Grace Anglican Church Gastonia, NC

On the night before Jesus was betrayed, he performed two acts that St. John tells us is to beginning revealing his uttermost love. We see here that Jesus washes his disciples’ feet and then reveals to them the mystery of the Last Supper, that he is feeding his people with himself.

Image: Last Supper, picture taken by Steve Snodgrass, CC CY 20, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/5826503639

When Jesus entered into Jerusalem, it was like the light of creation shining forth. It is the beginning of the end of the Old Creation in so many ways. Sin will be dealt with. Redemption will be accomplished. The Light will shine forth, even if it is dark momentarily. Consider the wonders of Palm Sunday and all that it means for us and our salvation.

Image: Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on a Donkey -- Palm Sunday, picture taken by Martin LaBar, from the book Half Hours With the Bible, New Testament, New York: Clifton Pub. Co. No changes made. CC BY-NC 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/2079385

Jesus is able to raise Lazarus from the dead because he is the Resurrection and the Life. What does that mean for us today? Jesus being the resurrection and the life means that we are unbound from sin because death is the result of sin.

Image: Jesus Raising Lazarus from the Dead, Woodcut of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, scanned from the 19th century book, Half Hours With the Bible, New Testament. Photo by Martin LaBar, CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinlabar/2079382

When Jesus heals a man born blind, he does something that no one had ever done. In the midst of that, he shows that the Light will overcome the darkness though the darkness will continually fight against it and all those who follow the Light.

Image: an etching by Jan Luyken from Phillip Medhurst Collection, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made.

When Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well in Samaria, how does the conversation go? St. John recounts this encounter enabling us to see what gifts God has given us in Christ for our salvation.

Image: Christ and the Samaritan woman at the well, Angelica Kauffmann, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Angelika_Kauffmann_-_Christus_und_die_Samariterin_am_Brunnen_-1796.jpeg

When Nicodemus visits Jesus at night, there is more to their talk than meets the eye. How does Jesus being the light go with Nicodemus visiting him at night? How does someone hearing the wind go with hearing Scripture? Father Jeremiah speaks on these questions in this sermon.

Image: Visit of Nicodemus to Jesus, by John La Forge, Public Domain. Location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YSA003406/Visit-of-Nicodemus-to-Christ

St. Paul speaks of the one act of righteousness of Jesus in his epistle to the Romans. What does this act encompass? Is it only a reference to the crucifixion or is there a an underlying reality within the one act of Jesus? What does his temptation have to do with this? So many questions flowing from the texts for this First Sunday in Lent and Father Jeremiah examines them in this sermon that considers the one act of righteousness.

Image: Temptation of Christ, 12th century mosaic in basilica di San Marco, anonimus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

As we come to Ash Wednesday, we must consider just what we are doing on this day. C.S. Lewis said, “Good and evil both increase at compound interest.” Everything that we do will shape and remake us. Father Jeremiah considers this truth as he reflects on the ashen crosses upon our foreheads.

image: Celebration of Ash Wednesday and Eucharist in the Roman Catholic Church, by Bernard Picart. Public Domain. Image location: https://www.lookandlearn.com/history-images/YR0308725/Celebration-of-Ash-Wednesday-and-Eucharist-in-the-Roman-Catholic-Church

What does it mean that Jesus was transfigured? How does this affect our understanding of Jesus? What does Jesus’ work have to do with our being able to enter into his presence? These questions give rise to much in Father Jeremiah’s sermon on Jesus’ transfiguration.

image: The Savior’s Transfiguration, unknown artist, Tretyakov Gallery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Jesus teaches and heals and sees a harvest all around him of people who need the salvation he is bringing. He also sees that in the people’s needs, they are exactly like sheep without a shepherd, without a good shepherd who will lead them into the truth and protect them no matter the cost. Jesus is that shepherd and calls us to himself to bring others to know him as the Good Shepherd.

Image: Shepherd and Sheep, Anton Mauve, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.