Big, Big Questions
Proper 17: Gospel, Matthew 16:21-28 Matthew 16:21-28 Last week we found ourselves in the north of the country learning about the gaping jaws of hell. Remember? Jesus left...
What a Life
Proper 17: Epistle, Romans 12:9-21 Romans 12:9-21 There are many lists in the Bible. Names, places, occupations, punishments and rewards. Lots and lots of lists...
Struggling With What God Says?
Proper 17: Old Testament, Jeremiah 15:15-21 Jeremiah 15:15-21 Jeremiah 15:16 reads, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my...
The Question He Keeps On Asking
Proper 16: Gospel, Matthew 16:13-20 Matthew 16:13-20 Jesus doesn’t waste anything. Place, time of year, or his immediate company. Everything he says comes with import because all these elements and more are orchestrated to bring power to his Word and to sustain it in the ears and hearts...
Wisdom, Worship, and Work
Proper 16: Epistle, Romans 11:33-12:8 Romans 11:33-12:8 As we closed the epistle lesson last week there was a moment that was a bit anticlimactic. You see as we closed just before where we begin today, we found ourselves at a point where St. Paul is just about ready to burst with praise, with...
God Calling
Proper 16: Old Testament, Isaiah 51:1-6 Isaiah 51:1-6 The neighborhood where I grew up was a great one. Lots of families. It was a city residential area with lots of alleys. Everyone had a garage that was a separate building from the house. Most of the homes had front porches and there were...
Pagans Can See
Proper 15: Gospel, Matthew 15:21-28 Matthew 15:21-28 It is a strong mark of Lutheran teaching that no one can respond to the Word of the Lord without the work of the Holy Spirit on mind and heart. It comes from our Lord in the gospel of John reminding his followers that “No one can come...
He Knows What He's Doing
Proper 15: Epistle, Romans 11:1-2a, 13-15, 28-32 There’s a lovely gospel song from years back that has the most wonderful reminder as its title. It’s called, “Oh, How He Loves You and Me.” It was the theme song for many decades of a radio broadcast from a Los Angeles...
Ain't Ya Glad?
Proper 15: Old Testament, Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 Isaiah 56:1, 6-8 This Sunday’s reading from the Old Testament takes us back to the prophet Isaiah. And it is straightforward and clear. The message comes on the heels of the previous chapter’s Divine Invite to come and take the food and...
When the Blinders Come Off
Proper 14: Gospel, Matthew 14:22-33 Matthew 14:22-23 I’m always intrigued at opinions about the miraculous. We all, as people who believe the Scriptures, have to grapple with the occurrences of things we cannot explain. The fact we cannot does not mean they are miraculous, but clearly...
