The Good Samaritan

The difference between the lawyer's way of looking at things and the disciples' way (Blessed are the eyes that see the things that ye see) is that they embraced Jesus himself. So let us embrace him as we consider the Good Samaritan, whose attributes are Jesus' own. The sermon.

The Sin against the Holy Ghost

Sin, forgiveness, and the sin against the Holy Ghost, in St. Matthew 12:31-42. The sermon.

The Deaf Man Healed

Today's Gospel (St. Mark 7:31-37) fit nicely with the Baptism we also had this morning, as the healing of the deaf man is in so many ways a picture of Holy Baptism. The sermon.

The Sinful Woman

The sinful woman of St Luke 7:36-50 provides a great opportunity to preach sin and mercy. The sermon.

Eleventh Sunday after Trinity

The Pharisee and the Publican (St. Luke 18:9-14) is the subject of today's Gospel and sermon.

St Bartholomew

Yesterday's sermon.

Oktoberfest 2011!

Schedule of Events for Oktoberfest and Gottesdienst Central (Oct. 9-11, St. Paul's Kewanee, IL)

Conference theme (for Sunday and Monday): Baptism in the Gospel of John

Sunday
5 p.m.: Autumn Choral Vespers
6 p.m.: Bratwurst Banquet (and partying into the night)

Monday
8:30 am: Registration
Private confession is available in the vestry from 8:30-9:15 am
9:30 am: Solemn Mass.
Fasting prior to mass is a laudable custom.
10:45 am: Brunch, in the cafeteria.
11:15 am: Dr. Weinrich
12:30 pm Office at Sext
12:45 pm Break. Snacks will be available.
1:10 pm: Dr. Weinrich, continued.
2:00 pm Break.
2:10 pm: Dr. Weinrich, continued.
3:00 pm: Office at Vespers
The late afternoon and evening is free. Weather permitting, a golf outing might be arranged.
Tuesday
9:00 am Low (spoken) Mass
9:45 – noon: Open seminar and workshop on the ceremonies of the Lutheran Mass: attention to the details that confess and magnify the Real Presence.
12 noon: Office at Sext
12:15 pm – lunch (on your own: we will attend a local restaurant)
1:30 pm – 3:15 pm: Seminar, continued.
3:15 Office at Vespers. Itinerarium

Sign up here.

Lodging info:

AmericInn, 4823 US Hwy 34. 800-634-3444
Super 8 Motel, 901 S Tenney (Rt 78). 309-853-8800
Aunt Daisy’s B&B, 223 W Central Blvd. 888-422-4148
Kewanee Motor Lodge, 400 S Main St. 309-853-4000
Days Inn, I-80 & Rt 40, Sheffield. 815-454-2361
Holiday Inn Express, I-80 & Rt 78, Annawan. 309-935-6565

The Unjust Steward

The steward is commended, which is surprising, since the master had already chided him for his wasting of his goods. This is the Gospel, for God also surprisingly commends us (for Christ's sake) as if we were obedient, though we are in fact sinners. The sermon.

Dormition B.V.M.

The sermon.

Feeding of the 4000

Jesus multiplies loaves here, which is his way: the God of all creation causes life to flourish by multiplying. So here he makes this to be a kind of living bread; which is fitting, since he is himself the Living Bread that came down from heaven. As the miracle happens to the crowd who gathered in the wilderness to hear his words, so the miracle happens today to the crowd who gather to hear his words, while in the wilderness of life; and he gives them his own substance, in the Blessed Sacrament. The sermon.

Who is Good?

The rich young man (of St. Matthew 19:16-30) was confused about who is good. He called Jesus good, and yet he also thought he himself might be capable of doing some good. But God alone is good, and this man did not mean to say that Jesus is God (though he should have). Since this is so, it is only from God that goodness is obtained, by grace. Goodness is gained by following Jesus. Where does Jesus go? To the cross: it is at the cross--which for us is the altar--that eternal life is found. The sermon.

The Cross and the Altar

The Gospel for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity (St. Matthew 5:20-26) provides an opportunity to comment on the unity between the cross and the altar. The sermon.

Two sermons for Trinity 5

I was out of town on Sunday, but I preached Sunday's Gospel on Tuesday morning (here). Then on Wednesday, I preached the second series Gospel, on St. Matthew 16:13-26 (here).

Love or hate?

Jesus' admonition to love your enemies (St. Matthew 5:43-48) is likely a corrective to those who misunderstood, and mistaught the meaning of Psalm 139. The sermon.

Good measure pressed down

Another aspect of the Gospel for Trinity 4 is the overabundance of measure received, clearly more than what is earned. This is mercy, receiving something that is not earned. And it is by this mercy that we learn to be merciful, "as your Father also is merciful." The sermon.

Be merciful as your Father is merciful

The Gospel for the Fourth Sunday after Trinity is about mercy. How is your Father merciful? By his reckoning of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus; so also, how are you to be merciful? In the same way. The sermon.

Considering the Cost

In today's Gospel (St. Luke 14:25-25), Jesus points out the folly of building a tower without considering the cost, or of going to war without considering the strength of troops. So also taking a religion with no guarantees against a righteous God is folly. Only Jesus is the way; he alone is the one on whom the Father (in a voice from heaven) declared his good pleasure; so let us forsake all others and cleave only to him. The sermon.

The Great Feast part II

More on the Great Feast, from this morning's sermon.

The Great Feast

The invitation given by the certain man who gave a great feast in today's Gospel is itself the heart of the Gospel itself: "Come, for all things are now ready." How ironic and utterly ridiculous are the excuses given by those who made light of it. You have bought a field? But fields are for planting and growing and harvesting and producing, to make food, feasts for the table. Yet the feast is already prepared! You need to test your oxen? But our holy Ox, Jesus Christ, has already plowed the field, and says, Take my yoke upon you, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. You have married a wife? But behold, your holy family is the Church into which you have been baptized. Pay heed to this invitation, for it is rich and eternal. The sermon.

The Visitation

He hath put down the mighty from their seats and exalted them of low degree. The sermon.