Sermons

Christmas Day readings

Isaiah 62:6-12 Psalm 97 Titus 3:4-7 Luke 2:1-20

Fr. Greg Peters uses St. Paul’s letter to Titus to show us that Christmas is not just about Christ’s birth, but its about God’s deep love for humanity and the Holy Spirit’s work in the world.

Sunday’s Readings

Isaiah 7:10-17 Psalm 24 Romans 1:1-7 Matthew 1:18-25

Though this set of readings seem to have obscure and “unsolvable” prophecies, Matthew explains in the Gospel reading that the point is not to solve the prophecies, but to know that God is with us in this moment: that He came to earth as a child and remained with us. The point of these readings is not to wonder if the sayings are true, but to be faithful as Joseph was faithful to trust God.

Sunday’s Readings

Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146 James 5:7-12 Matthew 11:2-19

Fr. Greg Peters acknowledges that for many of us the holidays can be a difficult time full of loss and difficulties. Our readings, however, remind us that even the wildernesses will blossom and be glad. Though we are in a time of waiting and anticipation, and though our lives may feel barren and full of challenges, we are to remain patient and steadfast in our preparation of Christ’s second coming without complaining.

Sunday’s Readings

Isaiah 11:1-10 Psalm 72:1-19 Romans 15:1-13 Matthew 3:1-12

Fr. Greg uses this week’s readings to remind us that our focus should always be on the bigger work that God is doing in our lives. Our focus should always be on the Gospel: that God created the world, that we sinned and turned away from God, and that he sent his son to redeem us and give us everlasting life. In other words, as we prepare for Christmas we shouldn’t get so focused on the Incarnation that we loose sight of the whole picture of the Gospel and how ACE fits into that picture.

Sunday’s Readings

Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm 122 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 24:29-44

This week we enter the season of Advent; a season of anticipation of Christ’s coming as a child on Christmas morning and of his future second coming. The readings for this week usher us into this season with a sense of tension of knowing and not knowing. We know that the hour has come to wake ourselves to the things of God, but we do not know the exact moment of Christ’s coming. Fr. Greg Peters points out that, as Christians, we should use this tension to live in a state of preparedness for Christ’s second coming.

Sunday’s Readings

Jeremiah 23:1-6 Luke 1:68-79 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43

As we come to the end of our liturgical year we are reminded that everything is about the Redeemer of all things, the only Son of God, Jesus Christ. On Christ the King Sunday we should rejoice in Christ’s kingship over everything, but we should also ask ourselves how we let him exercise that kingship over our own lives. We should ask ourselves, in what areas of our lives are we keeping him from reigning as King?

Sunday’s Readings

Isaiah 65:17-25 Isaiah 12 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 Luke 21:5-19

Fr. Greg' frames this week’s readings in the context of our position in the liturgical year. As we come to the end of the liturgical year, the readings from Isaiah remind us that no matter how well or poorly things we did things throughout the year, we have the opportunity to start again in a couple weeks. We should therefore approach this new season with joy and thanksgiving, not only because we can put behind us all the burdens we accumulated over the course of the year, but because we have chance to experience God’s love, redemption, and forgiveness anew.

Sunday’s Readings

Haggai 1:15b-2:9 Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17 Luke 20:27-38

This week’s set of readings give us examples of individuals or groups of people who are struggling to do God’s work in the present moment because of their anxiety caused by their conception of the future. Monica Romig Green points out that in all of these examples God is faithful to intervene, offer comfort and encouragement to these people, and help them refocus their energy on doing the work He has called them to do. God’s presence in the Church’s life should be a reminder to us now that no matter what our concerns about the future are, He will be present with us and He is always faithful in His promises.

Sunday’s Readings

Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 Psalm 149 Ephesians 1:11-23 Luke 6:20-31

Dr. Adam Johnson explores the lessons for this week and shows that ultimate power belongs to Christ and is seated with Him at the right hand of the Father. He also points out that because of this, part of our inheritance as children of God is to “judge the nations,” which means that we are called to lead all people to a life of faith and assist them in walking in the ways that are pleasing in God’s sight. Finally, when looking at these readings as a whole, we are offered a different perspective on things like suffering and how we can celebrate in it; justice and how it nurtures all people; prayer and how that is something that happens on a larger scale rather than only in our individual needs; and much more.

Sunday’s Readings

Joel 2:23-32 Psalm 65 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14

Dcn Wale reminds us that as Christians we are formed by immersing ourselves in the word of God and constantly repenting.