, 1860. Hathi Digital Trust Library online version of a copy in the Getty Library. Web. 30 June 2016. Location: https://victorianweb.org/art/illustration/german/schnorr/82.html
Jesus went forth preaching about the Kingdom of God being at hand and calling disciples to follow him. Are we all called to drop the work we are doing to follow Jesus or can he call us to follow him in the midst of the work he has given us? Father Jeremiah considers this as he teaches about the change that Jesus brings to us through his work.
Image: Calling of Peter and Andrew, by Duccio Di Buoninsegna. Public Domain. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duccio_di_Buoninsegna_-_Calling_of_Peter_and_Andrew_-_WGA06774.jpg
St. Paul writes of the many things that people have done in the church at Corinth. Yet in listing out so many wrongdoings, he reminds the people, “Such were some of you.” St. Paul points us to the reality that in Jesus, all of our sinfulness is undone and broken. Through the washing, sanctification, and justification by Jesus, we are changed.
Image: Eustace the Dragon, illustration from C.S. Lewis’ Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
Jesus came to be baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist so that the Holy Spirit would descend upon him. Now, through Jesus, we receive the very same Holy Spirit. Father Jeremiah helps us to see the connection between Jesus’ baptism and our own baptisms, that we might be more and more renewed by Jesus.
Image: The Baptism of Christ, James Fuller Queen. No known restrictions. Image location: https://www.loc.gov/item/2003677556/
John the Baptist is questioned in John 1:19-28 about who he is. He denies being the Christ, the Prophet, and even Elijah! But he points the priests and Levites to one who stands among them who is the great one to come. What kind of person is John to have his ministry overshadowed by another and to want it to be so? Father Jeremiah tells us about John’s humility and how it becomes his greatness because of the great one, Jesus.
Image: Interrogation of John the Baptist, Jacob de Weert, Public Domain Dedication (CC0 1.0). No changes made. Image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0194173/Interrogation-of-John-the-Baptist.
As St. Mark opens his Gospel he reveals just what he thinks of Jesus Christ. Along with that we are directed in how to prepare the way of the Lord through the words of John the Baptist, who is the Elijah to come predicted by the prophet Malachi.
Image: Saint John the Baptist Bearing Witness, by Annibale Carracci, CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saint_John_the_Baptist_Bearing_Witness_MET_DP220449.jpg
With the beginning of Advent, there is a change in season and year for the Church! Father Jeremiah helps us consider how Advent should affect us and how walking through Advent leads us closer to Jesus as our King and Savior.
Image: Second Coming of Christ, by Rudolph Myer, Public Domain. Image Location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0377270/Second-Coming-of-Christ
When Jesus returns as king he will judge the living and the dead. In Matthew 25, we hear of this judgment as a separation of the sheep and the goats. We see a focus on the actions of the people in their lives, but what we can easily miss is the basis of the sheep’s actions. They are receiving an inheritance, something that can’t be earned. Their deeds are the basis, but the King, Jesus himself, and they are the recipients.
Image: The Graves Open on the Day of Judgment, Engraving by M Heemskerck. Public Domain. Image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YW035018V/The-graves-open-on-the-day-of-judgement
For All Saints’ Sunday, Father Jeremiah explained where this feast day came from. He also showed its connection to baptism in preparation for baptizing some that day.
Image: Perm Art Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
In this final confrontation with the Pharisees before his trial and crucifixion, Jesus answers a final question about the greatest commandment. He then quickly turns the tables on his questioners with a question about how the Messiah can be both the son of David and his Lord. How are these two moments connected? What does this mean for us who are unable to keep the commandments?
Image: Jesus with the Pharisees, by Jacques Callot, public domain. Image location: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.33324.html
When Jesus is asked about paying taxes, he carefully turns the tables on his questioners. “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” What do we make of this response? How does it apply to us today? How did Jesus fulfill even this command through his death and resurrection? Father Jeremiah examines Matthew 22:15-22 and helps us to see these things.
Image: Denarius featuring emperor Marcus Aurelius, Rasiel at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marcus_Aurelius_Denarius2.jpg
In the Bible, feasting and especially wedding feasts are a sign of the Kingdom of God and salvation being given to God’s people. Jesus reminds us that all has been prepared and accomplished and thus all is a gift for us when we are called to join him. Yet, when we fall, we must not remain speechless before the King, but should respond with confession that we might ever be changed and transformed by the King.
Image: Charlemange at Dinner, Talbot Master, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
As we hear the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, our hearts should be drawn to the conclusion in which the wicked are cast out for those who will provide the fruit to the master. We are called to good works by the power of the Holy Spirit, works that the Father has prepared beforehand for us. How do we respond to these called out of us works? Do we resist? Or do we receive the work of the Spirit to enable us to fulfill God’s callings upon us?
Image: The Red Vineyard or Red Vineyard at Arles, Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Red_vineyards.jpg
Jesus’ parable of the Two Sons is a perfect rebuttal to the chief priests and elders refusal to answer Jesus’ question about John the Baptist. They know that he can challenge them on their lack of faith, yet he reminds them that they can turn any time to the Father’s will and believe in the one whom he has sent to bring salvation. That still applies today: Regardless of our having said no to the Father’s will, we can turn back and believe in Christ. And likewise, if we have said we will do the Father’s will and not done it, we can turn around and begin doing it.
Image: The Parable of the Father and His Two Sons in the Vineyard, from The Story of Christ, Georg Pencz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Master of the vineyard is free to reward and give to his workers as he pleases. In his freedom to do that, the workers are freed to do their work with no fear of not receiving good things from the master. Likewise for us, we are free to work in our vocations because God has given us the Kingdom and made us partakers of it through Jesus Christ.
Image: Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, by Meester Van Antwerpan. Public Domain. Image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0035483/Parable-of-the-workers-in-the-vineyard
How do we respond to the great generosity of the king in forgiving our infinite debt? Do we extend that kind of forgiveness to those who owe us or do we keep track of every infraction and debt and strive to squeeze it out of others? Are we quick to call out debts of others while wanting them to ignore what we owe to them? How does this kind of life play out for our souls? Bishop Terrell looks at the king’s forgiveness and the reaction of the unforgiving servant to his fellow servant and asks how are we to react when the king forgives us?
image: The King Forgiving His Servant, by Dirck Volckertz Coornhert after Maerten van Heemskerck, National Gallery of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Jesus opens our eyes through the Law to our need for him and his work on our behalf that we might be saved from the coming disaster of our sins. Jesus is our watchman that leads us away from condemnation and into redemption, reconciliation, and restoration.
Image: Thomas Dekker, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Father John Riebe fills in for Father Jeremiah. Fr. John reminds us that we are to take up our crosses in light of the cross that Christ has taken up for us. We walk along the same path in his power and strength and it is konwn to us by our confession of Jesus as the Christ.
Image: from https://catalog.obitel-minsk.com/blog/2021/04/why-are-we-called-to-take-up-our-cross-and-what-does-it-mean-for-our-lives We cannot find an origin for this image, but it appears on many, many various webpages across the internet with no reference of usage rights.
When St. Peter answered Jesus’ question, little did he know that it would be a hinge-moment in his life. Everything would be different and he would be given the strength to continue forward in his confession.
Image: The Delivery of the Keys to Peter, Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication Image location: https://picryl.com/media/the-delivery-of-the-keys-to-peter-3c9abf
In the story of the Canaanite woman from Matthew 15, we see Jesus testing both his disciples and the woman regarding faith in what the Messiah has come to do. How does the woman respond to Jesus and how does Jesus respond to the woman? What does this tell us about the resilience of faith and our need to cling to Jesus? Father Jeremiah walks through this story and helps us to see how we can look more like the Canaanite woman.
Image: The Canaanite Woman, from Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, Condé Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
As the disciples are caught in the wind and the crashing waves of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus comes to them. What does Jesus reveal as he lets them know it is him? Why does Peter suddenly want to come out upon these crashing waves? Why does he begin to sink? Father Jeremiah explains today that in the chaos, Jesus is able to give us grace to come to him and to respond to us in our deepest needs.
image: Peter Walking on Water Icon, picture taken by Ted, license: CC BY-SA 2.0(no changes made). Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/10545665155
Jesus’ feeding of the 5000 is more than a mere event in the his ministry. Jesus is fulfilling many events of God feeding his people and caring for them from the Old Testament. With that we discover that there is a greater fulfillment to this feeding to be found at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
Image: Jesus Feeding the Multitude, Gustave Doré, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
As Jesus tells the people parables, one thing to remember is that the parables are about Jesus. He is revealing something of himself to the people who can hear. We should recognize that Jesus is the center of these parables and know that he is working to make us his own in his Kingdom.
image: Phillip Medhurst, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons
In the Parable of the Weeds, Jesus says that the Master of the field told his servants to wait until the harvest and to let the weeds grow amongst the wheat. And so the weeds remained with the wheat until the reapers came to separate them from one another. This would take great patience from the servants. Likewise, we too live patiently in the world awaiting the final coming of the Kingdom of God and the return of our master, Jesus. And in living patiently, we discover the Kingdom is working in us to make us more and more like the wheat.
Image: An etching by Jan Luyken illustrating Matthew 13:24-30 in the Bowyer Bible, Bolton, England, Phillip Medhurst, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons.
It is so easy for us to view the various soils from Jesus’ parable of the Sower as static soils regarding our hearts. We are one or the other. And yet, there is an aspect of which our hearts shift and receive the Word of God differently at different times. Father Jeremiah explores this idea and helps us to see how God will plow and prepare our hearts over and over so that the word can grow in us.
Image: The Sower, by Vincent Van Gogh, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation). Image location: https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/collection/d0348V1962
Jesus tells us that he has an easy and kind yoke and is joyful that those who are children have heard his call. In a paradoxical way these two things go together. Only little children can receive Jesus, and only those who are weary can become children. This is because those are the kind of people who can put their trust in Jesus as they have not blinded themselves with their own selfishness.
