St Matthias

Although the patron's saint of lost causes is St. Jude, it might as well be St. Matthias. Judas' replacement was, it seems from St. Luke's account, supposed to be one Joseph, but the lot fell to Matthias. The sermon.

On the sanctoral seasons

As we enter Septuagesima, we consider the difference between the Christmas cycle and the Easter cycle: the former deals with light, the latter with life; the former forms the emotions, the latter, the will; the former is hopeful and yearning, the latter, grave and determined. Thus we begin the trek of training to turn from the mind set of the first laborers in the vineyard who had an evil eye and covetousness, and learn instead to treasure the penny of heavenly grace. Tuesday's sermon.

Septuagesima

Our aim is to obtain the mind set of the last laborers, who went out without a contract, trusting the goodness of the landowner; and to repent of the mind set of the first laborers, who were full of envy and greed. St. Matthew 20:1-16. The sermon.

Revelation to Babes

St. Matthew 11:25-27 contains Jesus' words about how the Father has revealed His wisdom to babes. The sermon.

“Weakness made strong; my confession of faith”

Suzanne Schroeder, a 41 year-old woman in my former parish in Berlin, Wisconsin, died of a rare form of diabetes in 1990. I had ministered to her during her illness, and in the year before she died she wrote this confession of faith which was published in the church’s newsletter after her death. I ran across it the other day, and find it as encouraging now as many did then.

May 1989 Berlin, Wisconsin

I would like to tell you, fellow Christians, what my suffering has done to me, how my suffering has changed me. What would I say to a fellow Christian who must undergo suffering? I would say there’s really nothing to fear, because it brought me so much closer to the Lord. It has taught me that He’s always there; always with me.

When my suffering first began, I was asking, “Why me?” But now that my suffering has brought me closer to the Word, and a greater understanding of the grace of Christ, I am asking, “Why me?” – that is, why should I be so blessed, so loved? Why should He single me out as one to whom to show His mercy?

What I wish to get across to you, fellow believers, is the message of my life; how my weakness is changed into something so strong in my faith. I hope people can see exactly what this (my sickness and suffering) has done to me. It’s unbelievable how something, when you’re sick, can make you so strong in your faith.

I can better understand now how our Lord has suffered for us – not only whv he suffered, but how – why he suffered the way he did is beyond me, because He did it without any pleading or complaints. He did it just for me, because He loves me. And now I know better how much He loves me, when I can understand better what He went through. And that’s so true.

I’d like to have people remember what I went through and how I felt when I went through it, that is, how I changed from a complainer, one who was always questioning God, to one who now sees what He’s doing, and that He is good.

Transfiguration - second sermon

Tuesday morning, a homily (shorter sermon)on the Transfiguration, this one a meditation on "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." The sermon.

Transfiguration

Today's Gospel (St. Matthew 17:1-9) provides hope in the midst of fear, comfort in the midst of foreboding, and joy for all whose hope is in the Incarnate One, in that He said to His disciples (and to us), "Arise, and be not afraid." The sermon.

Wednesday of Epiphany V

Sermon on St. Matthew 13:44-52, the parable of the treasure in the field, and the parable of the pearl of great price, here.

Epiphany V, second sermon

Tuesday morning, a second sermon on St. Matthew 13:24-30, here.

First Monday Vespers

The sermon for First Monday Vespers, preached on the Epistle for Epiphany V: here.

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Today's sermon.