The Vocational Life: The Task Impossible, Luke 10.25-37

The story of the Good Samaritan is an iconic story. You can find references to it in nearly every facet of our culture. However, what was so revolutionary about Jesus’ words that made this such a message that would go beyond time itself? It is because of the impossibility of the task that Jesus sets forth to his questioner. It is an impossibility that continues to exist for us today. What can we do with this impossible task in our daily vocations?

Image: The Good Samaritan, Rembrandt [CC0]. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Good_Samaritan_MET_DP814420.jpg

The Vocational Life: Empowered to Serve, Luke 10.1-20

Father Jeremiah continues to lead us through his series on the vocational life. In this third sermon, he shows us how we are empowered to serve by the Holy Spirit in all of our vocations because Jesus has called to be in those vocations.

Image: Image from page 72 of "The works of John M. Synge .." (1912), posted by Internet Archive Book Images, no known copyright restrictions. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14595127770/in/photostream/

The Vocational Life: The Cost of Grace, Luke 9.51-62

When we think of vocation, we often don’t think about the cost of living in these varied relationships. However, Jesus reminds us that to follow him comes with a cost and brings transformation to all of our relationships and work.

Image: by Henri Cassiers [Public domain]. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rodenbach_%E2%80%93_La_Vocation,_1895_Illustr._p_087.png

The Vocational Life: Cross-Bearing, Luke 9:18-24

When we are called to take up our crosses daily, Christ is calling us to a cross shaped life, one that is focused on the cross upon every one of our vocations. All of our vocations, that is our relationships and the work we do in those, are all under the cross and given grace by Jesus through the Holy Spirit. We are called into the Vocational life through our cross-bearing.

Image: Christ Carrying the Cross, Albrecht Dürer, 1509 [Public domain]. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer_-_Christ_Carrying_the_Cross_(NGA_1943.3.3653).jpg

The Overflow of the Trinity, John 16.5-15

It is Trinity Sunday and Father Jeremiah leads us through a teaching on the Trinity and the work of God as three persons. He uses the Apostles’ Creed as our guide and opens our eyes to the amazing work of overflowing love that comes from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Image: The Holy Trinity by Miguel Cabrera, in the Tucson Museum of Art. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Holy_Trinity_by_Miguel_Cabrera.jpg
[Public domain]

Greater Works, John 14.8-17

Guest preacher Jonathan McClure takes us through John 14.8-17. He shows us that our own impatience can blind us to Jesus being amongst us as he truly is. When we miss who we have and what we have in Jesus, we must look to what the Father has promised us in Jesus to bring our eyes back to Jesus. In doing that, we will see how Jesus displays the Father to us, realize that Jesus is working through us, and that Jesus provides the helper we need.

Image: Stain glass from Queen’s College, Oxford, by Abraham van Linge, c. 1635. Photo taken by Lawrence OP. Used under license CC BY-NC 2.0. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/2482601503.

Prayer and Ascension, John 17:20-26

On the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, he prayed for all that would believe in him through the word of his apostles. In that prayer he asked that we might all be one as he and the Father are one and that we would know the love of the Father for the Son in ourselves. In Jesus’ ascension forty days after his resurrection, this prayer began to be fulfilled. How does Jesus’ ascension connect to his high priestly prayer? Listen now to find out.

Image: Agony in the Garden, by El Greco [Public domain]. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:El_Greco_019.jpg

Do Not Be Afraid, John 14.21-29

Jesus can tell his disciples and us to not be afraid and to not let our hearts be troubled because of the great hope that he sets before us. What is that hope? Our hope is the coming of the Holy Spirit and the coming of the new Jerusalem. Both of these are a reality for us today. Listen now to find out how this is.

Image: Merciful Christ (Icon), photo taken by: Steven Zucker. License: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. No changes made. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/profzucker/7173082023

A Love that Compels, John 13.31-35

On the night that He was betrayed, Jesus told his disciples to love one another just as He had loved them. How is this even possible? Can a mere man give such a command to weak people? Listen to find out just how Jesus’ can tell his disciples to love one another and it actually be accomplished.