Image: A woman in a large straw hat is tending two decorated oxen…, Steel engraving by C. Cousen after E. H. Landseer, licensed under: CC BY 4.0, no changes made. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_woman_in_a_large_straw_hat_is_tending_two_decorated_oxen_w_Wellcome_V0020839.jpg
Jesus speaks of bringing a sword instead of peace, which is seemingly shocking. And yet, when one considers that not all will believe in Jesus, it makes sense. When Jesus renews the hearts of some and others reject him, there will be conflict and division and a sword will split people apart. This is also true of ourselves. When Jesus renews our hearts, he creates a divide within us and puts us at war with ourselves. This is his work of redemption in us, to cut off the old that the new would rise up.
Image: Scenes from Matthew 10: 34-38, by Daniel Hopfer, Licensed under CC0 1.0. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scenes_from_Matthew_10-_34-38_MET_DP835392.jpg
Jesus continues teaching his disciples about the what will happen as they go out to make the kingdom known. They will face various kinds of persecution because of the name of Jesus. Yet, despite all of that, they should not fear man because the Father in heaven knows when even a sparrow falls and we are all of greater value than they are before God. And so, we are to know that because Jesus has dealt with our sin, we are wholly known by the Father and can go forward without fear into the world.
Image: 4112008, by Jimpg2_2015, licensed under: CC BY-SA 2.0(no changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/9146740@N03/3100062680
Out of His compassion, Jesus sends the twelve with his authority and power to heal and cast out demons in order to make known the Kingdom of God. What does this mean for us today? Father Jeremiah reflects upon this in his sermon from Sunday.
Image: Crowds gather as Christ heals sick people, engraving by T. Phillibrown after Benjamin West. Public Doman. Image location: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/ee8bfscw
God is continually demonstrating his covenant faithfulness towards us. And that faithfulness will always reveal to us our lack of faithfulness toward God, leading us to receive his mercy that comes through the covenant.
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The Trinity is a mystery and yet, something that has been revealed since the beginning. It is not an abstract doctrine created by the New Testament, but is the reality of God, revealed throughout the Old Testament. It is merely made crystal clear in the New Testament.
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What is the purpose of giving the Holy Spirit to the disciples and to us? The Spirit calls gives gifts that are to be used for the good of the Church and to make Jesus known through those gifts! Father Jeremiah explains this in his latest sermon.
image: Tongues of fire descend on the apostles at Pentecost. Lithograph, See page for author, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tongues_of_fire_descend_on_the_apostles_at_Pentecost._Lithog_Wellcome_V0034957.jpg Original location: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qqwwq4dm
As Jesus prayed his high priestly prayer just a brief while before he was betrayed, he asked to be glorified with the glory that he had known before the world existed. This is a prayer for his ascension to come! In that ascension, he will be able to be with his people and come to us through his word and sacraments that we would know eternal life, that is, knowing the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ.
Image: National Library of Wales, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_praying_in_the_garden_of_Gethsemane._Two_shields_of_unidentified_arms_in_borders,_with_motto_%E2%80%9CEntre_tenir_Dieu_le_viuelle%E2%80%9D_(f._40)_Cropped.jpg
Jesus tells his disciples that he is the true vine and that we are all branches off of him. What does this mean for our life? How does this reshape our entire Christian lives? Father Jeremiah guides us through this passage from John 15.
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During Jesus’ discourse with his disciples before he was crucified, he told them to not let their hearts be troubled in light of the events around them. What did Jesus tell them to enable them to be comforted instead of troubled? Father Jeremiah reviews these truths in today’s sermon.
Image: The risen Jesus appears to the disciples in the upper room, photo by Nick Thompson, License CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (no changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pelegrino/4669927869
Jesus speaks of the shepherd as one who can call out to his sheep and they will come to him. He also says that he is the door for both the shepherd and the sheep. How does Jesus call out to us today? How does he water and feed us? Are there under-shepherds who serve under this one good Shepherd? Father Jeremiah considers the care of the Good Shepherd for us in today’s sermon.
Image: Shepherd and Sheep, Anton Mauve, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Image: The Road to Emmaus, photo by Jim Forest, original painting located in National Gallery in Washington, license: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0(no changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/3162933274
Jesus said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed?” Why is this so important for us today? Guest preacher Harrison Northey helps us to understand that we are truly blessed in our faith when we haven’t seen Jesus with our physical eyes.
Image: Doubting Thomas puts his finger in the risen Christ's lance, See page for author, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Doubting_Thomas_puts_his_finger_in_the_risen_Christ%27s_lance_Wellcome_V0034835.jpg
When the women went to the tomb of Christ, they weren’t expecting to find it empty nor angels telling them of the resurrection. And most certainly, they were not expecting to encounter the risen Jesus himself!
Image: The Resurrection of Christ,Alonso López de Herrera, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alonso_L%C3%B3pez_de_Herrera_-_The_Resurrection_of_Christ_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
On the night before Jesus was betrayed, he performed two acts that St. John tells us is to beginning revealing his uttermost love. We see here that Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and then reveals to them the mystery of the Last Supper, that he is feeding his people with himself.
Image: Last Supper, picture taken by Steve Snodgrass, CC CY 20, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/5826503639
When Jesus entered into Jerusalem, it was like the light of creation shining forth. It is the beginning of the end of the Old Creation in so many ways. Sin will be dealt with. Redemption will be accomplished. The Light will shine forth, even if it is dark momentarily. Consider the wonders of Palm Sunday and all that it means for us and our salvation.
Image: Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on a Donkey -- Palm Sunday, picture taken by Martin LaBar, from the book Half Hours With the Bible, New Testament, New York: Clifton Pub. Co. No changes made. CC BY-NC 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/2079385
Jesus is able to raise Lazarus from the dead because he is the Resurrection and the Life. What does that mean for us today? Jesus being the resurrection and the life means that we are unbound from sin because death is the result of sin.
Image: Jesus Raising Lazarus from the Dead, Woodcut of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, scanned from the 19th century book, Half Hours With the Bible, New Testament. Photo by Martin LaBar, CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/2079382
When Jesus heals a man born blind, he does something that no one had ever done. In the midst of that, he shows that the Light will overcome the darkness though the darkness will continually fight against it and all those who follow the Light.
Image: an etching by Jan Luyken from Phillip Medhurst Collection, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made.
When Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well in Samaria, how does the conversation go? St. John recounts this encounter enabling us to see what gifts God has given us in Christ for our salvation.
Image: Christ and the Samaritan woman at the well, Angelica Kauffmann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Angelika_Kauffmann_-_Christus_und_die_Samariterin_am_Brunnen_-1796.jpeg
When Nicodemus visits Jesus at night, there is more to their talk than meets the eye. How does Jesus being the light go with Nicodemus visiting him at night? How does someone hearing the wind go with hearing Scripture? Father Jeremiah speaks on these questions in this sermon.
Image: Visit of Nicodemus to Jesus, by John La Forge, Public Domain. Location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YSA003406/Visit-of-Nicodemus-to-Christ
St. Paul speaks of the one act of righteousness of Jesus in his epistle to the Romans. What does this act encompass? Is it only a reference to the crucifixion or is there a an underlying reality within the one act of Jesus? What does his temptation have to do with this? So many questions flowing from the texts for this First Sunday in Lent and Father Jeremiah examines them in this sermon that considers the one act of righteousness.
Image: Temptation of Christ, 12th century mosaic in basilica di San Marco, anonimus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
As we come to Ash Wednesday, we must consider just what we are doing on this day. C.S. Lewis said, “Good and evil both increase at compound interest.” Everything that we do will shape and remake us. Father Jeremiah considers this truth as he reflects on the ashen crosses upon our foreheads.
image: Celebration of Ash Wednesday and Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church, by Bernard Picart. Public Domain. Image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0308725/Celebration-of-Ash-Wednesday-and-Eucharist-in-the-Roman-Catholic-Church
What does it mean that Jesus was transfigured? How does this affect our understanding of Jesus? What does Jesus’ work have to do with our being able to enter into his presence? These questions give rise to much in Father Jeremiah’s sermon on Jesus’ transfiguration.
image: The Savior’s Transfiguration, unknown artist, Tretyakov Gallery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Jesus teaches and heals and sees a harvest all around him of people who need the salvation he is bringing. He also sees that in the people’s needs, they are exactly like sheep without a shepherd, without a good shepherd who will lead them into the truth and protect them no matter the cost. Jesus is that shepherd and calls us to himself to bring others to know him as the Good Shepherd.
Image: Shepherd and Sheep, Anton Mauve, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
We hear of ourselves being salt and light, but how is it that we are made into these things that Jesus calls us? And what does Jesus mean by us needing to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees and Scribes? Father Jeremiah considers these things in this sermon on Matthew 5:13-20
Image: Christ’s Sermon on the Mount: The Parable of the Lily, public domain, found at: https://loc.getarchive.net/media/christs-sermon-on-the-mount-the-parable-of-the-lily
Too often, we cling to that which God has not given to us, but what happens when we cling to what is given, seeing it as the place of blessing? Jesus’ Beatitudes reveal to us not how to be blessed, but that God is blessing his people in the midst of their lives.
Image: Phillip Medhurst, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jan_Luyken%27s_Jesus_6._The_Sermon_on_the_Mount._Phillip_Medhurst_Collection.jpg
Jesus left Nazareth to extend his ministry throughout Galilee in order to fulfill prophecy. What happens when the light enters dark places? What happens when this Light calls others to his side as disciples? Father Jeremiah explains Matthew 4.12-22 for us in his sermon today.
Image: A Sun Rising, photo taken by bluesbby, licensed under CC BY 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/17367470@N05/24411335287
Why does John the Baptist delight in pointing his own disciples to Jesus? What does John understand about Jesus that others had not grasped yet? And just why does the Holy Spirit come to rest upon Jesus at his baptism? Father Jeremiah considers these things in his sermon for the Second Sunday of Epiphany.
Image: San Giovanni che indica il Cristo a Sant'Andrea, by Ottavio Vannini (1585-c. 1643), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ottavio_vannini,_san_giovanni_che_indica_il_Cristo_a_Sant%27Andrea.jpg
Why did Jesus go to John the Baptist to get baptized? Was it needed for Jesus himself? Or did he do it for a greater purpose? Father Jeremiah considers why Jesus was baptized and how that changes us today.
