Claimed, gathered and sent

Here are some thoughts on this Sunday's gospel, sent to the people of St. Timothy today. Gospel: Luke 9:28-36  28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.  29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.  30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him.  31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.  32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.  33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.  34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified ...

This is the message I preached on Sunday, February 24 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church . The Gospel was Luke 6:27-38.   There’s nothing easy about today’s gospel lesson. You may feel like, “You’ve got to be kidding, Jesus!” These hard words are not meant for the crowds, but for Jesus’ disciples, for those who are committed to hearing even when they cannot fully understand what Jesus means.  Throughout the centuries, people have tried to water down these words of Jesus. Some would say that enemies can only be loved if people try harder. Others would try to spiritualize this passage, coming up with a more spiritualized interpretation of what it means to love an enemy. However, no matter how we may explain this passage from Luke’s gospel, nothing will reduce its demand.  Right out of the gate, Jesus lays down his expectations of discipleship: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. The love Jesus s...

These are some thoughts about this coming Sunday's gospel that were sent to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.   Please feel free to be part of the conversation. I'd love to hear your feedback. Gospel: Luke 6:27-38  [Jesus said:]  27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.  30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.  31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.    32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.  33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.  34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to r...

This is the sermon I preached last Sunday, Feb. 17 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church . The scripture text was Jeremiah 17:5-10 .  Life is full of good and trouble, blessings and woes. It’s just the way things are. We rejoice in the bouquet of beautiful flowers sent to make us feel better when we’re sick but oh when that doctor’s bill comes. We enjoy a delicious hamburger cooked to perfection but then it comes with stale French fries. And there are many other, more serious dichotomies that we face daily.  Today’s reading from Jeremiah compares two ways of living life: the way that is cursed (vv. 5-6) and the way that is blessed (vv. 7-8) and then Jeremiah wraps it all up with a reflection on the human heart (vv. 9-10). The main theme throughout is trust—what do you trust in, how do you know what to trust in and what in the end proves to be reliable? The curses and the blessings set up contrasts to develop the theme of trust, each section beginning with a direct state...

Here are some thoughts about Sunday's reading from the Hebrew Scriptures that were sent to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church . Any thoughts? First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-10 5 Thus says the Lord: Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals and make mere flesh their strength, whose hearts turn away from the Lord.   6 They shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when relief comes. They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.   7 Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.   8 They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.   9 The heart is devious above all else; it is perverse— who can understand it?   10 I the Lord test the mind and search the heart, to give to all according to their ways...

This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, 2/10/19 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The text was 1 Corinthians 15:1-11.  Today we are continuing the venture of learning to share our faith by looking at a writing of the Apostle Paul, perhaps the most prolific New Testament author who founded many of the churches of the first century. What Paul is about to say is at the center of Christian faith and life—not at the margins. And it was from Paul that the Corinthians heard the message in the first place. Further in the reading, we find the content of the good news. Here is the earliest existing description of Christ’s resurrection. It sounds like part of an early creed formulated long before the Apostles’ Creed. Paul’s version dates from 54 AD and the Apostles’ Creed from around 390 AD.  “Of first importance” stresses the centrality of the doctrines Paul mentions to the gospel message. In a nutshell, they are Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. His burial shows th...

These are some thoughts for this coming Sunday that were sent out to the people of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.  Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 1 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand,  2 through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain.    3 For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures,  4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures,  5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.  7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  8 Last of all, ...