Luke 16:13 As Americans, we usually pride ourselves on the conviction that we are free. We go to great efforts to preserve our political and social freedom, and we are indignant when others infringe on our freedom. In the realm of our civil life, we do, of course, live in a mostly free society. We…
Trinity 5 – Luke 5:1-11 Simon Peter, the fisherman from Capernaum, had been introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew. Andrew in turn had been directed to Jesus by John the Baptist, whose disciple he previously had been. After Peter got acquainted with Jesus, he became what we might call a part-time disciple of the…
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 “A certain man had two sons.” So begins what is commonly called the parable of the prodigal son, as told by Jesus, and recorded in St. Luke’s Gospel. In the parable this younger of two sons said to his father, “Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.” And…
Luke 14:15-24 The kingdom of God is often described in Jesus’ parables as a banquet, or as a great and festive dinner. Today’s Gospel from St. Luke is one such example. The imagery of a great fellowship meal with God points us forward to the way things will be for his people in the new…
Trinity 1 – Luke 16:19-31 The story of the rich man and Lazarus that Jesus tells in today’s Gospel from St. Luke is intriguing in many respects. It is often referred to as a parable, but it does not bear some of the common characteristics of a parable. Usually when Jesus tells a parable, he…
Maundy Thursday – Luke 22:7-20 “Do this in remembrance of me.” Jesus gave this directive to his disciples on the occasion of his institution of the Sacrament of the Altar. His giving of his body and blood to them, for the forgiveness of their sins, was not going to be a one-time occurrence. This giving…
Luke 8:26-37 Then [Jesus and his disciples] sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among…
Luke 2:40-52 In this world, there may not be too many people you can really trust and count on. Usually, however, we do assume that at the very least, we should be able to rely on our closest relatives: parents, children, siblings, and spouses. They won’t let us down. They won’t turn on us. But you…
Luke 2:22-40 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. (As it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male will be called holy to the Lord.”) And they came to offer a sacrifice according…
Luke 2:8-14; Isaiah 9:2-7 EXORDIUM: Christ is born! Let us glorify him! Today is the festival of the Nativity of Our Lord. It recalls the day in Bethlehem, so many centuries ago, when God’s Son entered into this world, and set out on his life’s journey as humanity’s Savior. God’s Son had, of course, been…