Image: Andrea del Verrocchio, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, no changes made. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Baptism_of_Christ_%28Verrocchio_%26_Leonardo%29.jpg
image: AnonymousUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Menologion_of_Basil_047.jpg
St. John tells in the first chapter of his Gospel that the Word was with God, the Word was God, and the Word became flesh. God has become man he declares. And out of that, humanity receives three gifts that John brings forward. Father Jeremiah preaches about these gifts and their importance to our salvation in this Christmas Day sermon.
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When the angel appeared to the shepherds, he told them that the Messiah had been born and a whole host appeared and declared the peace had come and was coming because of this birth. This glorious event reminds us that Jesus came to bring true peace and redemption to humanity by being born as a man.
Image: Leonhard Goffine, CC0 (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:An_Angel_appears_to_the_Shepherds.jpg
How does Joseph respond when he discovers Mary is pregnant? How does he respond when he learns her pregnancy has been caused by the Holy Spirit? He responds with righteousness and faithfulness before God! He is a quiet man who strives to do as God commands and takes on the task of being the earthly father of the Messiah, who he knows to be more than an ordinary man.
Image: An Angel Appears to Joseph in a Dream, uploaded by Martin LaBar, licensed under: CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/2079380
John the Baptist’s disciples come to meet with Jesus and ask him about his messiahship and Jesus simply points to his words and actions instead of giving a direct answer. Why does he do this? What does he mean when he goes on to say that the violent are laying hold of the kingdom? All of this goes together as we consider the. nature of repentance and who is repentant in most cases during Jesus’ ministry.
Image: Peasants Carrying Sticks, by Camille Pissarro, National Gallery of Art, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
John the Baptist came preaching judgment and repentance in light of the coming of the Messiah. How does this relate to the idea of peace? How does peace come out of a word of judgment and call to repentance? Father Jeremiah tells about this reality in his sermon today.
Image: St. John the Baptist icon, picture taken by Ted. No changes made. Used under license: CC BY-SA 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/10181902566
How does Christ’s judging Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD and his future return affect us today? Father Jeremiah reflects upon this and how Christ’s previous coming and his future coming gives us hope for today that he will come to us through Word and Sacrament.
Image: The Falling Stars, from pg 323 of Bible Readings of the Home Circlelocated at www.projectgutenburg.org. Image location: https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/34520/pg34520-images.html#id-6453421722991906772
What is a saint? What is holiness? What does this have to do with baptism? Father Jeremiah explores these questions in his sermon for All Saints’ Sunday.
Image: Baptism Stained glass window detail, Mountfield church, picture by Julien P Goffogg. License: CC BY-SA 2.0, no changes made. Location: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3912954
The people grumbled when Jesus went into the house of Zacchaeus. They grumbled because he was spending time with a sinner and having table fellowship. Yet, without Jesus doing this for all of us, none of us could be saved. In fact, Jesus even comes to us in our baptisms that he might have this fellowship with us.
Image: Jesus Speaks to Zacchaeus, who is in a tree uploaded by Martin LaBar License: CC BY-NC 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/6876656
What was the real difference between the Pharisee and the tax collector of Luke 18? Was one a good guy and the other bad? Or are both bad and one simply recognizes his proper need for an atoning sacrifice before God? Father Jeremiah looks at the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector and considers what this parable teaches us to understand about ourselves.
Image: The Pharisee and the Publican, After Sir John Everett Millais, Engraved and printed by Dalziel Brothers. Public Domain. Image location: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/382281
The widow of Jesus’ parable in Luke 18 is unwilling to give up her cause before an unjust judge. The judge eventually gives in and does what is right. What does this tell us about prayer? What does it tell us about God? How are we to come to God then if we know that he is truly honorable toward his people? Father Jeremiah considers all of this and encourages us to prayer unceasingly to our God who has redeemed us in Jesus Christ.
Image: The Unjust Judge and the Importunate Widow, Brothers Dalziel, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Unjust_Judge_and_the_Importunate_Widow_(The_Parables_of_Our_Lord_and_Saviour_Jesus_Christ)_MET_DP835791.jpg
Bishop Terrell joins with us for confirmations and so he preached the sermon for this Sunday. He walks us through the healing of the 10 Lepers from Luke 17 and directs us toward the need for gratitude toward God as we walk through our lives as Christians.
Image: See page for author, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, no changes made. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_cures_ten_lepers._Woodcut._Wellcome_V0034943.jpg
Image: See page for author, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_tells_an_apostle_how_a_mustard_seed_grows_into_a_tree_Wellcome_V0034951.jpg
How powerful is the Word of God? In the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, we learn that if the rich man had but heeded what was in the Law and the Prophets, he would have been at Abraham’s side with Lazarus. Instead, he was focused on himself and ignoring the Word of God.
Image: The Rich Man and Lazarus, by Brothers Dalziel and John Everett Millais, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Rich_Man_and_Lazarus_(The_Parables_of_Our_Lord_and_Saviour_Jesus_Christ)_MET_DP835801.jpg
What did the dishonest steward do that was so commendable? In Father Jeremiah’s sermon, he considers just what the steward’s shrewdness was about. Was the steward depending upon his own shrewdness and ingenuity? Or was there someone else he was depending upon in the midst of his crisis? Listen now to find out more!
Image by: Andrei Mironov, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%D0%9F%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D1%87%D0%B0_%D0%BE_%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%BC_%D1%83%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5._%D0%9A%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0_XXI_%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%B0..jpg
Image: Marble statue of The Good Shepherd carrying a lamb, c. 300-350, from the Catacombs of Domitilla, Vatican Museums, Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Marble_statue_of_The_Good_Shepherd_carrying_a_lamb,_c._300-350,_from_the_Catacombs_of_Domitilla,_Vatican_Museums_(31302117574).jpg
When we think of being a disciples of Jesus, our thoughts often turn to what we must do in our discipleship. But what if we consider what Christ has done to change us into the right kind of disciples? Father Jeremiah speaks to the reality of Christ bearing our cross in his own cross to enable us to carry ours.
Image: Woodcut of Christ carrying the Lamb, illustration from the prayerbook of Martin Luther, Sebald Beham, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Luther-prayerbook-Beham-1527.jpg
Jesus said that whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted. How does this come to apply in our own lives? Who is doing the humbling and who is doing the exalting? The who of that question is more important that we ever realize.
Image: Humility and Pride from BL Royal 19 C II, f. 52, Public Domain. Image location: https://jenikirbyhistory.getarchive.net/media/humility-and-pride-from-bl-royal-19-c-ii-f-52-e57bc8
When Jesus tells us to strive, do we think of us exerting our own strength? Or do we think of how weak we are and the impossible task before us of entering the narrow door? Father Jeremiah considers how we strive not our strength, but instead Jesus’ enabling strength revealed in our weakness.
Image: pg 164, The Baptistery, or the Way of Eternal Life, by Isaac William. Found at books.google.com. Public Domain.
What does it mean for Jesus to cause division? What brings about division? In our varying texts from Sunday, we hear that division occurs because God’s truth stands against the world’s lies. And ultimately, Jesus will cause division as he deals with our sins upon the cross. For those who reject the work of Christ, his work stands against them and for those who receive it, they will live with an inner division of the old versus the new that is overcome by faith in the One who has died for them.
Image: The Chaff Cutter, David Teniers the Younger, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Teniers,_David_the_younger_-_The_Chaff-cutter_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Fear and anxiety are part and parcel of this life in a broken and sinful world. What are we to do about these feelings when they come upon us? Father Jeremiah reminds us that in this Age of Faith we can look to God’s promises fulfilled in Jesus Christ and poured upon us by the Holy Spirit to begin dealing with these responses to the world around.
Image: Anxiety, by Edvard Munch, digitally enhanced by raxpixel. Licensed with no changes under: CC BY 2.0. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anxiety_%281896%29_by_Edvard_Munch._Original_from_The_Art_Institute_of_Chicago._Digitally_enhanced_by_rawpixel._%2850434737057%29.jpg
When someone asks Jesus to give a judgment concerning an inheritance with his brother, Jesus tells him that we must be on watch for coveting in our hearts and tells a parable of a man who received blessing above measure. But for this man, he loses it all in his death having no faith, but only focused on greed. What is it about coveting and greed that makes it idolatry? Father Jeremiah helps us to identify the answer and wrestle against this idolatry.
Image: Parable of the Rich Fool, Public Domain, from LookandLearn.com. image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0623099/Parable-of-the-Rich-Fool
When we hear about the Friend at Midnight, we probably think of the fellow who bangs on the door of his neighbor’s house until he finally gets up and gives him some bread. What if that wasn’t quite the proper understanding of this important parable? What if the parable was about the fellow who gets awakened giving the bread because he doesn’t want to bring shame on himself and his village by not acting according to the laws of hospitality? Father Jeremiah explores this in this sermon on Luke 11.
Image: Importunate Neighbor, William Holman Hunt, public domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Importunate_neighbour.jpg
What is the difference between Abraham and Martha’s approach to the Lord? How does this come to be known to us through the stories of Genesis 18 and Luke 10? Father Jeremiah walks us through these two texts so that we can learn stillness before the Father.
Image: Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, Johannes Vermeer, Public Domain. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Johannes_(Jan)_Vermeer_-_Christ_in_the_House_of_Martha_and_Mary_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
When we hear about the Good Samaritan, we tend to conjure up images of a moral tale about how to be a better person and put other people first, no matter who they are. However, what if there is something deeper in this parable that is more than the simple parables that Jesus usually told? What if the story really was about what Jesus has done for us in his incarnation? Father Jeremiah considers these things in his sermon from Sunday.
Image: Good Samaritan Icon, photo by Ted, CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/15528960161
When Jesus sent the 70/72 disciples out to all the places that he would go, the receiving of them was a receiving of himself and the rejection of them was a rejection of himself. What does this mean? It means that Jesus is going with his people wherever he sends them. He goes with us that we might be strengthened in all that we do by his working through us.
image: 70 Apostles. Public Domain. image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:70Apostles_V-1.jpg
Guest priest the Reverend Paul Briggs walks us through Luke 9:51-62. He reminds us that grace undergirds our ultimate choices and that grace is intended to draw us to Christ.
