The Way

A Warning Against Hypocrisy (Matthew 23:1-12) - Rev. Fr. Joice Pappan by St. Luke Orthodox Mission Church

Sunday homily by Rev. Fr. Gheevarghese John, vicar of St. Luke Orthodox Mission Church - “Press” into the Word of God (Luke 16:9-18)

Read more at: https://stlukemission.org/sermons/press-into-the-word-of-god

Sunday homily by Rev. Fr. Gheevarghese John, vicar of St. Luke Orthodox Mission Church - “Press” into the Word of God (Luke 16:9-18)

Read more at: https://stlukemission.org/sermons/press-into-the-word-of-god

The “show bread,” sometimes referred to as the “shew bread,” is also called the “Bread of Presence.” This bread was placed on a table in the Holy Place of the Temple after the Sabbath; and then eaten by the Priest at the end of the week. There were twelve loaves of show bread, one each for the twelve tribes of Israel. The Priests of the temple would consume the show bread. Scholars say that originally it was an offering to God. Later on, in time, the Priest would consume the bread as the representative of God.

Read more: https://stlukemission.org/sermons/enter-into-the-holy-place

The “show bread,” sometimes referred to as the “shew bread,” is also called the “Bread of Presence.” This bread was placed on a table in the Holy Place of the Temple after the Sabbath; and then eaten by the Priest at the end of the week. There were twelve loaves of show bread, one each for the twelve tribes of Israel. The Priests of the temple would consume the show bread. Scholars say that originally it was an offering to God. Later on, in time, the Priest would consume the bread as the representative of God.

Read more: https://stlukemission.org/sermons/enter-into-the-holy-place

In today’s Gospel Reading Jesus tells his disciples to be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Leaven is typically yeast, which is added to dough to make it rise. Without it, dough would stay flat. It is obvious that Christ is using figurative language in order to explain a point. In other words, Christ has no interest in the cooking habits of the Pharisees and Sadducees. So then, what does Christ mean? Leaven makes the dough to rise.

Read more: https://stlukemission.org/sermons/beware-of-your-leaven

In today’s Gospel Reading Jesus tells his disciples to be aware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Leaven is typically yeast, which is added to dough to make it rise. Without it, dough would stay flat. It is obvious that Christ is using figurative language in order to explain a point. In other words, Christ has no interest in the cooking habits of the Pharisees and Sadducees. So then, what does Christ mean? Leaven makes the dough to rise.

Read more: https://stlukemission.org/sermons/beware-of-your-leaven

Napoleon once said that he could command armies because they feared him; thus, they are forced to fight for Napoleon. But Jesus neither compelled nor forced any of his followers to follow him or die for him; and still even now, after 2000+ years, millions of men are willing to give their life for him. The point here is this: Napoleon’s words did not compel his soldiers to fight for him out of loyalty but out of duty. Christ’s followers were loyal to him because his words were trustworthy; that is, they were true! They were true because Jesus had no contradiction between his words or actions. What makes the words of Christ remain forever is not the words themselves, for words alone are useless, even Christ’s; but Christ matched his words with his actions, which made his words true and in turn they remain forever. That is why in the Gospel reading were hear that “heaven and earth will pass away but the words of Christ will remain.”

Read more at https://stlukemission.org/sermons/christs-words-are-true

In the Gospel Reading today Jesus teaches us that if someone hits us on the right side of the face we should offer the other side as well. And if someone asks you to run one mile (for whatever reason) you should run two miles. Here, a literal interpretation of this passage leaves us with a sense of “condoning injustice.” How else could we explain why Jesus would want a robber to rob us of our shoes and then before he runs away offer him our watch as an additional “robber’s bonus.” And by the way, why not offer him our car so he can get back home safely. The idea sounds absurd.

In the Gospel Reading today Peter is walking to Capernaum. While on his way he encounters some tax collector who asked him, ‘does your Master pay the temple tax.’ Hesitant to say “no,” or fearful that he would get his Master in trouble (at least I assume), he says, “yes.” When Peter came into the house where Jesus was staying, Jesus having foreknowledge of his conversation said, “From who do the kings of the earth take their tax? From their sons or strangers.” Peter replied, “strangers.” It is here that the passage becomes interesting and where I want to make my thesis.