Dove of Peace Lutheran Church Sermons

[Mark and Matthew] knew that if Jesus hadn’t established a church with Peter that they wouldn’t be writing gospels because there wouldn’t be a church, there wouldn’t be a people of God... Jesus comes to us because of the rock of people like Peter, people who are built up into the Church.

In these days it is fitting that part of our customary practice, part of our witness is this great song about Christ that establishes kinship. Horizontally, around the world, every Sunday with hundreds of millions of Christians in every time zone and in every language. And vertically, through the centuries and the eons, testifying to our unity with the saints of the ages.

Although the other gospels talk about Jesus calming the storm– only in Matthew do we get this compelling story of Peter. Stepping out of the boat. And beginning to walk. But then losing his nerve– being seized by fear– and beginning to sink.”

Jesus feeds thousands. “God sees us and accompanies us in those hungry and abandoned and scary regions of our lives. The places precisely where we do NOT have everything we need, and where we cannot rely on ourselves and where we cannot make our own solutions.”

The important work of a community like ours is to include both the old and the new. The things which have been appraised and treasured in the past. And the things which will be appraised and treasured in the future.

We don’t make permanent judgments that are not ours to make. And in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus gives us two good reasons. First, because God has been so generous and forgiving to us that we must be generous in spirit to others. And if that isn’t enough,then we should refrain from judging others because we don’t know. That’s God’s job.

The Sower just stays faithful to his task. Some people may think he’s crazy. Some people may think he’s wasteful. But I think this an image that should inspire us.

We are called to look deeply at our own selves and our own lives. We are called to be honest about our true limitations and our true motivations. We are called to rely on the mercy and assistance of God. Our faith is not in our selves.

Hope is not a delusion. Hope is moral responsbility. Hope is not for the weak. Hope is for heroes.

There have been three strikes in the Christian household... so I am praying for a good pope, and a new Reformation, another Great Awakening