Image: Herschel Bonham, Route A, Box 118, an 11-year-old boy cultivating peas. He belongs to a cotton club in school. Father says he can pick 200 pounds of cotton a day. Location: Lawton, Oklahoma / Lewis W. Hine, by Lewis W. Hine, 1917. No known restrictions. image location: https://www.loc.gov/item/2018678613/
When we think of the Trinity, we can find ourselves in a position of trying to comprehend the mystery of the nature of God. If we try to comprehend the reality of God’s triune nature, we will fail, for God is above and beyond us. However, we are enabled through God’s revelation in Scripture to apprehend the triunity of God, for he has revealed himself to us through Jesus Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Three persons, one God. A mystery that we will ever praise and one that we are united to through the work of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Image: Christ’s Baptism (San Marco), photo taken by Jim Forest, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (no changes made).Image Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/3473212604/in/photostream/
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/6/12/apprehending-the-trinity-john-145-15
When the people attempted to build their tower, they wanted to make a name for themselves instead of receiving their recognition through the grace of God. They sinned by refusing God’s command and thus were scattered. But that scattering meant hope of receiving that new name that will come through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Image: From the illuminated manuscript Vaux Passional, pubic domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pentecost_descent_of_the_Holy_Ghost_as_a_dove_%28f._151%29.jpg
On this Sunday after the Ascension, we hear from Jesus’ high priestly prayer found in John 17. As Jesus prays for all who believe through the Disciples, we are reminded that in his Ascension, Jesus continues to pray this prayer for us before the Father. He is thus cultivating us that he might be in us and we in him.
image: Unknown authorUnknown author, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gethsemane_Macedonia.gif
After the Last Supper with the disciples, Jesus’ reminds them that he will shortly be taken from them. Whta does he mean? Is he only referring to his crucifixion? Or is there more to this, especially when the Holy Spirit is involved? How does our love play a role in the Father’s love for us? So many questions to consider from this short passage, and Father Jeremiah walks through them in this sermon.
Image: Jesus and His Disciples at the Last Supper, from the book, Half Hours with the Bible, 19th Century. Scanned by Martin LaBar. License: CC BY-NC 2.0. No Changes made. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/6876657/in/photostream/
On this Sunday, we are transported back to Maundy Thursday to hear the new commandment that Jesus gave to his disciples. This commandment is an old one but is now fully connected to what Jesus is about to do for the world. Through his forgiveness of our sins, we are enabled to begin living out a new kind of sacrificial love that aligns with all of his commands.
Image: The Messiah Gives the New Law, (Stained glass detail of a window by Douglas Strachan in SS Andrew & George in Edinburgh), photo by Lawrence OP. Licensed under: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (No Changes Made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/12559943145
Jesus being the Good Shepherd means more than just herding us sheep from place to place. It means that he is the true Messiah and those with ears to hear will recognize his voice calling to them.
Image: Shepherds and Sheep, David Teniers the Younger, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
While the Apostles were waiting for Jesus to direct them forward, they went fishing. Jesus meets them at the sea and grants restoration to them and especially Peter. Father Jeremiah reminds us that through Jesus we receive restoration to the Father also.
Image: John 21:1-14. Once more Jesus showeth himself to Peter and others by the Sea of Galilee, by William Hole, no known restrictions. Image location: Library of Congress: https://www.loc.gov/resource/matpc.23148/
With the resurrection of Jesus, none of the disciples were willing to believe. For all of them, faith came only when they encountered Jesus in the flesh. But with all of them, faith came. The failure to initially believe did not derail the reality before them or keep them from embracing the truth when he came to them. Likewise for us, we must realize that we can’t let our failures derail our faith because it is Jesus, who has died and been raised again, that our faith focuses upon, not our failures.
Image: Grégoire Huret, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
When Jesus rises from the dead, everything changes! The women went to the tomb expecting to find a dead Jesus, having neglected his promises of death and resurrection for the salvation of the world. They find the tomb empty and realize through the words of the angel that all the good things have come true.
Image: Raphael, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Jesus entered into Jerusalem on what is now called Palm Sunday, just a few days before the Passover and his own crucifixion. What can we learn from this event and how it is connected to the crucifixion and sacrifice of Jesus for us? Father Jeremiah leads us through this story from Luke 19 and helps us to see that Jesus is the complete fulfillment of more than anyone could have hoped for.
Image: Giotto di Bondone [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Found at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giotto_-_Scrovegni_-_-26-_-_Entry_into_Jerusalem2.jpg
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/4/10/save-us-now-o-king-of-the-palms-luke-1929-40
Image: The Green Vineyard, Van Gogh, picture by Frans Vandewalle, license: CC BY-NC 2.0 Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/snarfel/4686086936
So often when we hear the parable of the Prodigal Son, we think that it is all about the two sons. However, in the broader context of Luke 15, Jesus is driving home why we should celebrate when repentant sinners come home and it isn’t because they come home! The celebration is for the one who receives them, our gracious Father in heaven who has made a way for us to come to him!
Image: The Return of the Prodigal Son, from The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, license: CCO 1.0 Dedication. Location: https://nypl.getarchive.net/media/the-return-of-the-prodigal-son-213284
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/27/re-understanding-the-prodigal-luke-1511-32
What does the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree (Luke 13:6-9) tell us about God’s grace toward us in repentance? Father Jeremiah looks at this parable along with the story before and after in the Gospel of Luke to help us understand about the interplay of judgment, grace, and repentance.
Image: Ancient Tower at Cloyne, Feby 1856, Admiral Edward Gennys Fanshawe (27 November 1814 – 21 October 1906)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/20/the-task-of-repentance-luke-131-17
In Luke 13, someone asks Jesus about the number that will be saved. Instead of answering directly, Jesus says that the we should strive to enter the narrow door. He puts the focus away from the number and onto each of us regarding salvation. He then tells the people that he would have gathered them together for salvation had they been willing. We see here that there is a great and broad compassion in this narrow way. Jesus is ready and able to give redemption and protection, but are we ready to receive it?
Image: License: CC0 Public Domain. Location: https://www.maxpixel.net/Chicken-Hawk-Landscape-Hen-Line-Art-Vintage-Farm-5207992
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/13/broad-compassion-in-the-narrow-way-luke-1322-35
With the temptation of Christ, we often get focused on the details of how he overcame the Devil, but we don’t often consider why he even was tempted or why he overcame the devil. Father Jeremiah walks through these background aspects to help us see a grander picture of Jesus’ overcoming the Devil and what that means for us.
Image: The Temptation of Christ by the Devil, by Christoffel Jegher and Sir Peter Paul Rubens. Public Domain. Image location: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.53388.html
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/6/the-forest-for-the-trees-luke-41-13
On Ash Wednesday, we gather to get an ashen cross marked upon our foreheads. What is the purpose of this? How does it relate to our faith? What does it tell us about ourselves and the work of Christ? Father Jeremiah helps us to understand that this ashen cross directs us to the cross of Christ and the death of our old self that we might live in new life.
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/2/hope-through-an-ashen-cross-joel-2-matthew-6
There are so many layers to the Transfiguration that it is hard to comprehend how glorious it really was. Many aspects of it are recalling various events in the Old Testament, especially the cloud overshadowing them out of which God the Father speaks. All of this is to direct our eyes to Jesus alone so that we will know the reality fo salvation in our lives.
Image: Portable icon with the Transfiguration of Christ, Byzantine artwork. License: Louvre Museum, CC BY 2.5 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5, via Wikimedia Commons Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Transfiguration_Christ_Louvre_ML145.jpg
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/1/the-transfiguration-and-us-luke-928-36
This Sunday is World Mission Sunday. Father Jeremiah reflects upon the coming of Christ to his disciples from John 20 and how this event undergirds all that they then go out to do. We must lay hold of the forgiveness and peace that Christ brings to us through his cross and that is what we take with us into the world as we become his witnesses.
Image: See page for author, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/2/20/sent-to-proclaim-forgiveness-john-2019-32
In our lessons today, we have heard much about blessings and curses based on the one you trust. We often think that the only thing that matters is having trust, but the reality is that your trust is only as good as the one in whom you trust is placed. On top of that, we have to contend with a deceitful heart! What is one to do? Father Jeremiah takes us through these passages from Jeremiah 17.5-10, Psalm 1, Luke 6.17-26, and 1 Corinthians 15. 12-20 to help us understand where we are going in this world.
Image: The Sermon on the Mount, Gustave Doré. Public Domain. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dore_Bible_Sermon_on_the_Mount.jpg
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/2/13/blessings-and-woes-for-the-deceitful-heart-jeremiah-175-10-luke-617-26-1-corinthians-1512-20-psalm-1
When Israel had turned to idolatry and come under the discipline of the Lord, he went to Gideon and called him to be a judge and redeemer for the people. His promise to Gideon was that the Lord would be with him and that this would be Gideon’s strength. The same is true for us who have been baptized and trust in Jesus. He is with us and his being with us means that we will be transformed by this promise because he calls us to go out and be Christians in this world through his being with us.
Image: Rijksmuseum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/2/8/i-will-be-with-you-judges-611-24-luke-51-11
Image: The Wedding at Cana, photo taken by Lawrence OP, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/24409869186
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. Why was this? How does it connect to John’s ministry of baptism? What does it reveal about God’s actions in Jesus towards us who are sinners? Father Jeremiah reflects on these things in his sermon from Baptism of Our Lord Sunday.
Image: Christ’s Baptism (San Marco), from the Cathedral of San Marco in Venice. Photo taken by Jim Forest, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/3473212604
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/1/9/jesus-baptism-and-us-luke-315-22
As we read each of the Gospel narratives about the birth of Jesus, we usually ask, “How does this all fit together?” Father Jeremiah walks us through how St. Luke and St. Matthew’s Infancy narratives can fit together so that we can better appreciate the full work of the Father in sending his Son into this world.
