When you think of your heavenly Father, what sort of “father” do you have in mind? A kindly father perhaps. Or a stern father? A harsh disciplinarian? A lenient father? When you pray, “Our Father, who art in heaven” what images run through your mind? I suppose a lot may depend on what sort of father you had while growing up.
What is the Christian response to tragedy and disaster? To innocent suffering and death? To acts of terrorism and persecution? We’ve had two major earthquakes within a couple of months of each other. Large scale loss of life and property. Massive injuries. Untold suffering. Think of the past…
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!” (Luke 13:31-35)
The Pharisees, aka the “religious types” are at it once again.…
The Transfiguration of Jesus is a bit like those movie previews they play before the featured attraction, the ones narrated by the guy with the big voice. They reveal just enough of the movie to make you want to see it, without giving away too much of the plot. Coming soon to a theater near…
“Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” - Luke 5:10
Again Jesus is preaching the Word. It’s been a running theme over the last several Sundays. He preaches in Nazareth; He preaches in Capernaum. Today He preaches at the shore of the Sea of Galilee, here…
"What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!" (Luke 4:36)
“Don’t preach to me,” the teenage daughter says to her mother. “Pardon me for preaching,” we say when we’ve gotten on our soapbox and overused our word quotient. “My, the…
“Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:20)
You may as well admit it because we’re all thinking it anyway. Last week’s Gospel was a whole lot of fun. Jesus’ changing of 180 gallons of washing water to the finest wedding wine there ever was. Man what…
“On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee.” Mary, the mother of Jesus, is there along with her Son and His new disciples. On the third day - the creative day in which the Word called forth vegetation, including the grape, from the earth. “And God said, …
Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. If that doesn’t strike you as strange, then you need to think a bit more about what John’s baptism meant. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. Of what did the sinless Son of God need to repent? John’s baptism was for…
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Can you imagine losing the Son of God? It’s bad enough losing your car keys, your wallet, some important papers.…