Sunday Sermon

“Faith and works should travel side-by-side, step answering to step, like the legs of men walking. First faith, and then works; and then faith again, and then works again -- until they can scarcely distinguish which is the one and which is the other.”

Our Blessed Lord wept bitterly as He came into view of Jerusalem. He wept bitterly knowing that so many souls would choose to follow the world and it’s promises instead of following Him.

It should be said that this testimony of Christ, “He has done all things well,” should be reflected in our own life — everything we do should be good, everything we currently are doing should be good, and everything we will do should be good.

What does the Church teach about the assumption of Mary? Let us begin by considering a few key points.

Most people do not think of worry as sin. They look at it as something natural, as something that is part of being human. They look at it as something that is legit, giving the circumstances that they are facing. Yet the Lord three times, in Matthew 6:25-34, gives a command not to worry and he couples the command with this statement. “Oh, you of little faith.”

There is a natural longing in the human heart for peace, friendship, love and happiness – for a life that is purposeful and worthwhile. And there is an even deeper longing, sometimes quiet or hidden. This longing is to discover the ultimate meaning of life, to know the love of God, and to share in a destiny beyond the horizon of death.

Every person in the world is a servant. One may live in a free country with freedom of speech and liberty to pursue happiness. But the fact is, every person is a servant. This servitude is not a political or economic servitude. This servitude is a spiritual bondage, either to sin or to Jesus Christ. No one is free to live however they choose to live. All live in servitude to one of two masters, either to sin or to the Savior.

You may find it easier to believe that God cares for someone else, but you? You know yourself. You know what sin you struggle with. You know how selfish you are. You know about your own personal rebellion and doubts toward God. Because we struggle with believing God really does care about us, He has to tell us and show us over and over again how much He cares. The great thing about God is, He doesn’t get tired of expressing His love toward you every day and in many ways.....

Not being able to find something that you are looking for can be one of the most frustrating things in life.

Romans 8:18 "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

Colossians 1:24: "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's sufferings for the sake of his body, that is, the church,"

The same Christ who suffered on earth dwells in us now and He wants to take us through the same sufferings He went through, but now in our body.