Sermons from Saint Christopher's By-the-Sea, Portland Texas

Our lesson for today comes from the Gospel of Saint Luke, Chapter 10, beginning in verse 38.  Jesus, Martha and Mary.

Today's Gospel Lesson is the parable of the Good Samaritan, one of the most famous of Jesus' parables.  

On July 4th, our Independence Day, Saint Christopher's welcomed the Rev'd Dexter Lesieur, the Vicar of Devine, as our guest preacher for the day.  Father Dexter took his text from Matthew 5, beginning in verse 43.

Due to a slight technical difficulty, the first sentence or two of his sermon did not get recorded.  However, the rest of the sermon does, indeed, remain intact.

Jesus sends 70 of his followers out to prepare the cities and town that he is to visit for his arrival.  And he sends them with great urgency as he has set his face to Jerusalem; he is headed there to complete his work.  Father Blackburn explores the meaning of this for the 70 men who were sent out, but also what that sending looks like for us today.  Our passage is from Luke 10:1-11, 16-20.

Saint Paul, writing to the Galatians reminds them that we are set free in Christ Jesus from the grace and mercy of his gift of redemption.  But then what?  Father Blackburn explains what freedom is, what it means for us, and how we are to live into that freedom. The text is taken from Galatians 5:1, 13-25.

Today, we read a passage from Luke 8, and the healing of a man with a "Legion" of demons in control of him.  Jesus heals, or excorcisis these demon from him, and in doing so displays the Justice of God, as well as the restoration of the man.  Father Blackburn explores this passage and ask, "What do we need Jesus to also remove from our lives?"

Today is Trinity Sunday, the day when we call to mind in a specific way the nature of the Triune God:  The Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  But, sometimes we forget how we relate to the Trinity as well, and our vocation as the Image Bearers of God.  Father Blackburn preaches this sermon about one of the great mysteries of the Church.

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that is given to us is the Peace of Christ.  It is something that Jesus both promised and gave to his disciples.  But what does that peace truly look like, and how do we know what it is?  In this sermon, preached on the Feast of Pentecost, Father Blackburn shows the stark contrast between the peace of the world and the peace of Jesus.

After a tragedy like another school shooting, a terrorist attack, a natural disaster, we sometimes turn to prayer, or as many officials say, thoughts and prayers.  But sometimes, we say our prayers, and then do nothing.  So, what is the just and proper use of prayer?  Father Blackburn reflects on the purpose of prayer, how it has informed and shaped the course of history, and what our prayer should be.

The Feast of the Ascension is part of the Great 50 Days of Easter.  Yet, it is one of the mysterious days, as it is hard to wrap our minds around what the ascension means for Jesus and also what it means for us.  Father Blackburn gives this sermon at our Ascension Day Liturgy.