Reformation

Luther: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things; love is patient and kind, therefore love yields. But not faith. Faith will not stand for anything. When it comes to faith, I want to be stubborn, and I want to be known as someone who is stubborn. Faith will not yield the least little bit, not to the Pope, or Peter, or anyone. The sermon.

Become as Little Children

The Gospel on Wednesday was St Matthew 18:1-20. The sermon.

The Unforgiving Servant

According to Jesus' parable at St. Matthew 18:23-35, the unforgiving servant grieved his fellow servants, and angered his master, because he did not receive with gratitude his own forgiveness; else why would he be so harsh? Well do we pray, Forgive us as we forgive. For the forgiveness we give comes from the same place as the forgiveness we received. The sermon.

St. Luke

So much for which we have to thank God regarding the work of St Luke the Evangelist. Consider all that his Gospel and Acts gave us. The sermon.

Thy Son Liveth

The Gospel at St. John 4:46-54 shows Jesus providing the nobleman with the faith he needs, which he didn't yet have. In addition, he provides the 'sign', that is, he heals his son. And it is at the seventh hour, which is the same hour at which Jesus himself was at the point of death, on Good Friday. But Jesus died, in order that this son, and we, might have life. And he rose again, so the Easter message we receive is like the message the nobleman received: "The Son of God liveth." The sermon.

The Marriage Feast

Today's Gospel (St. Matthew 22:1-14) is Jesus' parable of the Marriage Feast. What is the wedding garment? The question has been asked and variously answered over the centuries, but one thing is clear: those who wear the robe of Christ's righteousness, which is given in Holy Baptism, must be wearing the finest garment of all. The sermon.

Angels Ascending and Descending upon the Son of Man

The Gospel at St. John 1:35-51 is a remarkable unfolding of the truth that Jesus is the fulfillment of all the Scriptures: he is the Lamb of God (the Passover); he is the Christ (the King); he is the end of Moses and the Prophets; he is the Ladder of Jacob. He is the Incarnate God, who brings heaven to earth that we may ascend to heaven in him. The sermon.

Thy Sins Be Forgiven Thee

The Gospel at St. Matthew 9:1-8 shows that true faith is active, and can be seen: it's not just stowed away in the heart; it wants to embrace Jesus. It carries friends to Jesus, and it expects that Jesus can help. And this faith can hear no sweeter words than the words the paralytic heard: "Thy sins be forgiven thee." For what follows these words is life and salvation. What followed them here was that the man arose and went to his house. But there was an intermittent period, between the forgiveness of sins and the word from Jesus, "Arise, take up thy bed, and to to thine house." So also for us, there is an intermittent period. We hear the word of mercy today, and we can expect that at the last day we shall rise and go to our eternal home. The sermon.