Sermons (Page 111)
And He descended into hell
+ + + In Nomine Jesu + + + Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Grace to you and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. It is good for us to be here this Holy Saturday to keep vigil for the dawn of the day of our Lord’s resurrection, and it is my privilege to proclaim God’s Word to you-all here at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on this…
God in Tension
Good Friday. A term that unbelievers can’t even begin to comprehend, if they ever bother to look beyond the goodness of having a day off from work some time every Spring. Even then, they have to deal with it falling on different days every year, on a schedule that remains incomprehensible unless one knows how that schedule came to be. The world sees nothing good…
Blessed Forgetfulness
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the…
A Mother’s Tears: Mary Watches Jesus Die
[Machine transcription] Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Please be seated. Revisionism. It’s what’s been going on among historians for quite a while now. Typically, revisionist historians take the story of some hero or…
Guilty Tears: Jesus is Denied by Peter
[Machine transcription] I figure since everyone’s over on this side today, we’ll skip the pulpit and work from this side. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and whipped bitterly. Thus far the…
Dealing with Death
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. Our society has become one in which almost no topic is off limits. As so-called “enlightened” people, we pride ourselves on our ability to openly discuss just about any subject. Still, except among those viewed has having rather dreary outlooks on life, there…
Garden Tears: Jesus Grieves over His Suffering
[Machine transcription] Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. From St. Matthew, chapter 26. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch with me.” Was Jesus a real human being? Well,…
Asking the Right Questions
You’d think the blind man who received his sight from the miraculous intervention of Jesus had been plopped down at Camp X-Ray in Guantanamo Bay. Everywhere he turns, he—and the people all around him—are being vigorously interrogated. You can see this in some of the questions. They are posed to get the answers the questioners want, or to trigger a…
Bowl of Tears: Jesus Reveals His Betrayer
[Machine transcription] Again from St. Matthew, chapter 26. And they were very sorrowful, and began to say to him one after another, “Is it I, Lord?” He answered, “He who has dipped his hand in the dish with me will betray me.” Thus far the text. Betrayal. It is perhaps the most painful of experiences. It can raise powerful emotions, putting the…
Surrounded by Samaritans
Here’s something to ponder about from today’s Gospel reading: Who are the Samaritan women today? Who are the Samaritans in your life? They don’t just have to be people who have had a number of spouses or partners. Think about people who you believe are not acceptable. Maybe they are people you are not comfortable being around. Perhaps they are people…