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Showing posts from October, 2024

Sermon - Exaudi 2026 - 1 Peter 4:7-14

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Gossip , Eugene de Blaas, 1903 Covering One-Anothers’ Faults Jesus not only overlooks our sins, but forgives them and covers us up We glorify Christ by forgiving one another, and covering up their shame Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! “ Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. ” Strife is all too common among us and it’s hard to get along with others. Some people are really mean, some are really annoying, and some people are both. Sometimes this comes out after just brief interactions, other times it’s with people you are around all the time. Perhaps this happens most often with those whom we love a lot. So today St. Peter instructs us: “ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ” When considering our sins and the sins of one another, it’s important for us to establish our love for one another in Christ. Jesus teaches us: “ Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. ” St. Paul says: “ Wal...

Sermon - Proper 24, 2024 - Mark 10:23-31

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Saint John on Patmos , Limbourg Brothers, 1416  We accept our lot now, and look forward to eternal life in the age to come Wealth doesn’t help us enter into the kingdom of God We may suffer much for the sake of Christ and the Gospel Whether much or little in this life, regardless of the toil and persecution, we enjoy the days given us and anticipate the reward awaiting us The way life often works today is that if you want something you can have it, and it's just a matter of paying the right price. In some ways this feels liberating, because it makes you feel like you can have whatever you want, so long as you can afford it. In other ways it feels very depressing, since it means that if you can’t afford the things you want they remain just out of your reach. But this is not the way that it works with eternal things; it’s not a matter of affording them, instead it’s a matter of humbly receiving them. Regardless of how much or little we have, we are to accept our lot now, and look for...

Sermon - Year B, Proper 23, 2024 - Mark 10:17-22

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If You Want to be Perfect (Christ and the Rich Young Man) , Andrey Mironov, 2017 Forsaking every earthly treasure to follow Christ Knowing Jesus and keeping the law is not enough Following Christ means we must forsake all worldly goods Greater Treasure in heaven awaits those who love the Lord alone “ He went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. ” Perhaps when you heard the readings this morning you were also filled with sorrow, because Jesus’ words are very challenging. “ Sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. ” For the rich young man these words were devastating, because he was now at a crossroads and must choose either to follow Christ and gain a heavenly treasure, or follow this world and keep his worldly treasures. Today Jesus places us at the same crossroad, and our Lord bids us to forsake every earthly treasure to follow Him. The tempting thought for us though is that we can have both treasures: treasure on...