John 8:31-36 During the middle ages, in the centuries before the Reformation, the institutions of the church slipped more and more into a theology that was largely oriented around the status and presumed power of the ordained clergy. So, for example, the marks of the church were, basically, the clergy. A medieval Christian was expected…
In the 14th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, Jesus says this to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” No normal person enjoys conflict. But…
Genesis 1:1–2:4 Today’s Old Testament reading presented us with the creation account from the Book of Genesis. It is real history, written in majestic prose, by divine inspiration. The Book of Genesis is not written in the vocabulary of modern science, because it is a story for the ages. It was true and meaningful before…
Matthew 21:33-44 Many of Jesus’ messages had an immediately positive and uplifting impact on his listeners. Today’s message, from St. Matthew’s Gospel, is not one of those. There are some humbling and hard-to-accept truths associated with sinful humanity’s existence in this fallen world, and associated with sinful humanity’s alienation from a holy God, that Jesus…
Ephesians 4:17-5:2 Nobody likes conflict and warfare. When we hear news reports about the suffering of those who are caught in the middle of conflict in various parts of the world, or when we see images of the death and destruction brought about by war, we cringe. We desire peace – for ourselves, and for…
Ephesians 4:1-16 Many years ago, in another time and place, I visited a delinquent member of the congregation I was then serving and tried to encourage this person to come to church. The response was pretty bizarre. “I already know all that. I learned the catechism when I was confirmed, and I still remember what…
Ephesians 3:13-21 In New Testament Greek, the word for “father” is “patera,” and the word for “family” is “patria.” You can see, then, that a family is conceptualized, and defined, on the basis of its relationship to the father of that family, whether literal or figurative. Some translations of today’s text from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians are…
Matthew 6:24-34 The times in which we live are times of worry and anxiety. We are concerned about our safety. Assaults, murders, and social chaos in general are on the rise in many cities. We are also worried about the economy. Prices are going up, while the buying power of our money is going down.…
Galatians 6:1-4 Please listen with me to the portion of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians than comes immediately after the portion that was read as today’s lesson. The Apostle writes: Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself…