Advent I

Jesus rides to the rescue. "God save the King" is the fulfillment of the cries of the people at Solomon's coronation, which is what "Hosanna" means. The sermon.

The Ten Virgins

The only difference between the five wise and the five fools was the lack of oil. They all went forth, they all had lamps, they were all virgins. So consider that without faith it is impossible to please God. Even the Word of God is of no use if it is not believed. You shall have as much as you believe. Therefore hold fast to what you hear Jesus say, for it is Wisdom, and Wisdom, as Solomon says, is your life. The sermon.

Come unto Me

Christ speaks to all who are burdened by sin and the weight of the law, when he offers rest, in St. Matthew 11:25-31. The sermon.

The Disguise of God

Today's Gospel indicates that Jesus disguises his glory in the present day, even as he has always done. Most importantly he did this at the cross, where he was a worm -- which the devil came and devoured, and was snared by the hook (Jesus' divinity) and the world was redeemed by Jesus' blood. The humble disguise of Jesus is also worn by his preachers after him, and this is all part of the divine plan. But in the end his glory shall be revealed. The sermon.

The Destruction of Jerusalem as Preview of the Judgment

The events of 70 a.d. which Jesus predicted in today's Gospel are a foretaste of the final judgment, and reason enough in themselves to flee to the cross (and Sacrament) for refuge. The sermon.

All Souls: Resurrection and Life

Reason says there is no life after death. Jesus says otherwise, in today's Gospel. He also proved otherwise, by healing the sick, raising the dead, and by his own resurrection at Easter. Since there is life after death, there is also judgment. But who shall be granted life? Who is he that "does good"? Since Jesus in this same Gospel says that whoever believes shall be saved "he that . . . believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life"), therefore it must be that everyone who believes also has works, though the works do not merit grace. The sermon.

All Saints: Why the Color is Red

All Saints is especially about the unnamed martyrs of the faith, as its appointed readings make clear. All souls (Nov. 2) is about all the faithful departed. And martyrdom is part of the the Spirit's way of spreading the faith. The sermon.