In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I. Earthly Things
1. Throughout the Gospels, our Lord Jesus constantly exhorts His hearers to set their minds on spiritual things rather than on earthly things. Our Lord’s hearers, however, continually demonstrate a desire to remain fixated on the things of this world, as seen in today’s Gospel text. Continue reading
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I. Justifying Faith
1. In response to the surprising persistence of the Canaanite woman, our Lord says, “O woman, great is your faith!†(Matthew 15:28). It’s not often that our Lord praises someone’s faith. And yet, in three simple petitions, this Canaanite woman demonstrates for us what is justifying faith. Continue reading
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
And lead us not into temptation.
What does this mean?
God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory. Continue reading
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
1. Our Lord’s third and final prediction of His coming crucifixion in Jerusalem could hardly be more direct or clear. He tells of His impending betrayal, the explicit details of His suffering and mistreatment, and, finally, His death. Everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. Continue reading
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I. Belief or Unbelief
1. There are two categories of people in this world: those who believe in Jesus and those who do not believe in Jesus. The world would try to teach us that there are an infinite number of categories: black or white, male or female, gay or straight, young or old, sports enthusiast or book worm. The world would try to teach us that these categories and so many more are what matter. They try to teach us that these are what define a person. Continue reading
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
1. Deep down in the conscience of nearly all people is an innate desire to be justified. As a general rule, humans care how they are perceived by others. When a neighbor perceives us to be in the wrong, we go to great lengths to explain our side of the story and clear our name—because we want to be justified. If we are treated poorly by a friend, we may lament that their treatment of us was unjust—because we want to be justified. Continue reading
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
1. Our Lord was with his disciples in the district of Caesarea Philippi, in the northern reaches of Israel. There they had some respite from the harassment of the Jewish religious leaders. There Our Lord could give his disciples some much needed instruction regarding what was to come as he prepared to set his face toward Jerusalem. Continue reading
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
1. From the Mount of his famous sermon, our Lord came again to Capernaum. There He encountered the good centurion. This centurion was a commander in the Roman army. But this Gentile military leader had learned to love Israel and her God. We learn from Saint Luke’s gospel that he had even demonstrated his love for Israel by building them a synagogue. Continue reading
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I. Created in the Image of God
1. One of Michelangelo’s greatest and most recognizable paintings is entitled “The Creation of Man.†In this painting, Michelangelo depicts the dramatic moment when God gives life to Adam. Adam’s body reclines lifeless on the ground as God condescends from His angelic throne, extends His right hand, and is about to touch man’s flesh with His life-giving finger. Continue reading
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I. Introduction
1. A newborn infant trusts his mother unconditionally. He instinctively recognizes that all good things come from her. He knows that when he is in need, his mother will answer his call for food, comfort, rest, or a fresh diaper. When a newborn infant cries, Continue reading