Tag: Pastor Morehouse

This is a time of year, in the Church, when we hear again of the signs and wonders that Jesus did to reveal Himself as the Messiah, the Anointed One of God, of the Scriptures. Today, that has come into our ears with the Apostle and Evangelist John’s account of Jesus’ second miracle having come from the Judea into the Galilee.
With that in mind, we remember that today’s readings have, in this time, come to us very near to our celebration of the Festival of the Reformation, as well as the days that immediately follow it—the Feasts of All Saints and All Souls. This is a time of year for us to hear a succession of proclamations concerning the powerful work of God…. For more, click on the title above.

Be of good courage, your sins are forgiven! Today we sinners who have responded to God’s call to come to Him for rest and peace have neither neglected nor despised His Word. That is one reason why you each and all are present in this His Divine Service.
As part of our response to and preparation for hearing God’s Word, we have collectively prayed that God would, for the sake of His mercy, be gracious to us. In that, we were echoing the unspoken petition of a paralytic and those bearing him before Jesus long ago. …For more, click on the title above.

Through means, through His Word and Sacraments, the Lord wills to lift us up from any worldly, demonic, or fleshly pressures that tempt us to sin. As we respond to His faithfulness, He keeps us faithful through our regular reception of His Means of Grace. As we continue to partake of them we continue to learn what humility before God and neighbor can be. So, what is true humility?
Jesus, the Lord God Incarnate, gives the answer to that question. …For more, click on the title above.

The sainted Matthew, a former tax collector, is the one whose writings and life set this week’s sanctification themes. Those were given to the Church long ago in order to help center us this week on Christ Jesus. They serve to make this a St. Matthew week in the Church.
What that means is that not only is today’s Gospel reading publicly proclaimed from his inspired work, so will be Wednesday’s. The mid-week celebration will, we can be confident, reveal Jesus’ concern for those who hear His Word, confess their sins, and follow Him. It will again reveal that, no matter how great the sin a sinner has committed, by God’s grace, through His Word, such a one can be turned from sin and be freed to live new life by following Christ Jesus. …For more, click on the title above.

This Sunday the congregation of Catalina Lutheran Church has had a wonderful opportunity to behold a genuine earthly vision of beautiful heavenly realities. Those occurred as God raised two little ones to new, blessed, eternal life through the water and Word of Holy Baptism.
That took place quite a bit before the day’s Gospel reading. Heavenly realities revealed on earth even preceded the congregation’s echoing the cry of the 10 lepers. That is: “Lord, have mercy.” …For more, click on the title above.