Jesus wills to grant and sustain the faith

The One Who Returned by Dana Mario Wood

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.

Trinity_14 2023

The One Who Returned by Dana Mario Wood

Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

…Click on the above title for the bulletin.

We are not pagans

The Good Samaritan by Hannah Varghese, 2007

There are five men in our text today. The lawyer, the man from Jerusalem, the good Samaritan, the priest, and the Levite, but only two of them speak. One speaks out of self-righteousness and the other speaks rightly. What we are called to learn from the text today is this: We are the man coming from Jerusalem. Jesus is the good Samaritan. And the thieves are our sins and iniquities. Further, if we attempt to justify ourselves, we become the priest and the Levite….For more, click on the title above

‘O Lord, Open my lips…’ a beautiful prayer of the faith

Jesus Healing a Deaf-mute by Bartholomeus Breenbergh

Hear that which Jesus still says to cast off the bindings the ancient jailer of mankind had locked upon those whom God names with His Name: “!” [Ephphatha] (That is, be opened).
In the ancient Baptismal Rite, since before AD 1526, as the third of three exorcisms, a pastor was given to declare those words of Jesus over those whom God is preparing to baptize. Historically, the pastor then followed that command with a phrase like this, “But thou, devil, flee, for God’s judgment cometh speedily.” Then, having heard a blessing from the pastor, the candidate was, and still is, led through renouncing the devil, and all his works and ways. …For more, click on the title above.

Trinity_12 2023

Jesus Healing a Deaf-mute by Bartholomeus Breenbergh

Twelfth Sunday after Trinity

…Click on the above title for the bulletin.