The Kingdom and the Calling, Mark 1.14-20

Jesus’ preaches the kingdom and repentance and in this preaching calls his disciples. When Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John, it isn’t the first time they’ve met. They have all recognized him as the Messiah previously, but now, Jesus calls them out of their daily lives into ministry and discipleship apart from their everyday lives. Not all of us receive this kind of call into ministry, but we all receive the call into the kingdom just as his first disciples did. How do we respond? How do we react?

image: A print from the Phillip Medhurst Collection of Bible illustrations, Pieter van der Borcht (ca. 1540-1608), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:77_Life_of_Christ_Phillip_Medhurst_Collection_3543_Simon_Peter_%26_Andrew_with_Christ_Matthew_4.18-20_Mortier.jpg

Come and See Jesus, John 1.43-52

For many of us, finding Jesus is crucial to our understanding of our faith. But in our text from John 1, we are reminded that it all starts with God knowing and calling us to “Come and see” through his people. It is Jesus who finds us and brings us to himself as the one who unites heaven and earth.

Image: Biblical illustrations by Jim Padgett, courtesy of Sweet Publishing, Ft. Worth, TX, and Gospel Light, Ventura, CA. Copyright 1984. CC BY-SA 3.0. No changes made. Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gospel_of_John_Chapter_1-10_(Bible_Illustrations_by_Sweet_Media).jpg

Jesus, Baptism, and the Holy Spirit and Water, Mark 1.7-11

When Jesus was baptized, many things happened! Father Jeremiah looks at this event and helps us to understand how all of it relates to our own baptisms.

The King is Here, Matthew 2.1-23

When the Magi came, all of Jerusalem as well as King Herod were stirred up. Herod chafed at the idea of a new king, the scribes and pharisees were indifferent about the birth of the Messiah, but the Magi continued to search until they found him that they might worship and adore. The King is here whether we want him to be or not and we are called to worship and adore him!

Image: Adoration of the Magi, tapestry, by Edward Burne-Jones, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Edward_Burne-Jones_-_The_Adoration_of_the_Magi_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

The Nativity of St. John Chrysostom

Father Jeremiah does something different for this sermon. He has used the Nativity Sermon from St. John Chrysostom, one of the first known Christmas sermons and preached it with some commentary from himself.

St. John Chrysostom was the patriarch of Constantinople from 397 until his death in exile in 407. This sermon was given during his first year of public ministry in 386.

Image: Painting of St. John Chrysostom, St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church, Dayton, OH. Used under license CC BY-SA 2.0

The Weary World Rejoices, Luke 2.1-20

On Christmas Eve, we begin the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth! We continue this celebration for 12 days and rejoice in the goodness of God to send his Son into this world. Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh. And his coming means that a weary world can rejoice in the mercies of God.

Image: Nativity from St. Catherine’s Monastery in Sinai. License: CC0 1.0. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nativity,_St._Catherine_Monastery,_Sinai,_6th_century.jpg

The House that God Built, Luke 1.26-38

King David wanted to build a house for the worship of Yahweh, but instead Yahweh said he would build David’s house and give him a son to rule on his throne forever. The incarnation is the accomplishment of this promise and through it Yahweh builds for himself an earthly house to bring eternal life to his people.

image: The Annuciation, Jean Hey, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Annunciation,_1490-1495,_by_Jean_Hey_(Master_of_Moulins)_-_Art_Institute_of_Chicago_-_DSC09637.JPG

The Gift of Decrease, John 3.22-30

As Jesus’ ministry begins to grow, John’s disciples point out that all are going to Jesus. For John, this makes sense, but for this disciples, it is confusing. What have they missed? What does John know that they don’t? Why is John perfectly fine with a declining ministry? How does this affect us here in the present? Listen to find out from Father Jeremiah.

Image: Vaux Passional, unknown author, c. 1503-4, illumination on parchment, license: CC0-1.0. image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christ_and_disciples_at_table_in_the_house_of_Symeon_the_leper,_with_Mary_Magdalen_and_Martha_serving_(f._14).jpg

Comfort, Comfort from the Advent of Peace, Isaiah 40.1-11, Mark 1.1-8

Yahweh commands his people to take comfort from what he is going to do. And what is he going to do? He is going to forgive their iniquities that there might be peace between them and him! John the Baptist brings the same message to the people: Forgiveness of sins and peace with God. But in John’s time he can point directly to Yahweh walking in their midst, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Image: St John the Baptist in the Wilderness, Cornelis Cort, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St_John_the_Baptist_in_the_Wilderness_MET_DP874337.jpg

Comprehending the Advent of Hope, Isaiah 64.1-9

Isaiah prays that Yahweh would rend the heavens and come down and judge the nations. However, during this prayer he moves to a time of confession and contrition for his own and the people’s sins realizing that for Yahweh to come would mean his own judgment. What does this mean for us today?

