When we heard of the Magoi coming to worship the Christ during our Epiphany celebration we learned something about the flesh of Christ and the revelation of the mysteries of God. Here today we learn more about the flesh of Christ and God’s purpose in sending the Christ into our Cosmos as true God and true man….For more, click on the title above.
Tag: Vicar Spangler
Children called home
A blessed feast of the Epiphany to you! Some feasts are easier to remember than others. The Nativity of Our Lord, The Baptism of our Lord, The Naming of our Lord all make it pretty easy to remember what exactly we’re celebrating. Epiphany, however, is one of those that are more difficult to have stick in our minds. Epiphany is named after the Greek word Epi- faino which means to “shine out.” What shines out in our text today is the star, yes, but more importantly, the identity of the baby these Magoi come to worship…For more, click on the title above.
Drinking the cup of the Lord
Our text today is going back in time, to the eighth day of our Lord’s life. His Circumcision, His naming, begins our New Year.
What is said about Christ is, necessarily, said about you, dear Christian. It must be this way for our salvation to be sure and complete. Beyond this, brothers and sisters, what must be said about Christ, for our salvation, is everything perfect. Christ, through His incarnation, is willingly locked up under the same Law that has confined us since its being given.
Jesus did not come to earth as an enemy of God’s Law. He did not chafe under the confines and strictures of God’s commands. Rather, He loved them because He loves the Father.
…For more, click on the title above
The Tabernacle of our Lord
Today’s readings heard together have quite an impressive presence. Throughout mankind’s history, man has never truly been completely separated from the presence of our dear Lord. The narrative in the Old Testament is one of departure and return. The Epistle reading speaks of the birth from above which makes us children of God. John, in introducing God to the reader, calls Jesus the Word. Returning to the Old Testament, as our parents were cast out of the garden, God began to return them to himself. Time and time again, the actions of our Lord led our fallen race out of the darkness of our own creation and into His light.
For more, click on the title above.
The baptizer points to the Baptizer
The Baptizer came baptizing in the house of misery, which is what Bethania means, along the famous Jordan and this was strange. It was strange to those who came to him, even to those who knew chapter and verse of John’s famous quotation:
“I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘make straight the way of the LORD.’” And it is strange to us.
For more, click on the title above.
Blood guilt
I have the privilege of directing our hearts and minds toward the Sacrament of the Altar, that ultimate gift of God given us Christians through the ultimate work of Christ in atoning for our sins. How bitter-sweet are the gifts of the Lord’s Table and the Lord’s Cup? You have heard proclaimed from this pulpit already two messages of hope, peace, joy and love. Our season of preparation comes to an end very soon. But as it has not yet ended we must ever remain watchful and filled with anticipation….For more, click on the title above.
Nevertheless, Amen
This week is the week of Peace: we’ve lit the second candle on our Advent wreath. But what do you hear from our Gospel reading today that gives you peace?
Click on the title above for more
Whether we thank Him or not, Jesus offers healing to all
The nine lepers in our text today often get the short end of the preaching stick. Similarly to Thomas, it’s easy to pick on them, easy to cast them as the “bad guys” of the text to make a point, but, while they do have their issues, doing so skews the text. So, what does that have to do with today?…For more, click on the title above.
What is God’s?
Those in our text today who wish to test the Christ have pit earthly government against heavenly government. They begin their inquiry with a false presupposition. They do so knowingly, they willfully bend God’s teaching against the Christ. However, truth prevails – which is a surprise to none of us.
The Pharisees ally themselves with the followers of Herod hoping to catch Christ inciting the people against the government; a government which Christ has allowed to be established.
…For more, click on the title above.
Celebrate Reformation by Preaching the Eternal Gospel
Today we commemorate the Reformation specifically through celebrating the preaching of the eternal Gospel. For this Gospel we give glory to God who comes to His people in the proper time. This coming of the Lord was long promised and long awaited by His people who had, until the arrival of the Christ, dwelt in a deep darkness. …For more, click on the title above.