Come Lord Jesus, be our guest

Walk to Emmaus by Sr. Mary Stephen

Christ is Risen! This Resurrection Evening sermon’s theme has been drawn from the readings we’ve heard. It will be revealed in this Service that God has continues to answer our prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest.” To that end, this Service does close the highest Feast Day of the year among us. It does so with the reminder that Jesus continues to make Himself known in the breaking of the bread… the Lord’s Supper… the Sacrament of the Altar. …For more, click on the title above

‘It is finished!’ God’s word for fulfillment for you

Crucifixion by Sadao Watanabe

The readings for this day help to nail home the message of our recent Wednesday series: “Why Easter?” Then we heard Jesus give His answers as to why His baptized and rightly confessing people still celebrate the greatest of the Five High Feasts of the early Church.
Today, during the Great Triduum, we hear again from prophecy and from Jesus. Today, through the readings, hymns, and Psalm canticles, Jesus reminds us how He fulfilled His ancient Word concerning how God would rescue His people from the wages that their/our sins earn. Those, for all who don’t believe in the Christ of the Scriptures, are the second death and an enduring separation from God. …For more, click on the title above.

God’s new convenant brings forgiveness and salvation

Unattributed Contemporary Coptic Icon of the Entry into Jerusalem

Today, we heralded the fulfillment of the divine prophecy through Christ’s Presence. This we did through our actions and words that were applied to our remembrance of Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem long ago. Jesus humbly did that so that He would die bearing the sins of all people for all times into death.
Jesus’ long-awaited victory procession on that first Palm Sunday again reveals how He, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, had determined God would save sinners from sin and all its effects. It was declared in the way He was heralded, “Hosanna!” that is, “Save Now!”…For more, click on the title above.

Why Easter? Jesus answers and says: ‘Father, into Your Hands I commit my Spirit’

Into Your Hands by Annabelle DeBono

To prepare us for the coming Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord, throughout the Wednesdays of Lent following Ash Wednesday, we’ve been hearing Jesus give the answer to, “Why Easter?” That He has continued to do as we’ve heard translations of His “Seven Words from the Cross.”
His indelible and eternal statements began to be declared again among us on Lent I Wednesday. Then we heard a good rationale presented for this “Seven Words” Lenten series. …For more, click on the title above.

Christ alone is our vindication

Mosaic in The 4th Sorrowful Mystery Chapel Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Today, through the image of Abraham ready and willing to offer his son of the Promise, we have one of the most poignant illustrations of God’s love for His fallen creatures. The record of Abraham and Isaac’s journey to and from the Mountain of Sacrifice reveals that which our Heavenly Father was, even then, prepared to offer as His Final Sacrifice. …For more, click on the title above.

Because He wills to forgive, God calls to repentence

Jeremiah Denounces the Priests by Max Lieberg

Today’s chosen theme verse reveals the biblical truth that, because He wills to forgive, God calls to repentance. That is proclaimed, in large part, through today’s Old Testament reading. Through the words God gave to Jeremiah, we hear God’s clear calls to His sinning people to turn from their sins. This, the faithful are empowered to do as His Word moves them into repentance. …For more, click on the title above.

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.

For the full Sermon click on the Title above

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.