No matter what our calling in life, we will encounter obstacles, difficulties, and even suffering. In today’s Epistle reading James encourages us to be patient and to have confidence that the Holy Spirit daily comes with his good gifts through Word...

Jesus’ birthday song was “peace on earth” and he began the final week of his earthly life riding on a donkey instead of a horse to show that he came in peace. But we who take up the cross and follow him are not naïve peaceniks. We understand that the...

It is not difficult to notice the gradual degrading of conversation all around us. There is a continuing loss of civility in American life, in families, and even in the Church. It affects all the ways we talk to one another and about one another. Both...

God is love and he sees all people in need of grace to free them from sin. That is why he sent his Son, Jesus, to set us free from sin and reconcile us to himself. After the resurrection of Jesus and the coming of the Holy Spirit, we, the Church...

In this week’s Gospel reading Jesus continues to protest against human customs being given the weight of divine law, while the essence of God’s law is ignored. Our new sermon series begins this week based on the letter of James. The apostle also...

Our sinful human nature centers our attention on ourselves. In today’s readings, the Word of God calls to account those who have lost their zeal for the Lord and replaced it with self-serving actions. That can be true of all of us—even pious...

Last weekend we heard in the sermon about the continual internal conflict of wills between our sinful nature and our redeemed nature. There are external struggles as well as we try to live consciously Christian lives in an increasingly secular...

The image of bread—“the staff of life”—weaves its way through all of Scripture. Manna, God’s gift to Israel, gave his people sustenance and hope for their wilderness journey. Bread sustains the prophet Elijah in his ministry. The feeding of the 5000...

Apparently not satisfied by Jesus’ feeding of thousands, some who were there press him for a sign of his power. As always in John’s Gospel, when people want a sign, Jesus offers himself. He is the bread come from heaven to give life to the world. He...

Out of the waters of the great Biblical flood rises the visual sign of God’s promise—a rainbow. Walking on the water of a raging sea we see Jesus, the personal and ever-present Promise of God. He is our eternal rainbow, showing us the many facets of...