Posts

Sermon - Annunciation 2026 - Luke 1:26-38

-
Image
The Annunciation, Tintoretto, 1563 The passion of Christ is the fulfillment of the angelic message Eve’s fall to the evil angel Mary’s obedience to the good angel The death of Jesus’ tears the divide between God and man A blessed feast of the Annunciation of our Lord to the blessed virgin Mary! It is a bit peculiar that today we are celebrating the incarnation of our Lord, something that feels like Christmas, in the midst of Lent so close to Holy Week. Perhaps you think I’m a few sandwiches short of a Lady Day picnic, but I’m not making it up. Today, March 25th, is the Feast of the Annunciation. Today has been the celebration of the Annunciation since at least the 5th century, but its dating goes back even earlier since it has been a long-standing belief that Jesus’ death was on March 25th. And it’s believed that Jesus was conceived on the same day that He was crucified. (As an aside, this is why we celebrate Christmas on December 25th, nine months after the Annunciation.) If that wasn...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sermon - Judica 2026 - John 8:46-59

-
Image
The Sacrifice of Isaac, Caravaggio, 1603 Whoever is of God shall not see death What does it mean to not see death? To see death is to go to hell and suffer damnation, and those who are of Christ will die on earth, but live forever with the Lord in the resurrection, like Abraham. Who are those who will not see death? Only those who are of God through faith, by hearing and keeping God’s Word, are children of God. Just because you claim Abraham or claim God or claim the traditions doesn’t actually rescue you from death. What has happened to prevent us from seeing death? Jesus Christ’s death is the substitutionary atonement for us, who through His blood sacrificed Himself in order to provide the lamb for the burnt offering. These last two weeks of Lent are ramping up to Good Friday. As such, these two weeks are called Passion Tide, and there are various traditions and such that the church has adopted for these weeks. But in spite of how somber these texts are, where today we see Jesus call...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sermon - Lent, Midweek 3, 2026 - Baptism, Part 3

-
Image
Healing of Naaman, Jan van Scorel, 16th Century The Water of Baptism: Washes away sin, death, and hell Rebirths us as Children of God Isn’t the interaction between Elisha and Naaman fantastic! Here’s Naaman, this great commander of the Syrian army, who is afflicted with leprosy! He had to take advice from one of his foreign born servant girls who directed him to a prophet of the little kingdom of Israel. When Naaman brings his entourage to see Elisha, Elisha doesn’t even go to the door but sends his messenger. Naaman is then told “ Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean. ” Now, we don’t know the rivers of the ancient world, but Naaman does, and this instruction drives him mad! Jordan is a filthy river, and basically any other river would’ve made more sense. But in the midst of this mighty army commander’s temper tantrum, another of his servants has to calm him down and be the voice of reason, saying: “ It is a great word the pr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sermon - Oculi 2026 - Luke 11:14-28

-
Image
  Jesus Heals a Mute Possessed Man, James Tiddot, 1886-1994 Our Spiritual Warfare Christ, the Stronger Man, has overcome Satan Demons continue to assault us, therefore we can’t be neutral If we don’t positively side with Christ, we will lose Therefore, remain firmly in Christ’s kingdom and smite the foe The spiritual warfare of our age is quite intense. Perhaps we don’t always call it that, we’ve got all sorts of medical, psychological, sociological, and social terminology and buzzwords that get brandied about, but what we’re experiencing is spiritual warfare. The 19th and 20th centuries were such materialistic ages that we’ve often scoffed at the idea of interpreting social trends, philosophical movements, and geopolitical events as various skirmishes in our spiritual warfare, but they are. I think we instinctually know this. We may not be able to always articulate how and why these things are spiritual assaults against our souls, but we can feel it in our bones. Afterall, Satan h...
Post a Comment
Read more