Protection from Presumption, Luke 13:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

When Jesus is questioned about terrible events that happened to others, he turned the question back on the questioners. He saw the heart of their question came out of presumption that they were not as bad as the others that these terrible things had happened to. How do his words lead us to know a path away from presumption and guide us into true salvation through Jesus?

Image: James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Tower_of_Siloam_(Le_tour_de_Silo%C3%AB)_-_James_Tissot_(cropped).jpg

The Narrow Gate and Faith, Luke 13:22-35

Jesus tells us that salvation is a narrow gate that we must strive through at the right time. To ignore the gate can be disastrous. Father Jeremiah leads us through this parable and Jesus’ words about Jerusalem and his desire to gather the people to himself in Luke 13.

Image: Public Domain. Image location: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/916822

Striving by Way of Weakness, Luke 13:22-30, Hebrews 12:15-29

When Jesus tells us to strive, do we think of us exerting our own strength? Or do we think of how weak we are and the impossible task before us of entering the narrow door? Father Jeremiah considers how we strive not our strength, but instead Jesus’ enabling strength revealed in our weakness.

Image: pg 164, The Baptistery, or the Way of Eternal Life, by Isaac William. Found at books.google.com. Public Domain.

Broad Compassion in the Narrow Way, Luke 13:22-35

In Luke 13, someone asks Jesus about the number that will be saved. Instead of answering directly, Jesus says that the we should strive to enter the narrow door. He puts the focus away from the number and onto each of us regarding salvation. He then tells the people that he would have gathered them together for salvation had they been willing. We see here that there is a great and broad compassion in this narrow way. Jesus is ready and able to give redemption and protection, but are we ready to receive it?

Image: License: CC0 Public Domain. Location: https://www.maxpixel.net/Chicken-Hawk-Landscape-Hen-Line-Art-Vintage-Farm-5207992

www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2022/3/13/broad-compassion-in-the-narrow-way-luke-1322-35

Surviving, Striving, and Thriving, Luke 13.22-30

Jesus says, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate,’ in the Gospel passage. What are we to make of this command to us today? It is a reminder that we must continually come back to confession and repentance through which we can thrive in the Kingdom and be a part of banquet to come. Here more about this from Father Jeremiah in today’s sermon.

Image: The Narrow Path, by rabiem22. Used under license CC BY 2.0. No changes made. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rabiem/8047897266/in/photostream/

Repenting Fig Trees, Luke 13.1-9

Jesus answers questions about seemingly judgmental deaths with a call to repentance and a parable of fruitless fig tree. How can we better understand the Gospel and the kindness of our Father in heaven from Jesus’ words here for us today?

Image: The Vine Dresser and the Fig Tree, James Tissot [Public domain]. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Vine_Dresser_and_the_Fig_Tree_(Le_vigneron_et_le_figuier)_-_James_Tissot.jpg

Gathered and Striving, Luke 13.22-35

The narrow door and a hen’s wings for covering are in today’s Gospel lesson. What is Jesus telling us about our faith? Listen now to find out what Father Jeremiah reveals about this passage from Luke 13.

Image: Jesus weeping over Jerusalem, author unknown, from the Evangelistary of Otto III [Public domain] Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JesusWeepsOverJerusalem.jpg