Image: Stories of life and passion of Christ, by Gaudenzio Ferrari (cropped). Public Domain. location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GaudenzioFerrari_StorieCristo_Varallo.jpg
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/1/2/harmonizing-the-infancy-of-jesus-luke-2-matthew-2
Father Jeremiah steps back in time and reads a sermon from St. Leo the Great. Throughout the sermon Fr. Jeremiah offers additional thoughts to hopefully build your faith and draw you nearer to the God who would send his Son to become a true man.
Image: Gloria in Excelsis Deo, photo taken by Lawrence OP. License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. No changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/31864224215
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/12/26/leo-the-greats-homily-on-the-incarnation
Why would God become man? Father Jeremiah explores this reality in this sermon from Christmas Eve. God is fulfilling his promises through the birth of his Son, Jesus, into this world and the greatest promise is that he will be our God and he will make us his people.
Image: The Birth of Christ… lithograph by M Fanoli after J Führich. License under CC BY 4.0. Located at the Wellcome Collection. Image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YW034608V/The-birth-of-Christ
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/12/24/to-be-your-god-luke-21-20-titus-211-14
When the Virgin Mary visited her aged relative Elizabeth, both women were filled with the Holy Spirit and uttered astonishing words of praise for the one that the Virgin was carrying. St. Mary is truly the God-bearer because she is carrying God himself in the flesh in her womb and thus bears the Son of God into the world for the world’s sake.
Image: The Visitation, photo by Lawrence OP, Detail from a tapestry dating to c. 1450-75, believed to have been made by a Dominican nun in Switzerland. The tapestry is part of the Burrell Collection in Glasgow. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/7306904510
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/12/19/advent-confrontation-bearing-the-son-of-god-to-the-world-luke-139-56
The prophet Zephaniah has foretold of the coming judgment of God throughout his book, but at the end of it, he speaks of a picture of rejoicing that flows out of the work of Yahweh to bring the Gentiles and Israelites together into a single company that praises him. John the Baptist tells the people how they are to live in light of their repentance in the Gospel of Luke. How do these come together in light of the work of Jesus in us? Father Jeremiah helps us to understand that God’s joy in bringing out salvation becomes a foundation for our repentance and rejoicing through today’s text.
Image: Ghent AltarPiece-Music making Angels (right), Jan van Eych, public domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ghent_Altarpiece_-_Music-making_Angels_(right).jpg
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/12/12/advent-confrontation-joy-received-zephaniah-314-20-luke-37-20
In this second week of Advent, we consider the relationship of peace to repentance. Through the work of Jesus, there is peace to be received. But how do we come to receive it and experience the peace of God in us? It is through faith and repentance, turning from our sinfulness and toward the One who brings us healing.
Image: Preaching of John the Baptist, Hans Liefrinck, CC0 1.0. Image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0037838/Preaching-of-John-the-Baptist
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/12/5/advent-confrontation-peace-and-repentance-malachi-3-luke-31-6
With the beginning of Advent, we return to visit the reality of Jesus’ coming again. Advent is not only about preparing for Jesus’ birth, but also preparing fo this second coming. Today we hear from both Zechariah and Luke and consider the consequences of these passages for us today.
Image: From an 18th c. illustrated copy of Josephus’ Works, no copyright found. Location: http://www.joeledmundanderson.com/jesus-and-the-olivet-discourse-the-abomination-of-desolation-and-other-cosmic-stuff-part-4-the-jewish-war-series/
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/11/28/advent-confrontation-needing-an-advent-hope-zechariah-14-luke-2125-33
As Jesus stood before Pilate, he defined the nature of his kingdom and thus his kingship. Jesus was no ruler of an ordinary physical kingdom from this world, but is the king of a kingdom that will outlast all others because its nature is not of this world.
Image: Christ before Pilate, no known restrictions. Image location: https://picryl.com/media/christ-before-pilate-jesus-condenado-por-pilatos-jesus-condamne-par-pilate-2
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/11/21/the-new-beginning-john-1833-37
In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus is telling his disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. What does this have to do with us today? Father Jeremiah walks through what the passage is about and what it’s purpose is. Listen now to find out more.
Image: David Roberts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/11/14/escape-to-salvation-mark-1314-23
What makes us think of the Widow in the Temple so highly? Is it her gift? Is it her faith? Or is it the reality of the glorious promise keeping God that she was worshiping? Father Jeremiah looks at this story from St. Mark 12 and asks what was the might of the Widow’s Mite?
Image: An etching by Jan Luyken, Phillip Medhurst, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/11/7/the-might-of-a-mite-mark-1238-44
When a Scribe came up to ask Jesus about the greatest commandment, Jesus gave him a two for one deal. The Scribe saw the great truth in what Jesus said and Jesus said that he was close to the Kingdom. What does this mean? How are we to understand Jesus in this passage? How are we to be changed by Jesus’ words? Father Jeremiah reflects on these things and helps us all to understand a little better Jesus’ summation of the Law.
Image: Artist unknown, Christ disputing in the Temple, from manuscript Vaux Passional, National Library of Wales, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/10/31/reforming-our-love-of-god-mark-1228-34
What does a blind beggar have to tell us about true discipleship? Quite a lot! Father Jeremiah looks at Bartimaeus, the blind beggar outside of Jericho, and what he can teach us about being a disciple of Jesus.
Image: Jesus Healing the Blind, Church of Britain, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/10/24/the-model-disciple-mark-1046-52
When James and John come to Jesus with a request to sit on his right and left in the kingdom, Jesus tells them that while they will follow in his footsteps and make him known, they cannot sit where they desire. To cling to glory is to miss the humility necessary to walk with Christ. To receive glory means one must be humbled to the service of others.
Image: St. John and St. James the Greater, part of The Twelve Apostles: Saints Bartholomew, Andrew, Matthew, James the Greater, Thaddeus, Philip, James the Lesser, Simon, Peter, Paul, Thomas, and John, by Bergognone. Image location: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435657
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/10/17/humbling-that-brings-glory-mark-1035-45
What should we make of the rich young man who asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life? Isn’t there something wrong with the idea of “doing something” to inherit something else? What is the condition of this man’s heart? How does Jesus show him compassion? These questions are thought about in this sermon from Father Jeremiah.
Image: Woodcut illustration of man rejecting the devil in the form of a serpent used by Heinrich Stayner of Augsburg. Public Domain. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/58558794@N07/6581247221/in/photostream/. Posted by POP
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/10/10/stony-hearts-and-the-only-good-man-mark-1017-31
When the Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, he led them to the beginning of the Scriptures and revealed that divorce ultimately flows, not from the command of God, but out of the hardheartedness of humanity. Our hardheartedness toward spouses is the outworking of our hardheartedness towards God himself and our very idolatry by which we forsake God.
Image: Undergrowth with Two Figures, Vincent Van Gogh, from the Cincinnati Art Museum. Public Domain (no changes made). Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vincent_van_Gogh_-_Undergrowth_with_Two_Figures_(F773).jpg
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/10/3/hardhearted-realities-mark-102-16
Bishop Terrell Glenn helps us to understand Jesus’ admonition to cut off our parts that cause us to sin. It is a matter of life and death because life in the Kingdom is so much more important than anything else in this world.
Image: skull human anatomy vintage, uploaded by Andrea Stöckel, public domain, from https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=404637&picture=skull-human-anatomy-vintage
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/9/26/a-matter-of-life-and-death-mark-938-48
St. James confronts his readers with the reality that their fighting flows from selfish sin within and their lack of wisdom. For them to gain wisdom they only need ask God, but that wisdom will lead to humility and a seeing others as more important. And through that, the grace of God will flow to them. However, back of all of this is already God’s grace because that is what is necessary for them to even begin to see that they lack wisdom. So, grace leads to wisdom which leads to humility which leads to grace and the cycle goes on and on.
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/9/19/grace-wisdom-and-humility-james-316-46
St. James confronts his hearers with their sin of favoritism of the rich over the poor and connects it to the reality that our faith will work itself out with good deeds that reflect the change that God the Father has accomplished in us. How do we respond to this? How does our faith show up in our actions? Does your faith work itself out with the transformation God has made in you?
Image: CC0, Public Domain
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/9/12/words-and-actions-without-distinction-james-21-18
Do you easily forget what you look like when you look into a mirror and then look away? Father Jeremiah tells us about St. James’ words regarding this mirror that reflects a forgettable image and what it means regard the Word of God.
Image: Narcissus, Caravaggio, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/9/5/the-image-of-forgetfulness-james-117-27
Father Clay Thompson is our guest preaching for this Sunday. In this sermon, he leads us through the Armor of God as presented to us in Ephesians 6. He reminds us that the purpose of this armor is to enable us to fight the good fight of faith through our prayers and confession of the Gospel. May we all take to heart the calling to fight through prayer!
Image: Eric Enstrom, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Image: J'aimelart, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/8/22/walking-wisely-in-vocation-ephesians-515-69
St. Paul reminds the Ephesians about the fruitless works of darkness that they were once a part of. But what has changed? They became light because Jesus is the light of the world and in him is no darkness. The same is true of us today. We are called light and by being light, we are called to walk in the way of the children of light, reflecting who Jesus is and what he has done in us through his death and resurrection.
Image: Public Domain. Location: https://www.maxpixel.net/Sky-Night-Sky-Star-Milky-Way-Night-Starry-Sky-5295153
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/8/15/light-not-darkness-ephesians-53-14
St Paul speaks to the Ephesians about not walking in the ways of the Gentiles who’s hearts are hardened. This reminds us of the reality that what the heart loves, the will chooses, and the mind justifies. Our hearts are the driving force of our wills which actually shape our thoughts. As believers, we must continually turn our hearts and affections toward Jesus himself so that our wills and minds are also turned toward Christ.
Image: Undergrowth with Two Figures, Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/8/8/walking-with-your-heart-will-and-mind-ephesians-417-52
In Ephesians 4:1-16, St. Paul tells the Ephesians to walk in a way that is worthy of the calling they have in Christ. In doing this, he reminds them of the work of that has been accomplished for them by the Holy Trinity and the gifts that they have been given that enables them to walk worthy and to make Jesus known. These same gifts are ours today and we have the same calling! So St. Paul is calling for us to receive these gifts that will build up our calling in the Lord.
Image: Phillip Medhurst, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made.