Image: Merciful Christ (Icon), photo taken by: Steven Zucker. License: CC BY-NC-SA 2.0. No changes made. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/profzucker/7173082023

Comfort of the Good Shepherd, John 10.22-30

What is the implication of Jesus being the Good Shepherd? How important is it that his sheep respond to his voice? What assurance is there that no one can snatch us from Jesus’ or the Father’s hands? Listen now to find out about Jesus being the Good Shepherd.

Image: Icon of the Good Shepherd, AnonymousUnknown author [Public domain]. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Good_shepherd_icon.jpg

Worthy to Renew Us, John 21.1-14

Jesus appears to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberius and welcomes them to himself. When we think about who Jesus is and what he has accomplished, we can rejoice at the renewal that he brings to them and through them, to us.

Image: AnonymousUnknown author [Public domain] Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Waldburg-Gebetbuch_047_detail.jpg

Peace, Peace, Peace, John 20.19-31

When Jesus appeared to his disciples on the night of his resurrection, he spoke peace to them. He again spoke peace a week later when he appeared again to them with Thomas among them. What is the meaning of this word of peace? Is it a mere greeting, or is there more to our Lord’s words? Listen now to find out more.

Image: The Maesta Altarpiece-The Incredulity of St.Thomas. Duccio di Buoninsegna [Public domain]. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The-Maesta-Altarpiece-The-Incredulity-of-Saint-Thomas-1461_Duccio.jpg

Seeking the Living Among the Dead, Luke 24.1-12

What good is a dead Jesus? The resurrection of Jesus changes everything. He endured exile on our behalf and through his resurrection completes his work of salvation for us.

Image:The Resurrected Christ with a donor family, Lucas Cranach the Younger [Public domain]. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lucas_Cranach_d.J._-_Der_auferstandene_Christus.jpg

A Meal that Transforms, 1 Corinthians 11.23-34

Image: The Last Supper, Ugolino di Nerio [Public domain]. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1г_Ugolino_di_Nerio._The_Last_Supper_Metropolitan_mus._N-Y.jpg

Donkeys and Palm Leaves, Luke 19.28-40

There is a great deal going on when Jesus enters Jerusalem just a few days before Passover. From the selection of a donkey to palm leaves being waved to the very day of entry, there is great prophetic significance and fulfillment occurring in this moment. Father Jeremiah walks us through these things and their implications for us in his sermon from Palm Sunday.

Image: Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, from Nativity of the Theotokos Church, Macedonia. Photo take by Petar Milošević [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), no changes made]. Location:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Цвети,_улазак_Христа_у_Јерусалим_(Church_fresco_-_Triumphal_entry_into_Jerusalem,_Bitola).jpg

A Parable in Two Perspectives, Luke 20.9-19

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants is primarily against the leaders of the Jews and their wickedness before Yahweh. Yet, though the parable is about God judging lawbreakers, it is one full of grace and gospel for those with ears to hear. Listen now to find out about two perspectives to hear when listening to this parable.

The One Who Takes Our Shame, Luke 15.11-32

In the parable of the Prodigal Son, we always focus on the return of the prodigal or the obstinance of the older son, but have we realized the reality of the how the father reacts to both of his sons? Father Jeremiah reveals to us the depth of love of the father in this story and how his very love is a reflection of how Jesus treats us sinners.

Image: The Prodigal Returns, photo taken by Jim Forest, used under license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/5900168879

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

No Doubt on Our Behalf, Luke 4.1-13

Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness was one focused on doubt in the truthfulness of God’s word to Jesus at his baptism and al that entailed for Jesus. How did he respond? How does Jesus’ do what no one else has done before? Father Jeremiah takes us through Jesus’ temptation and shows us how Jesus endures these things on our behalf in order to open to us the blessings of God the Father’s blessings for us.

Image: Temptation on the Mount, Duccio di Buoninsegna [Public domain]. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duccio_-_The_Temptation_on_the_Mount.jpg