Dining With the Pharisees

The Lord’s Last Supper from Okaybabs

Our Savior took the plans of the prideful who attempted to honor themselves and brought them down, putting them to shame. At the same time, Christ took a man who was low and suffering and raised him up.

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THE REST OF THE STORY

Elijah Revives the Son of the Widow of Zarephath by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld

“Those among us who attended either of last Sunday’s services, or this past Wednesday’s Divine Service, heard the first half of a large narrative. It concerned Elijah, a widow, and her son. We heard of God’s gracious provision of oil and flour for a small household in a time of great famine. This week’s Old Testament reading follows upon that. It is part of that which is called a short lectio continua. That indicates that it is the second half of a continuous reading. It was chosen long ago to be proclaimed in this season, for it helps focus the faithful upon enduring in the Faith. So, today have heard, as a famous radio personality used to say, “the rest of the story…”” Click on the title above for the full sermon

FREED FROM AXIOUSNESS IN CHRIST

Will He Not Much More Clothe You by Susan McConville-Harrer

” Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Suffiencient for the day is it’s evil.” Click on the Title above to hear the full sermon.

Freed in Christ to not be anxious

Will He Not Much More Clothe You by Susan McConville-Harrer

The life of sinful man is plagued by numerous conditions, struggles, and troubles. How widespread these different undesirable things are or how much of an issue they are may wax and wane like the moon in the night sky as the years and decades go by but nevertheless, they persist. …For more, click on the title above.

From tax collector to apostle and evangelist

With each successive generation the lack of affiliation with religion has grown. About 50 years ago, in 1973, 87 percent of U.S. adults identified with a Christian religion*, six percent were non-Christian or “other” religion, and five percent did not have a religious preference. Today, according to the most recent data, 68% identify with a Christian religion*, seven percent identify with a non-Christian religion, and 22 percent of Americans said they have no religious preference—or, no “religion” at all….For more, click on the title above.

Hold onto God’s Word, for though it the Holy Spirit gives life

Matthew the Evangelist, Panel #1997 at stainedglassinc.com

Today, our Old Testament reading calls for any person who would be found faithful before God to hold onto God’s Word. It teaches that the faithful continue being called to hold onto God’s instruction; that He continues to reveal through rightly divided His Word.
It is through the proclaimed Word of God that the Holy Spirit wills to give salvation. At the end of a faithful person’s mortal life in the Faith, the Spirit, through the Word of God, will lead him or her into blessed eternal life. That is fitting for us to hear as Laurencetide’s theme of sanctification draws to a close for another year. …For more, click on the title above.

The true love of God leads to steadfastness in His Word

LSB Icon used with permission

For those numbered among the faithful in this place, especially you who attended both this past Wednesday’s Divine Service and one of the last Sunday’s Divine Services, two themes were repeated in the public proclamation of God’s Word. Wednesday’s sermon was guided by these words: the letters of the Law kill, and the Gospel is the means through which the Spirit sustains life. As last Sunday’s sermon was developed it brought forth this theme: God listens to our pleas. Today, we hear of the true love of God. In it we are led to steadfastness in His Word. Through God’s Word, the Holy Spirit leads Christians into acting in true love for the benefit of our neighbors….For more, click on the title above.

Deaf and mute

Jesus Heals the Deaf by Dr Ganesh Kelagina Beedu Shenoy

Throughout His incarnate earthly ministry, Jesus performs a wide variety of miracles for the people He comes across. Christ feeds many with a small amount of food, raises people from the dead, calms a raging storm and sea, fills nets with fish, casts out demons, and as we see in our Gospel reading for today, heals the ailments of those who are suffering. Today we hear that God listens to our pleas….For more, click on the title above.