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/8/1/receiving-gifts-for-the-calling-ephesians-41-16
St. Paul speaks of the mystery of Christ and his work in today’s passage. That mystery is Christ himself and his work is to include the Gentiles alongside the Jews as the people of God and inheritors of the promises to Abraham. With this is the reality that it is through the Church that the mystery of Christ is revealed and the wisdom of God is made known. And so, even today, the Church gathered in worship is revealing the work of Christ to bring to us the promises of God in Christ for us!
Image: Christ Glorified in the Court of Heaven by Fra Angelica. Public Domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beato_angelico,_predella_della_pala_di_fiesole_01.jpg
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/7/25/the-mystery-of-christ-and-the-church-ephesians-3
Grace Anglican welcomes guest preacher, David Moody today! In his sermon from Isaiah 57, he shows us that while Yahweh is truly the holy one, he comes to dwell with us and heal us. That dwelling and healing is found in Jesus Christ himself and we are called to faith to receive this reality that God is working into us!
Image: Crowds gather as Christ heals sick people, Engraving by T. Phillibrown after B. West, Public Domain. Location: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/ee8bfscw?wellcomeImagesUrl=/indexplus/image/V0034932.html
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/7/18/the-holy-one-dwells-with-his-people-isaiah-5714-21
In the first chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians, St. Paul lays down the foundation of all that he is going to discuss through the epistle. In this chapter we hear of the great blessings that have come to us from God the Father, through Jesus Christ, by the work of the Spirit in us. And so, this chapter reveals to us a story of salvation that involves blessings, inheritance, and renewal all because of who Jesus Christ is.
Image: Wheat Field with Cypresses, Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
St. Paul tells of a vision that he received and the results of that very vision being a thorn in his flesh given by God that he would not think too highly of himself. For some this could be disconcerting, for others, an answer to their own questions about suffering and struggle in their lives. St. Paul’s thorn in the flesh helps us to wrestle with the reality that our suffering is to lead us nearer to God the Father because it draws our eyes to our crucified Lord Jesus.
Image: St. Paul the Apostle, photo by Ted, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/4264223704
St. Paul speaks to the Corinthians about the initial commitment to give to the saints in Jerusalem and how it seems to have waned due to the various controversies that had happened in their church since they first heard about the need in Jerusalem. St. Paul carefully encourages them to embrace their opportunity to give as an expression of the grace of God not only working in them, but also working through them to affect and help many others. The whole of our Christian life is one of commitment to Christ, and likewise, we should see every opportunity as God’s grace in Christ for us and working through us to bless those the Lord brings to us.
Image: St. Roch giving alms, Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld. This image may be used without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose. Found at The Victorian Web, originally from the online journal article Unwilling Moderns: The Nazarene Paintings of the Nineteenth Century. Image found at: https://victorianweb.org/painting/german/schnorr/paintings/3.html
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/6/27/grace-to-give-2-corinthians-81-15
St. Paul continues this week in his second letter to the Corinthians by telling them of the work of Christ and what that leads to in the life of believers. St. Paul is not to live for himself any longer because Christ has died for him and made him into a new creation. His sin is taken away and he is given the righteousness of God in Christ! This is true for us believers today! We live in the midst of a great exchange where Christ takes what is ours and gives us what is his.
Image: Irises, by Vincent van Gogh, public domain. Image location: https://picryl.com/media/vincent-van-gogh-irises-google-art-project-520910
St. Paul longed for the return of Jesus Christ because it meant the renewal of his body. It meant the putting off of the temporal tent and the putting on of the eternal, heavenly body. Why? Because he understood that the resurrection and ascension of Jesus meant all the promises of God the Father were going to be fulfilled for those brought into his family through Jesus Christ.
Image: Resurrection of the Dead (lower left section of the Last Judgment), Michelangelo, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Resurrection_of_the_Dead_(lower_left_section_of_the_Last_Judgment)_MET_MM55713.jpg
St. Paul speaks of the many sufferings he has endured in carrying the Gospel to various peoples. Despite all of this, he rejoices in his Savior. How can he do this? What leads him to continue pushing forward to know Jesus? Father Jeremiah reflects on this and how the weight of glory carries St. Paul throughout his days.
Image: by Greg. Man starring at starry sky outside with the milky way. Public domain. Image location: https://www.goodfreephotos.com/astrophotography/man-staring-at-a-starry-sky.jpg.php
Trinity Sunday is the Sunday in which we reflect on the meaning and importance of the doctrine of the Trinity. Father Jeremiah considers what it isn’t, what it is, and why any of this matters to us. Listen to find out more!
Image: John Salmon / St Mary, Sedgeford, Norfolk - Window, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, no changes made. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Mary,_Sedgeford,_Norfolk_-_Window_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1701329.jpg
The Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, which is a Jewish feast. Why did He descend on that particular day? Father Jeremiah walks through this unique coming of the Holy Spirit during a very particular Jewish festival and the way that He came reflecting the actions of God in the Old Testament.
image: The Holy Spirit Initiates the Pentecost, Engraving by A. Mochetti after N. Poussin (?), Public Domain. Image location: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/r9jwfqh9/items
Jesus’ ascension is an oft overlooked event in our Savior’s life, and yet, it brings a completion of redemption as he presents himself to his Father in heaven for our sake and becomes our eternal intercessor. Father Jeremiah considers a few of the implications of this reality in his sermon for the Sunday after the Ascension.
Image: Christ Ascending into Heaven (Detail from an embroidered in the Dominican convent at Stone, Staffordshire), photo by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/7214076440/in/photostream/
Jesus told his disciples that they were to abide in him and that they were his friends. How important is it that they were considered the friends of God the Son? What does this mean for us today? Father Jeremiah explores this in his sermon today.
Image: Jesus Calls the First Disciples, Ravenna, Photo taken by Edith OSB, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (No changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/edithosb/4804167810
Image: The Pharisee and the Publican (The Parables of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ), Public Domain. Image Location: https://picryl.com/media/the-pharisee-and-the-publican-the-parables-of-our-lord-and-saviour-jesus-christ-3a4e36
Jesus as our good shepherd is one who will lay down his life for the sheep. He is completely different from the hired hands who flee when the wolf comes. He defends his sheep and cares for them because they are his own. Father Jeremiah considers this truth in his sermon today.
Image: Shepherd with His Flock, by Francesco Londonio, CC0 1.0. Image located: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Francesco_Londonio%2C_Shepherd_with_his_Flock%2C_NGA_124653.jpg
When Jesus appeared before his disciples throughout the forty days before his ascension, he reveals to them all what he has undone about the brokenness in this world. Father Jeremiah reflects upon these undoings of Jesus in his sermon today.
Image: The risen Jesus appears to the disciples in the upper room, from Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, photo taken by Nick Thompson, no changes made, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pelegrino/4669927869
Peace and doubt come together in our text from St. John 20.19-31 today. Our doubts can be overcome when we discover the peace that Jesus brings to us through his death and resurrection. Father Jeremiah draws our attention to this to this movement today in his sermon.
Image: Christ and St. Thomas by Andrea del Verrocchio, photo taken by Glenfarclas, CC BY-SA 3.0, no changes made. image location:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Verrocchio_Christ_and_St._Thomas_closeup.JPG
Jesus’ resurrection took the people by surprise despite his announcing it multiplies to his disciples. Why was this? What does it mean? How can we fully embrace what the resurrection does for us? Father Jeremiah helps us lay hold of the great truth of Jesus’ bodily resurrection and rejoice that Christ is risen.
Image: Saint Julie Billiart Catholic Church (Hamilton, Ohio) - stained glass, Resurrection of Christ, photo by Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made
On the night that Jesus was betrayed, he took time to wash his disciples’ feet and through that to teach them that they are to love one another. He also later took bread and broke it and a cup of wine and gave it to them. This act is the first Eucharist. On Maundy Thursday we remember these actions by Jesus and what they mean for us today.
On Palm Sunday, we remember the coming of Jesus into Jerusalem to the accolades of the people. They shout, “Hosanna” to the Lord and acclaim him as king. This Jesus who has kept aspects of his identity hidden from the masses and avoided them whenever they attempted to hail him as king, now enters Jerusalem in the most public of ways. What does it mean? How does this coming touch on various Old Testament writings? How do we respond knowing in advance where this week is going to end up? Listen now to hear Father Jeremiah’s thoughts on all of this.
Image: Photo taken by Ted. Entry into Jerusalem, from St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Toledo, OH. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, no changes made. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/5713013694/in/photostream/
A grain of wheat will not produce a harvest without dying first by falling into the ground. Jesus points out the reality of his coming death with this image in our Gospel text but connects it to the bronze serpent and being the true light. Father Jeremiah takes us through these images and the realities that affect us because of Jesus’ being that Dying Grain.
Image: The Harvest (1888) by Van Gogh. Photo taken by Gandalf’s Gallery. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gandalfsgallery/15516300017
How do we respond to Jesus’ multiplying the loaves and fishes? What was the meaning of it then? How do we understand it for today? There are many things are happening in St. John’s telling of this event and Father Jeremiah delves into some of them for us to consider in this sermon from St. John 6.1-15
Image: The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, Jacopo Tintoretto, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Miracle_of_the_Loaves_and_Fishes_MET_DT5476.jpg
When Jesus cleansed the Temple, it wasn’t out of anger, but out of his zeal for the purity of God’s sanctuary. He was consumed and eaten up with this zeal, so much to that he would die as the true Temple and through his resurrection, build an expansive temple that includes all believers. And now, that same zeal for the old earthly Temple is still a part of Christ and he is purifying us as well in his zeal and giving us the same zeal for the Temple and Body of Christ.
Image: Christ Expelling the Money Lenders, from The Small Passion, Albrecht Dürer, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
After hearing the confession of Peter regarding Jesus’ true identity, Jesus begins teaching them about what the Messiah must do. But Peter rejects this only to be rebuked by Jesus and confronted, alongside the disciples and others, with the reality that we are to take up our own crosses. How does this truth connect to our Collect of the Day that says that God knows that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves? Father Jeremiah brings these together revealing the work of God in us.
