Why Easter? Jesus Answers and Says: “Behold Your Family”

Behold, your Son by Annabelle DB

Jesus, then beholding the Mother and the disciple standing alongside, whom He loved, said to the Mother: “O woman, behold your son.” Then He says to the disciple, “Behold your Mother.” And, from that hour, the disciple took her into his own.

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Thy Will Be Done

Even the Dogs by Rev. Isaac Wirtz

“Mankind has always been deeply infatuated with human will. A person’s course of action and direction in life is guided by their will. The thoughts, feelings, and desires of a person manifest externally when someone works with and even against the world around them. ”
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Why Easter?

Father Forgive Them by Isaac & Annabelle DeBono

Our Theme for Lent is “Why Easter?”(Pretty clever, huh?) A small difference is that we will be giving the answer to that question delivered from our Savior himself in what is known as the Seven Words from the Cross. Here, in brief, are what might be termed, Previews of Coming Attractions:
The Seven Words are:
• “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”
• “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”
• “Woman, behold, thy son! Behold, thy mother!”
• “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
• “I thirst.”
• “It is finished” and
• “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
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The second Adam conquers temptation and gives life

Mural of Archangel Michael Expelling Adam and Eve from the Garden, St. Michael and All Angels Church, London

Our sermon that breaks through Lent’s fast today is drawn from the Protoevangelium. That Good News was given by God directly to His newly fallen and restored creatures. They, as it is a matter of orthodox, right, confession were the first man and woman. God had formed Adam from the dust He had drawn forth from the then good earth.
God had created man first. He had placed him in the Garden to work and keep it. God had also determined that a fit helper for the man was not yet in the creation. …For more, click on the title above.

Why Lent? Jesus answers and says, “God is gracious and merciful”

When members of this congregation studied the Book of Joel quite some time ago, we learned of some valuable biblical-historical realities. Among them was, that prior to the section of the Book we heard from today, God gave a clear call to repentance to His then sinning people. Their sins against Him were primarily from following other gods. But they also included not respecting their fellow Israelites, those who were called to be their brothers and sisters in the Faith. He told them He would, should they not repent, bring hordes of locusts upon them. …For more, click on the title above.

Look and see

Bartimaeus by Pamela Suran

Today we are looking forward to what happens 50 days from now on Easter Sunday. It’s the high point of the Church year where we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Leading up to that day we fast from our Alleluias and begin a time of preparation. Wednesday, after being marked with ashes, our focus shifts to repentance as we turn to God and place our backs to sin. …For more, click on the title above.

It’s all about the Word

Sower Went Out to Sow mural in Brasov, Romania

Our text this evening is from the Gospel of St. Luke is commonly called the Parable of the Sower. This is actually a parable about four different kinds of dirt, or soil. The emphasis is not on the Sower at all but on the different kinds of soil into which the Sower’s seed falls.
To put it another way, this is not a parable about the preacher, it’s about the hearers. …For more, click on the title above.

God’s will becomes ours to hear in the proclamation of His Word

Sower Went Out to Sow mural in Brasov, Romania

In our Collect prayer for the day, we heard the centuries-old emphasis for this middle Sunday in the pre-Lent season. First, we gave thanks that God has sown His holy Word among us. Second, we petitioned Him to prepare our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who continues to work through the proclamation of God’s Word. Third, we indicated why we are here in part, that is, to diligently and reverently hear God’s Word, to keep it in good hearts… to the end that we will all bring forth spiritual fruit with patience. Fourth, because we all have sinful natures clinging to us, we asked God to use that Word to keep us from yielding to our sinful desires, to subdue them in us, that we might continue to comfort ourselves with [His] grace and continual help. …For more, click on the title above.

Compassionate Employer

Moses striking the Rock by He Qi

…But this heavenly reward is not based on the earthly system of earnings. Jesus says, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
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