Image: The Second Coming of Christ window at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church in Charleston, SC. Cadetgray, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Second_Coming_of_Christ_window.jpg

A Hopeful Resurrection, 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18

In chapter four of 1 Thessalonians, St. Paul helps the believers at Thessalonica to understand that the resurrection is for all who have believed in Jesus, whether they are physically alive at his return or not. The resurrection is the hope that we as believers have and there is comfort that no matter how life turns out on this earth, there is new creation to come.

Image: The Parable of the Ten Virginas, Phoebe Anna Traquair, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Celebrate the Saints, Revelation 7.9-17

All Saints’ Day is an important feast in the life of the Church. We celebrate and remember the saints who have died, those known and unknown. In our celebrations, we should especially remember those saints who have especially influenced and led us toward maturity in Christ.

Image: Fra Angelico, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Boldly Trusting, 1 Thessalonians 2.1-8

St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his coming into Thessalonica, having been poorly treated in Philippi. Yet, even in that poor treatment, he was undeterred in proclaiming the Gospel. Where did this boldness come from? Why was St. Paul not shy to preach despite knowing it would mean mistreatment eventually? Father Jeremiah looks at these questions and helps us to see that St. Paul was fully focused on the work of Christ and trusting in him boldly, that he might boldly step out in trust.

Image: Nheyob, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Stainless window of St. Paul preaching at the Areopagus.

From Idolatry to the True God, 1 Thessalonians 1

Thessalonica was a city full of idolatry. It was a leading city in the Roman Empire, after all. The Gentiles who turned to Jesus were ones who were brought out of idol worship to the true and living God. What can we learn today from them and St. Paul’s words about salvation through Jesus? How does idolatry infect each and everyone of us, even though we don’t have little statues of gods that we worship? Father Jeremiah considers these things as he begins in 1 Thessalonians.

To Rejoice and Be Content, Philippians 4.1-13

For believers, God’s commands become promises that he is going to work into us. So as St. Paul tells us to rejoice, to think well, and to learn contentment, we can trust God to work these things into us as we pray for them to become true in us. As we reflect on such a great salvation, we will see that the Holy Spirit is at work to change us into the kind of people that are God’s people.

Image: Public Domain. Location: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1622945

Of Vines and Races, Philippians 3.12-4.1

In our passages, we encounter vineyards and racing. Father Jeremiah mixes these two metaphors to help us understand how Christ has laid hold of us and that through that we can run this race that is the Christian life. Listen now to find out more about how this all comes together.

Image: used under license CC0 1.0.

Unity and Humility IN Christ, Philippians 2.1-13

How does the church come to have unity and humility? Is it through sweat and effort, finding strength out of our own beings? Is it through depending on the Holy Spirit to create it for us? Or is unity and humility something that we already have because of who Jesus is and what he has done and we receive it and live in it through trusting him? St. Paul reveals that it is IN Christ that we already have this unity and humility! We are to have this mind, which is OURS in Christ and thus we can act on it because it is here for us.

Image: 13th Station-Jesus is taken down from the Cross, Station from the church of St Jean in Montmartre, Paris, photo taken by Lawrence OP, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/47588814022/.

A Story of Two Pastors, Jonah 4, Phillippians 1.21-27

Father Jeremiah tells us the story of two pastors who wanted to die. Why did they feel this way? Was it for the same reasons? What does this mean for us? Father Jeremiah goes through Jonah 4 and Philippians 1.21-27 to help us see what St. Paul meant when he said “For me, to live is Christ.”

Image: St.Paul preaching in Beroia, a comtemporary mosaic from Veria, photo taken by Edal Anton Lefterov. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, image cropped. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St-Paul-in-Beroia.jpg

On the Non-Essential, Romans 14.5-12

How are we as Christians to treat one another when it comes to things that non-essential in the Church? Are we to condemn or despise one another? Or are we to recognize that there can be things that differ on and how are we to know the difference? Father Jeremiah goes through a part of Romans 14 where St. Paul addresses these issues reminding us that Christ died and rose and is thus Lord of both the dead and the living.

Image: Lord of the Living and the Dead, Stained glass window in the church of St Mary in El Centro, CA, taken by Lawrence OP, used under license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image can be found here.

Let Love be Genuine, Romans 12.9-21

As we walk through the Christian life, St. Paul commands us to have genuine love for one another. This admonition is foundational to all that he then goes on to say about Christian life in this world with other believers and with non-believers. Ultimately, through genuine love, we will discover that we are not overcome by evil, but can overcome evil through that very genuine love.

Image: Persecution of Christians with scenes of martyrdom behind, engraving by  J. Wierix after M. de Vos. License: CC BY 4.0, from Wellcome Collection. Image located: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Persecution_of_Christians_with_scenes_of_martyrdom_behind._E_Wellcome_V0033268.jpg