In our readings for the First Sunday in Lent, we hear not only about Jesus’ temptation, but also about the promise of Yahweh after the flood and the work of baptism in us. How do all of these things come together for us? What can we apply about these passages to our lives today? Listen to find out what Father Jeremiah says.
Image: Jesus’ Temptation, St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, T Kean, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_Benedicts_Catholic_Church_-_Inside_-_Temptation_of_Jesus.JPG
On Ash Wednesday we hear from Scripture about sinful fasting and repentance that isn’t really fasting and repentance because it is done for the publicity and show of it. And yet, we are fasting and repenting publicly ourselves. What do we do with this tension that we find before us in Scripture and ourselves? Father Jeremiah considers this in his Ash Wednesday sermon.
Image: by Jerome Quinto, SDB. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. No changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/techunk_7/16566392255/in/album-72157648552783614/
Elijah went up on a mountain to meet Yahweh, where he found the voice of God in a thin whisper. Peter, James, and John went up a mountain with Jesus and witnessed something beyond imagining. When all was done, though, what were they left with? Was it only the experience or something greater than any experience to be known this side of eternity?
Image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JesusCuresamute.gif
Jesus’ preaches the kingdom and repentance and in this preaching calls his disciples. When Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John, it isn’t the first time they’ve met. They have all recognized him as the Messiah previously, but now, Jesus calls them out of their daily lives into ministry and discipleship apart from their everyday lives. Not all of us receive this kind of call into ministry, but we all receive the call into the kingdom just as his first disciples did. How do we respond? How do we react?
image: A print from the Phillip Medhurst Collection of Bible illustrations, Pieter van der Borcht (ca. 1540-1608), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:77_Life_of_Christ_Phillip_Medhurst_Collection_3543_Simon_Peter_%26_Andrew_with_Christ_Matthew_4.18-20_Mortier.jpg
For many of us, finding Jesus is crucial to our understanding of our faith. But in our text from John 1, we are reminded that it all starts with God knowing and calling us to “Come and see” through his people. It is Jesus who finds us and brings us to himself as the one who unites heaven and earth.
Image: Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett, courtesy of Sweet Publishing, Ft. Worth, TX, and Gospel Light, Ventura, CA. Copyright 1984. CC BY-SA 3.0. No changes made. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gospel_of_John_Chapter_1-10_(Bible_Illustrations_by_Sweet_Media).jpg
When Jesus was baptized, many things happened! Father Jeremiah looks at this event and helps us to understand how all of it relates to our own baptisms.
When the Magi came, all of Jerusalem as well as King Herod were stirred up. Herod chafed at the idea of a new king, the scribes and pharisees were indifferent about the birth of the Messiah, but the Magi continued to search until they found him that they might worship and adore. The King is here whether we want him to be or not and we are called to worship and adore him!
Image: Adoration of the Magi, tapestry, by Edward Burne-Jones, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edward_Burne-Jones_-_The_Adoration_of_the_Magi_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
Father Jeremiah does something different for this sermon. He has used the Nativity Sermon from St. John Chrysostom, one of the first known Christmas sermons and preached it with some commentary from himself.
St. John Chrysostom was the patriarch of Constantinople from 397 until his death in exile in 407. This sermon was given during his first year of public ministry in 386.
Image: Painting of St. John Chrysostom, St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church, Dayton, OH. Used under license CC BY-SA 2.0
On Christmas Eve, we begin the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth! We continue this celebration for 12 days and rejoice in the goodness of God to send his Son into this world. Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. And his coming means that a weary world can rejoice in the mercies of God.
Image: Nativity from St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai. License: CC0 1.0. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nativity,_St._Catherine_Monastery,_Sinai,_6th_century.jpg
King David wanted to build a house for the worship of Yahweh, but instead Yahweh said he would build David’s house and give him a son to rule on his throne forever. The incarnation is the accomplishment of this promise and through it Yahweh builds for himself an earthly house to bring eternal life to his people.
image: The Annuciation, Jean Hey, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Annunciation,_1490-1495,_by_Jean_Hey_(Master_of_Moulins)_-_Art_Institute_of_Chicago_-_DSC09637.JPG
As Jesus’ ministry begins to grow, John’s disciples point out that all are going to Jesus. For John, this makes sense, but for this disciples, it is confusing. What have they missed? What does John know that they don’t? Why is John perfectly fine with a declining ministry? How does this affect us here in the present? Listen to find out from Father Jeremiah.
Image: Vaux Passional, unknown author, c. 1503-4, illumination on parchment, license: CC0-1.0. image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_and_disciples_at_table_in_the_house_of_Symeon_the_leper,_with_Mary_Magdalen_and_Martha_serving_(f._14).jpg
Yahweh commands his people to take comfort from what he is going to do. And what is he going to do? He is going to forgive their iniquities that there might be peace between them and him! John the Baptist brings the same message to the people: Forgiveness of sins and peace with God. But in John’s time he can point directly to Yahweh walking in their midst, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Image: St John the Baptist in the Wilderness, Cornelis Cort, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_John_the_Baptist_in_the_Wilderness_MET_DP874337.jpg
Isaiah prays that Yahweh would rend the heavens and come down and judge the nations. However, during this prayer he moves to a time of confession and contrition for his own and the people’s sins realizing that for Yahweh to come would mean his own judgment. What does this mean for us today?
Image: The Second Coming of Christ window at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Charleston, SC. Cadetgray, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Second_Coming_of_Christ_window.jpg
In chapter four of 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul helps the believers at Thessalonica to understand that the resurrection is for all who have believed in Jesus, whether they are physically alive at his return or not. The resurrection is the hope that we as believers have and there is comfort that no matter how life turns out on this earth, there is new creation to come.
Image: The Parable of the Ten Virginas, Phoebe Anna Traquair, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
All Saints’ Day is an important feast in the life of the Church. We celebrate and remember the saints who have died, those known and unknown. In our celebrations, we should especially remember those saints who have especially influenced and led us toward maturity in Christ.
Image: Fra Angelico, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his coming into Thessalonica, having been poorly treated in Philippi. Yet, even in that poor treatment, he was undeterred in proclaiming the Gospel. Where did this boldness come from? Why was St. Paul not shy to preach despite knowing it would mean mistreatment eventually? Father Jeremiah looks at these questions and helps us to see that St. Paul was fully focused on the work of Christ and trusting in him boldly, that he might boldly step out in trust.
Image: Nheyob, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Stainless window of St. Paul preaching at the Areopagus.
Thessalonica was a city full of idolatry. It was a leading city in the Roman Empire, after all. The Gentiles who turned to Jesus were ones who were brought out of idol worship to the true and living God. What can we learn today from them and St. Paul’s words about salvation through Jesus? How does idolatry infect each and everyone of us, even though we don’t have little statues of gods that we worship? Father Jeremiah considers these things as he begins in 1 Thessalonians.
For believers, God’s commands become promises that he is going to work into us. So as St. Paul tells us to rejoice, to think well, and to learn contentment, we can trust God to work these things into us as we pray for them to become true in us. As we reflect on such a great salvation, we will see that the Holy Spirit is at work to change us into the kind of people that are God’s people.
Image: Public Domain. Location: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1622945
In our passages, we encounter vineyards and racing. Father Jeremiah mixes these two metaphors to help us understand how Christ has laid hold of us and that through that we can run this race that is the Christian life. Listen now to find out more about how this all comes together.
Image: used under license CC0 1.0.
How does the church come to have unity and humility? Is it through sweat and effort, finding strength out of our own beings? Is it through depending on the Holy Spirit to create it for us? Or is unity and humility something that we already have because of who Jesus is and what he has done and we receive it and live in it through trusting him? St. Paul reveals that it is IN Christ that we already have this unity and humility! We are to have this mind, which is OURS in Christ and thus we can act on it because it is here for us.
Image: 13th Station-Jesus is taken down from the Cross, Station from the church of St Jean in Montmartre, Paris, photo taken by Lawrence OP, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/47588814022/.
Father Jeremiah tells us the story of two pastors who wanted to die. Why did they feel this way? Was it for the same reasons? What does this mean for us? Father Jeremiah goes through Jonah 4 and Philippians 1.21-27 to help us see what St. Paul meant when he said “For me, to live is Christ.”
Image: St.Paul preaching in Beroia, a comtemporary mosaic from Veria, photo taken by Edal Anton Lefterov. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, image cropped. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St-Paul-in-Beroia.jpg
How are we as Christians to treat one another when it comes to things that non-essential in the Church? Are we to condemn or despise one another? Or are we to recognize that there can be things that differ on and how are we to know the difference? Father Jeremiah goes through a part of Romans 14 where St. Paul addresses these issues reminding us that Christ died and rose and is thus Lord of both the dead and the living.
Image: Lord of the Living and the Dead, Stained glass window in the church of St Mary in El Centro, CA, taken by Lawrence OP, used under license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image can be found here.
As we walk through the Christian life, St. Paul commands us to have genuine love for one another. This admonition is foundational to all that he then goes on to say about Christian life in this world with other believers and with non-believers. Ultimately, through genuine love, we will discover that we are not overcome by evil, but can overcome evil through that very genuine love.
Image: Persecution of Christians with scenes of martyrdom behind, engraving by J. Wierix after M. de Vos. License: CC BY 4.0, from Wellcome Collection. Image located: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Persecution_of_Christians_with_scenes_of_martyrdom_behind._E_Wellcome_V0033268.jpg
St. Paul tells that in light of God’s mercy we are to be living sacrifices with our whole bodies. The difficulty with this is the a sacrifice that still lives can get up and move away from its calling. Thus, through that very mercy we to continually sacrifice ourselves in order to be raised into new life in Christ. It’s not easy, but it is what God has called us to in Christ Jesus and thus he will empower us to do so.
Image: Melchizedek offering sacrifice, mosaic from Sant'Apollinare in Classe. Photo by Lawrence OP. No Changes made. Used under license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Image located here.
This is Father Jeremiah’s sermon from August 9th. In it he finishes up Romans 8 and reveals to us the love of God that we cannot be separated from when we are in Jesus Christ. Draw near to Jesus that you might know the fullness of God the Father’s love in him.
