Before we explore the reading from Luke’s Gospel, we need to set the table for the parable Jesus tells. Throughout Luke’s account the Pharisees repeatedly test, challenge, and oppose Him. If Jesus is the protagonist or main character of the story, then the Pharisees clearly function as the antagonists, opposing His mission at every turn. They challenge His authority, they attempt to trap Him with Sabbath laws, and they test Him over purity practices.
That’s why when the ruler of the Pharisees invites Jesus to dine with him on the Sabbath, we should understand that their intentions are far from pure….For more, click on the title above.
Tag: Trinity
Trinity 3_2025
Trinity 3
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Blessed reversal
The fullness of time had come. God honored His promise and acted on His mercy when He sent the messenger Gabriel to Mary. Gabriel said, “You have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.”
Mary responded to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” …For more, click on the title above.
Biblical narrative in the liturgy
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central event in salvation history, the culmination of the true biblical story. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Every Sunday is the Lord’s Day and a day of celebrating His Resurrection. Every Sunday is a “little Easter.” The Resurrection is the heartbeat of the Church that pulses throughout the Church Year in every
service. Your salvation was earned by Christ and given for you on Easter. Everything hangs on this event as Paul says, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” Easter is the day the firstborn from the dead became the first fruits of the
new creation. …For more, click on the title above.
Trinity 2_2025
Trinity 2
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Living the baptized life as teachers of the faith
This week’s texts were selected and assigned as part of the Lectionary for this convention week. They are intended to reveal how the faithful continue living the baptized life. Today’s texts proclaim what is encompassed in that, particularly this week, as teachers of the Faith handle the Word of God with care for the benefit of our hearers….For more, click on the title above.
We believe, teach and confess
We will begin this morning with some sure and certain premises:
1) Faith alone makes us Christians.
2) Confession alone marks us as Christians.
3) Only God can judge the heart, and
a. Only God can see what we really and truly believe.
Nobody but God can see our faith, but the whole world can hear our confession of the faith. Christians confess their faith. Let’s face it, the only real reason someone won’t confess his faith is because he has no faith to confess. …For more, click on the title above.
Faith is a readiness to accept God’s Word and promises
Today, this congregation celebrates the beginning of Johntide a bit early (for the Festival of St. John the Baptizer is on June 24). To that end, we have heard from a few biblical texts that are tied together by common themes. Among those is a primary one that reveals that faith is a readiness to accept God’s Word and Promises.
It is true that, in our readings we don’t have a direct biblical definition of faith. That is, as scripture reveals elsewhere, that faith remains (the) assurance of (things) hoped for, a conviction of matters not seen. Even so, we can discern this theme from today’s texts: namely as you heard, that faith is a readiness to accept God’s Word and Promises. …For more, click on the title above
Trinity 1_2025
Trinity 1
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Let me not understand
Today marks the end of the Festival Half of the Church Year as we celebrate Holy Trinity Sunday. Throughout the festival season we’ve traced our salvation history as it was revealed through Jesus Christ in His incarnation, ministry, suffering, death, resurrection, ascension, and finally the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. But this day stands apart from every other Sunday. …For more, click on the title above.