Image: Loved Us to the End, by Lawrence OP. Used under license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, No Changes Made.
St. Paul continues to direct us to the work of the Spirit in our passage today. Here the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and encourages us through his work in us that for those who love God, all things will work together for their good. We are united with Christ and thus he dwells in us and we in him and through the intercession of the Spirit, we are strengthened in our prayers by his work in us. We can have assurance and comfort in this reality as believers. And this even includes our waywardness in the all things when we are drawn back by the love of Christ for us.
Image: Veni Sancte Spiritus, photo taken by Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP, used under license CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/1103809343
Bishop David came to receive some into the Anglican Communion on this Sunday. He preached on Jesus’ parables from Matthew 13. The particular ones he works through remind us of the smallness, the hiddenness, and the valuableness of the Kingdom before us. We are all in places of opportunity to reveal the Kingdom to others and are given the insight to share this Kingdom today.
Image: Parable of the Hidden Treasure, by either Rembrandt or Gerrit Dou. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. No changes made. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Parable_of_the_hidden_treasure_Rembrandt_-_Gerard_Dou.jpg
As we continue in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, Paul considers the glory that is to be revealed for us and how creation itself is yearning for this glory to be revealed. All things will be made new on account of Jesus’ work of redemption, but it is not fully experienced yet. We ourselves yearn in the hope of this transformation of all things including ourselves.
Image: The Most Beautiful Road in the World, by Trey Ratcliff. No changes made. Used under license CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
In Romans 8.8-17, Paul continues speaking of the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit and how the affects us. We, though we will die in the body, will live because of the Spirit of Christ who dwells in us. Thus we are made children of God by the indwelling of the Spirit that we might live. Paul’s words are an encouragement to us to push forward in this life now because of the blessings that we have received.
Image: St. Paul at Notre Dame, photo taken by Lawrence OP, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. No changes made. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/9163364497
What happens when the new man and the old man come into conflict? It becomes a wrestling match between the Law of Sin and the Law of God. And only through the Spirit of God can we find victory in this fight and put to death the Law of Sin in us. Listen now to find out more about this match within.
Image: John Barrymore as Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jeckyll image from Motion Picture News pg 2 (Mar-Jun 1920); Mr. Hyde imagefrom Shadowland, pg 33 (Sept 1919-Feb 1920). Both images public domain.
Baptism and new life go together. But how does it fit? Does new life begin inside of me or is it something that comes from the outside for me to receive and lay hold of? St. Paul directs our thoughts about this in Romans 6. Father Jeremiah explains this passage by telling us about the life that comes from the outside and enters in that we might come into an identity in Christ.
Image: “Baptism Window” at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral in Memphis, TN. Public Domain. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stained_glass_window_depicting_Episcopal_baptism.JPG
St. Paul continues his explanation of our salvation. In this passage he reveals how Adam’s sin has had affected all humanity, but then how Jesus has more than overcome that affect of Adam. To find out more, listen to Father Jeremiah’s sermon now.
Image: Photo taken by Alberto Fernandez Fernandez, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 (no changes made). Glory of the Newborn Christ, by Daniel Gran, ceiling painting in St. Anne’s Church, Vienna.. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Glory_of_the_New_born_Christ_-_Annakirche_Vienna.jpg
In chapter 5 of Romans, St. Paul begins by declaring that we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. He goes on to list a whole host of other blessings that we have received that all flow out of the same person, Jesus. How does this come about? St. Paul goes on to explain what Jesus has done and when he did it. What he says makes us all realize that our present hope for the future lies in the past.
Image: Photo by Knight Likeness, Hope for the Future… used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (no changes made). Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/knight_lightness/5489649902
The doctrine of the Trinity is a belief that separates Christianity from all other religions. This faith is set apart through this distinction, but what is the Trinity exactly? We can’t nail down or fully comprehend, but we can have some aspect of understanding regarding who God is in himself. He has revealed himself as the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit through his work of creation and redemption and called us into the very eternal community that he has had in himself. Father Jeremiah gives us a quick look at the Apostles’ Creed and how it reveals the trinitarian nature of Christian faith.
Image: Apostles’ Creed, photo taken by Leo Reynolds. Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 No changes made. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lwr/1224463110
As the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples on the first Pentecost of the Church, we ask why he came to dwell with and in the disciples. What did they immediately begin doing? Was it all about them speaking in different languages or was there a supreme purpose for that “tongue-speaking” on that Pentecost Sunday? Father Jeremiah explores these questions and helps us to understand the foundational role of the Spirit in our lives.
Image: Tongues of fire descend on the Apostles at Pentecost, Lithog, License: CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Found at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tongues_of_fire_descend_on_the_apostles_at_Pentecost._Lithog_Wellcome_V0034957.jpg. No changes made, see link for author
In the first part of the Lord’s High Priestly Prayer, Jesus acknowledges his desire to bring glory to the Father by the Father bringing glory to the Son and for the Father to protect his disciples after he returns to the Father in the Ascension. While Jesus is focused on praying for his disciples, these first verses remind us of the reality that Jesus is our high priest and is praying for us now.
Image: orazione nell'orto, by Jörg Arzt and workshop of Jörg Arzt. Used under CC BY-SA 4.0. No changes made. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jörg_artz,_pittore_di_scuola_danubiana_e_aiuti,_ante_di_altare_,_1571,_da_vigo_di_fassa,_orazione_nell%27orto_02.jpg
The Ascension of Jesus is a very important day in the Church calendar. Its observance is one that reminds us of all that is dependent upon Jesus returning to the Father. In this sermon, Father Jeremiah explains some important reasons for Jesus’ ascension and why it matters to us today.
At the beginning of John 15, Jesus tells his disciples that he is the vine and that they are branches. This reality doesn’t only apply to them, but also to all of us who are part of the church. How do we live as branches? What does it mean that God the Father as the vinedresser will prune us? How does fruit begin to grow through us as branches? Listen to this message from Father Jeremiah to find out.
On the night that he was betrayed, Jesus brought comfort to his disciples through telling them who he was and that what he did would reveal to them that he is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Comfort was what they needed on that confusing night in the Upper Room. In our every day lives, we need comfort as well and Jesus’ words are just as comforting when we bring them to bear upon our own lives now.
Image: The Last Supper, from Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna. Used under license CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. No changes made. Photo by: Nick Thompson. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pelegrino/4669970211/in/photostream/
The Good Shepherd gives to us everything that we need. He gifts us with the reality of salvation and everything that connects to that very salvation. He comes to us through his grace and creates rest for us that we might feed and be renewed by him. Hear more from Father Jeremiah about this psalm.
Image: Shepherd with Sheep, Thomas Sidney Cooper, Used under license CC0 1.0. Image Location:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2017-02_Thomas_Sidney_Cooper_-_Shepherd_with_sheep.jpg
When two disciples are traveling to Emmaus, they never expected the stranger to come and reveal to them the Savior of the World and then for the stranger with them to be revealed as the Savior of the World. How should we respond to such a glorious truth?
Image: by Duccio di Buoninsegna, Public Domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duccio_di_Buoninsegna_Emaus.jpg
What happened to the Apostles when they encountered the risen Christ? How did they respond? How did Thomas respond to Jesus himself when he met him again? All of the Apostles were transformed by Jesus and the work that he accomplished on the cross for them and through his resurrection. And now, the question is, will you too be transformed as they were so long ago?
Image: The Maesta Altarpiece-The Incredulity of st.Thomas, by Duccio. [Public Domain] Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The-Maesta-Altarpiece-The-Incredulity-of-Saint-Thomas-1461_Duccio.jpg
Image: Icon showing the Resurrection of Jesus, at the inner side of the Resurrection Gate to the Red Square, Moscow, taken by Alvesgaspar, [CC BY-SA 3.0]. Located at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moscow_July_2011-48.jpg
Image: The Crucifixion icon from medieval Svaneti, Georgia (public domain). Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mestia_Museum._Crucifixion._12th_c..jpg
Jesus washed his disciples’ feet in order to demonstrate to them their need to serve one another. But it is also a demonstration of the service that he was about to perform. Out his very divine nature, Jesus serves and loves his disciples and calls us to participate in that very same love to draw others into the salvation that he is bringing to us through his sacrifice.
Image: Christ Washes the Disciples Feet, Albrecht Dürer / Public domain. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Albrecht_Dürer_-_Christ_Washing_the_Feet_of_the_Disciples_(NGA_1943.3.3641).jpg
As Jesus was entering into Jerusalem, the people cheered and saw him as a king for them. They had their own kind of king in mind, while Jesus was going to become the kind of king they truly needed. They were, never-the-less, yearning for a king to save them. Likewise, we also desire a king, one who is in control and will care for us. What does our celebration of Palm Sunday help us to understand about this yearning?
Image: Entry of the Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, Unknown author / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en) Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Entry_of_Jesus_Christ_into_Jerusalem.jpg
The reality of this world is that it is broken and that there is a longing deep in our hearts for redemption. And yet, there is a deep set resistance within us to this longing, wanting us to believe that there is no fulfillment for that longing. Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead is a small foretaste of that fulfillment of the longing. What can be done to answer this longing? What of the resistance within us to this longing?
Image: The Resurrection of Lazarus, Giovanni di Paolo (Public domain). Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Giovanni_di_Paolo_-_The_Resurrection_of_Lazarus_-_Walters_37489A.jpg
In the anointing of David as king, God sees beyond the outside and sees his heart. Jesus heals a man born blind and tells the Pharisees that even though they can see physically, their spiritual eyes are blind to the truth. What does this mean for us? Can we learn something from this about ourselves? Listen to hear more from Father Jeremiah.
Image: From the book, Bible History: Containing the Most Remarkable Events of the Old and New Testaments, by the Rt. Rev. Richard Gilmour, page 76, copyright 1894. Found on Google Books: https://books.google.com/books?id=PTQXAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=richard+gilmour+anointing+of+david&source=bl&ots=8RmVCwRtTB&sig=ACfU3U0aYp4X1POeoYfFVGyJRF7cZpMhsg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj55tn96bjoAhUIOq0KHapcB84Q6AEwGHoECA0QAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false